Christmas Bells Are Ringing
Through the generous donations of many, hand bells have been purchased to play and ring the message of Christ’s love for the world. The music of the bells have been a part of my celebration of Christmas for the last 20 years and more. I’m excited that our family at Ebenezer will now be blessed with the music of the bells as Marilyn and her choir of bell ringers will be ringing in the message of Christmas this Christmas Eve.
If the ringing of bells help tell the story of Christmas, I should add there is no mention ringing bells in the Christmas story found in the Bible. It is our own invention to use Bells. Salvation Army bell ringers greet us at department stores with a ringing call to give generously as we have been given generously by our Lord’s coming. Carols and songs about bells ringing in the Good News of Christmas will be everywhere. I can hear music of sleigh bells, silver bells, and jingle bells, as Christmas approaches. A great memory of being selected as a young boy to climb the church belfry — and ring the bell on Christmas Eve is mine.
Ringing bells has become a Christmas thing to do.
Last week, many of the churches in Texas rang their church bells 26 times in honor of the lives lost in the church shooting. Bells were commonly used in church towers to mark an event and often a time to mourn. Yet, the bells of Christmas far from being a toll of mourning are ringing in a message of great hope and joy
Why? ““The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”” (Matthew 1:23)
When God is with Us – there is hope. This hope is something to ring a bell about.
The poem of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reads:
“In despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;
“God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, goodwill toward men!”
This is Christmas. God is not dead nor does He sleep …. Ring the Bells …. Immanuel! God is with us! For unto us is born a Savior – Christ the Lord. In His coming,
“The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail!
How? Jesus!
The baby born in a manger grew up. The cradle turned to a cross. God in flesh appearing on Christmas took our sin ‘the wrong’ to the cross where He died and did what needed to be done to make sure ‘the wrong shall fail’.
In the resurrection of Jesus — we know we’re following the true SAVIOR.
“God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!(He Lives)
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, goodwill toward men!”
So we Ring the Bells!
Pastor Mark
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