The Christmas carol story

It was a silent night in the little town of Bethlehem. Many would say it was O Holy night. But that first Christmas Eve brought joy to the world, as an infant holy, infant lowly was born as God’s gift to all humankind. What child is this who was born so far away in a manger in the town of Bethlehem? Shepherds heard of this birth and said, ‘Angels we have heard on high.’ Saying then to each other: did you hear them say, ‘Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king?’ Journeying also to Bethlehem, we three kings knew to tell all people to come all ye faithful and celebrate the first Noel.

Read through those Christmas carols mentioned in the little nativity carol story. How many do you know? How many could you sing the whole way through without ever looking at the words? These beautiful carols have wonderful stories and histories that you may want to research into, but in our world of no religion or every religion, isn’t it wonderful to know that these are still acceptable to sing at Christmas in our society?

When entering shopping centres or listening to the radio, note how many Christmas carols are used. More and more, the Christmas carols of religious content are being replaced by the secular Christmas songs. This gives us an even greater urgency to share God’s story of sending his Son to Earth at Christmas to save his people from their sins. May we all be encouraged to share this story of God’s love.

Lutheran Tract Mission (LTM) has many resources to use to help you get ready for Christmas and explore the season of Advent. There are tracts to build up Christians as well as tract to give to those who need to hear of our Saviour’s birth. Explore the LTM website at www.ltm.org.au to find these resources. Search for ‘Christmas’ and ‘Advent’.

Anne Hansen is Lutheran Tract Mission’s Tract Development Officer.