Life At Unity
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December 24, 2024: O Holy Night
“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoicesFor yonder breaksA new and glorious morn” I woke up Christmas Eve morning when I was thirteen to the news that my grandfather had died and my mom had gone to be with her mom. My siblings and I were shocked and devastated. My sister asked, “Will we…
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December 23, 2024: Silent Night, Holy Night! (GTG #122)
For nearly 45 years, I celebrated Christmas Eve service at First Presbyterian Church of Green Bay and every year the service ended the same. They dimmed the lights, everyone lit their candles from the Christ candle, and we sang Silent Night, Holy Night! This was always one of my favorite Christmas Eve traditions and Silent…
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December 22, 2024: Go, Tell it on the Mountain (GTG #136)
From the time in elementary school when I could finally squeak out a few Christmas carols on my violin with others in my family of eight who played musical instruments to last year when three generations of family gathered in our den singing enthusiastically and playing carols together, this family tradition continues to be one…
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December 21, 2024: Away in a Manger (GTG #115)
“Away in a manager, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head…” I sang this hymn as a lullaby to our newborn Savannah as she was born days before her first Christmas. The soft, simple tune and slow meter calmed us both in such a beautifully chaotic season. We…
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December 20, 2024: Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (GTG #132)
“Christ is born today!”“Christ was born for this!”“Christ was born to save!” Good Christian Friends, Rejoice is an ancient carol from the 14th century. The text describes Christ’s birth and what it means for us. Each stanza and its meaning is summarized by the last phrase of each stanza. The first stanza tells what happened…
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December 19, 2024: We Three Kings of Orient Are (GTG #151)
“Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom;…” The third gift. I understand the first two: gold and frankincense. Those are gifts fit for a King. But the third gift? Myrrh? A bitter perfume? How did that get in there? Christmas is a time of joy and hope and peace. A…
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December 18, 2024: Mary Did You Know?
Mary, Did You Know? A simple question…or is it? The answers to this repetitive question move me into a contemplative spirit each Advent season. The song lyrically reminds us of Jesus’ miracles, the gift of salvation and who God is. I ponder the magnitude of a baby boy that ‘came from Heaven where angels trod’…
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December 17, 2024: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
lyrics by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow When I was a child, Santa couldn’t wait too long to start delivering presents, otherwise he wouldn’t be done by Christmas morning. Our house was on the early delivery list. At dusk on Christmas Eve, Daddy would take us to Rocky Butte, an outcrop from which our house was visible,…
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December 16, 2024: What Child is This? (GTG #145)
“What Child is this, who, laid to rest,On Mary’s lap is sleeping?Whom angels greet with anthems sweetWhile shepherds watch are keeping?This, this is Christ the King,Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;haste, haste to bring him laud,the babe, the son of Mary!” Scripture Reference: Luke 2:8 – 14 As we enter this Advent season, we are…
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December 15, 2024: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (GTG #128)
“…Christ the babe is Lord of all!Christ the babe is Lord of all!”“…Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow,praises voicing, greet the morrow;Christ the babe was born for you!Christ the babe was born for you!” This hymn is one of my favorites because it reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways. At Christmas, we remember…