2023 December

 

During Advent We Watch and Wait

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/1/23

 

During Advent we watch and wait.

Christ’s coming we anticipate.

We watch for any telltale signs,

Even reading between the lines.

 

It is not always obvious,

For us to find signs of Jesus.

But those who've learned to watch this way,

Can catch glimpses of Christ each day.

 

So be sure to watch all around,

Not knowing where Christ will be found,

And when Christ is revealed to you,

Be sure to go tell others too.

 

As We Walk through This Advent Time

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/2/23

 

As we walk through this Advent time,

We are called to watch and pray,

That God's will for us might be shown,

That we might live that way.

 

Out of the darkness we see the light,

That draws us to the Lord.

And filled with wonder at each site,

Strength for the journey’s restored.

 

As we wait our persistence grows,

Our faith to fortify.

At the right time only God knows,

We'll be there by and by.

 

Jesus Is Coming Watch and Wait

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/4/23

 

Jesus is coming, watch and wait,

For we don't know the day.

There is much to anticipate,

When Jesus comes our way.

 

We see signs all along the way,

Look and be observant.

Point them out to others each day,

As a faithful servant.

 

We know we too can be a sign,

Showing people the way,

When we let the Christmas light shine,

Through what we do and say.

 

Before the Lord with Joy We Come

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/5/23

 

Before the Lord with joy we come,

With thanks our voices raise.

Come join us for all our welcome.

Give God honor and praise.

 

Before the Lord all praise we give,

For all the Lord has done,

And to the Lord we pledge to live,

Until the victory’s won.

 

Before the Lord someday we'll stand,

And give our final report.

Then God will judge. And by God's hand,

The sheep and goats will sort.

 

Lord, May You Always Find Us Waiting

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/6/23

 

Lord, may you always find us watching,

And looking for your sign,

To show us that you are returning,

To be with us again.

 

We shout with joy the day has come,

That we have waited for,

We sing your praise as we welcome,

You and open wide the door.

 

Lord, do come into our world today,

And to bring to us your peace.

For every day for this we pray,

That wars and fighting cease.

 

During Our Journey We Must Take

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/7/23

 

During our journey we must take,

Paths to the left or right.

Lord, help us choose, for mercy's sake,

To just follow your light.

 

We'll meet others along the way,

Some help they may need,

And for them let us always pray,

And offer help indeed.

 

When we come to our journey’s end,

And reach the pearly gates,

We'll be blessed as the gates are opened,

And heaven there awaits.

 

In the Name of the Prince of Peace

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/9/23

 

In the name of the Prince of Peace,

May all believers pray,

That hate and war and turmoil cease,

And peace prevails today.

 

Wars have gone on for far too long,

With dire consequences.

We pray to God this can't go on,

Help us come to our senses!

 

Along with us we know God weeps,

In the midst of all strife,

And forever we know God keeps,

Track of each precious life.

 

May we value life over death,

And truly live that way,

And pray for peace till our last breath.

For peace now let us pray.

 

Christmas Is Not All About Us

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/11/23

 

Christmas is not all about us,

Nor all we buy and give.

For the true meaning of Christmas,

Is how in Christ we live.

 

The Bible says, “God so loved us,”

That for us Jesus came.

God's love became real at Christmas,

We are never more the same.

 

Since Christmas is not our birthday,

Where should be our focus?

What all did Jesus do and say?

Let's do that this Christmas.

 

Heal the sick and feed the hungry,

Do what Christ asks of us.

Share the Good News. Help the blind see.

Have a blessed Christmas.

 

Tinker Was a Little Bell

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/12/23

(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

 

Tinker was a little bell,

Who rang out his note so well.

When he rang, he brought pure joy,

To each village girl and boy.

Refrain:

Tinker was a little bell,

Who rang out his note so well.

 

When with joy Tinker would ring,

The church rafters then would swing,

Up to heaven it would joy bring,

Which the angels then would sing.

Refrain:

 

Tinker's note ran pure and clear.

Angels sang, “Jesus is here!”

From church below to heaven above,

Tinker’s note rang out with love.

Refrain:

 

Tinker shows us how to live.

What we are is what we give.

Tinker had one note to ring.

Discover what is your thing.

Tinker was a little bell,

And who you are, time will tell.

 

Hear in Mary’s Magnificat

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/14/23

 

Hear, in Mary's Magnificat,

Her life rearranging,

Through Christ the world has been upset.

Christmas is life changing.

 

The lowly people are lifted.

The mighty are brought low.

The world is both blessed and gifted,

By God whose blessings flow.

 

Mary was changed by Jesus’ birth,

And by all Christ would do.

And Jesus birth changed all the earth.

How has Jesus changed you?

 

For all that God has done for us,

Let us our faith renew,

And glorify God this Christmas,

By what we say and do.

 

As we approach this next new year,

We’ve an opportunity.

What difference might we make here?

Through Christ who might we be?

 

Christmas Is Not About You

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/16/23

 

Christmas is not about you!

It is about Jesus.

How God's love came shining through,

Because God so loved us.

 

Christmas is for all the earth,

How Jesus came for us.

Celebrate Jesus birth.

Have a blessed Christmas.

 

So, Christmas is about you,

If you think about it.

