Carols

Tomorrow sees the arrival of the Christmas carols. We have three carols services in the afternoon/evening. 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm.
I always have had quite a low opinion of carols, they were old songs that I couldn't understand, and I didn't really want to sing a about sheep. But, as I have been preparing for our carol services I have found that they are not all bad!!
My favourite carol at the moment is Joy to the World. When you have sung such carols every year of your live in a cold church it is easy to forget the truth that such songs are grounded in. Jesus was born into this world, He came to live as a man. He reigns in majesty, He rules with truth.

Christmas is all to often remembered for the wrong reasons, I'm as guilty as anyone! This Christmas I pray that we will all know the joy of our Lord Jesus, his truth, his power and his might. May our hearts, lives, words, thoughts and deeds display joy this Christmas. Not because of food, drink, presents or time off but because the Lord has come

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.