By Laurel Woodward Breckbill, assistant resident director and student life intern
Scripture: Luke 2:1-20 (NRSV)
One of my favorite seasonal hymns is a French folk melody, ‘Twas in the moon of wintertime. My parents sing this hymn together –
O children of the forest free, O seed of Manitou,
The holy child of earth and heav’n is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty, peace, and joy.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria!
Without accompaniment, their two voices mix together in simple harmony until they sing together the final line, a striking proclamation. Listen! Jesus your King is born! Gloria!
Often, we separate the ideas of freedom and service but juxtaposed together, the two beautifully articulate gifts presented to us through the birth and life of Christ. Just as the hunters, chiefs, shepherds and kings came freely to serve this babe, so too are we invited to freely serve others. We are the children of the forest free and today we celebrate the birth of the one who calls us together and offers us the freedom to follow the path of service. Through the birth and work of Jesus Christ, we are freed from isolation to live a life of Christian service to each other and the world. Come, rejoice! Jesus is born!
Thank you for joining the Goshen College community though this season of Advent as we shared our own stories and experiences as part of the devotional series. We wish each of you moments of hope and light as we remember the story of Christ Jesus. Join us in February as Goshen College students, faculty and staff again offer daily devotionals in the days leading up to Easter. Until then, may you feel Christ’s loving presence along the way.
‘Twas in the moon of wintertime, when all the birds had fled,
The mighty Gitchi Manitou* sent angel choirs instead.
Before their light the stars grew dim, and wond’ring hunters heard the hymn:
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria!
Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty ‘round.
But as the hunter braves drew dim, the angel song rang loud and high:
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria!
The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria!
O children of the forest free, O seed of Manitou,
The holy child of earth and heav’n is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty, peace, and joy.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria!
*Translation: the mighty Lord of all the world
Scripture: Luke 2:1-20 (NRSV)
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.