Christ is God's present for you.

The best gift you'll ever get.

 

To Bethlehem Joseph Went

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/17/23

 

To Bethlehem Joseph went,

Because of Caesar’s decree.

Joseph was of David's descent.

With him he took Mary.

 

The story’s told long ago,

Of how it all came to be.

And we are blessed today to know,

What it means for you and me.

 

To a dark and dreary place,

God's glorious love did shine.

May God's love radiate in each face,

In yours and also mine.

 

Let’s have a blessed Christmas,

And thus celebrate it well.

For God so gave Christ for us,

And for this we sing Noel.

 

Prepare Your Hearts for Christ Is Coming

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/19/23

 

Prepare your hearts for Christ is coming,

And soon he will appear.

With songs of praise let us now sing,

That we are ready here.

 

We do not know down here below,

When comes that glorious day.

With signs and wonders God will show,

The way, to those who pray.

 

When Christ comes, pray we'll be ready,

For what that day will bring.

God's Kingdom we’ll finally see.

Hallelujah we’ll sing.

 

Mary Pondered in Her Heart

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/20/23

 

Mary pondered in her heart,

What the shepherds told her.

She would play a crucial part,

Raising the world's savior.

 

The child grew. Mary did too,

As a caring mother,

Teaching Jesus what to do,

And what he'd learn from her.

 

And then down through the ages,

As people came to learn,

Throughout history's pages,

Good News was shared in turn.

 

Now let us also ponder,

What parts we are to play,

To spread the good news Yonder,

Where e’er we go today.

 

What began in Mary's heart,

Through holy pondering,

May we ponder and then start,

Abundantly living.

 

Mary Had a Little Thought

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/21/23

(Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb)

 

Mary had a little thought,

Little thought, little thought.

Mary had a little thought,

She pondered in her heart.

 

She was to be God's mother,

God's mother, God's mother.

She was to be God's mother,

And she would do her part.

 

She would raise him in the faith,

In the faith, in the faith.

She would raise him in the faith,

To become a king.

 

He would rule forevermore,

Evermore, evermore.

He would rule forevermore,

Salvation he would bring.

 

Christmas Is Not Just One Day

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/23/23

 

Christmas is not just one day,

Listen to what I say.

Christmas Day is just the start,

If Christ is in your heart.

 

Everyday can be Christmas,

Because God sent Jesus,

To be with us every day,

As we follow the Way.

 

Let your faith in Christ show.

Share love wherever you go.

Don't just pack Christmas away,

Make each day Christmas Day.

 

We Look Forward

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/25/23

 

Will you look forward to the new year,

To what all lies ahead.

Let's make some plans while we sit here,

And circle them in red.

 

As we reflect on this past year,

And all that we have done,

Give thanks to God, for we see here,

All we can build upon.

 

Give thanks to God who's with us here,

When all is said and done.

What might we celebrate next year,

With these plans we've begun?

 

Forgive Our Sins

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/26/23

 

God forgive us. From our guilt set us free,

For we are blessed by your grace and mercy.

Know in our hearts that we are penitent;

For all our sins we truly do repent.

 

God, hear our pleas as we cry out to you.

For there are things without you we cannot do.

But with your help all things are possible,

And with you nothing is impossible.

 

Help us today to turn and follow you,

To try again to do what you would do.

Thank you that we are forgiven and set free,

To be what you created us to be.

 

Almighty God, We Come to You and Pray

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/27/23

 

Almighty God, we come to you and pray,

That you would guide us to follow the Way.

Remind us to begin each step with prayer,

For goals achieved, to you our thanks we’ll share.

 

There will be challenges, for life’s a test,

And all you ask is that we do our best.

For we are blessed to learn along the way,

To trust in you faithfully day by day.

 

When we are weary, when all things go wrong.

When life is hard, and when it takes too long.

Help us to rest and with you have a talk,

And remind us it is by faith we walk.

 

When we have come to the end of the year,

We'll see how you got us from there to here.

We'll lift your name and hallelujahs raise!

For all you've done, we'll give you all the praise.

 

In This Time of Tribulation

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/28/23

 

In this time of tribulation,

There are troubles everywhere.

Nations fight with other nations.

Turmoil reigns from here to there.

In the midst of all this chaos,

And all the tragic bad news,

People of faith turn to Jesus,

To reveal to us Good News.

 

In a time of difficulty,

Jesus came down from heaven.

So, to save all humanity,

He was born in Bethlehem.

Angels shared it as they sang it,

Then shepherds passed it along.

Mary in her heart pondered it.

Down to us has come the song.

 

Today we are called to sing out,

That all of the world might know,

Of the One that we sing about,

Who upsets the status quo.

The turmoil in our lives will cease,

For Christ changes everything.

When we pray to the Prince of Peace,

Peace on earth Jesus will bring.

 

We Celebrate that God Is Here

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 12/31/23

 

We celebrate that God is here,

When we worship in the Lord's name.

We’re forgiven by God's mercy.

We're transformed and never the same.

Refrain:

We celebrate that God is here,

Our prayers are heard as God draws near.

 

We celebrate we matter to God.

Throughout history God has loved us.

We celebrate that in the right time,

That God to us, did send Jesus.

Refrain: