I must admit that I signed up to write the devotion on The First Nowell because this is not my favorite Christmas hymn. This well-known hymn originated in the thirteenth or fourteenth century in the Cornwell region of Southern England. Sung as part of “Miracle Plays” or theatrical presentations of biblical stories, it tells the story of Jesus’ birth. The lyrics are mostly biblically accurate (apart from the shepherds seeing the star) and the tune is quite singable with an easily repeated refrain. So why have I never liked The First Nowell?
I think it’s because this hymn is so long! I see the eyes of congregation members when they open the hymnal and discover a hymn has five verses. The First Nowell has six verses! With the refrain, the hymn runs over into a second page in the hymnal! We could never sing a two page hymn with six verses in worship, right?
And yet, I have discovered, the final verse speaks to me this year.
Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood our life hath bought.
So, may joyful shouts of Nowell echo through our church and community this year. May we sing praises to our heavenly Lord together with one accord. For if we persist to the end, we find that the Creator is our Redeemer and comes to bring us joy.
Prayer: God of grace, we sing Nowell, Nowell, Nowell! It is a joyful shout that only resounds when we lift our voices with one accord. Draw us together with shepherds and wisemen to see the king born in a manger. Amen.
Rev. Matt Rich