Handel's Messiah, Our Messiah ~ Valerie Ronald

 

             

 

I first experienced the majesty of Handel’s musical oratorio, Messiah, in a quaint stone church that had been converted into a community theatre. My enjoyment of classical music had been nurtured through my daughter’s education as a pianist through the Royal Conservatory of Music. She chose just the right Christmas gift with this musical evening out for both of us.  

Once the performance began, the stuffy, overcrowded theatre was soon forgotten as the beauty and grandeur of Handel’s music captured me. The instrumental ensemble and choir were small, the soloists gifted amateurs, yet their ardent presentation revealed true hearts for the music. I knew Handel’s famous oratorio was about Jesus Christ, but was surprised to hear verbatim Old Testament prophecies beautifully set to music, foretelling the coming of a Messiah, a Savior for all people.

I felt a thrill in my soul when the choir burst forth with, “Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.” (Psalm 24:10)

But nothing prepared me for the emotional impact of the renowned Hallelujah Chorus. All around me people rose to their feet as the glorious anthem rang out. By the time the last “Hallelujah!” faded, I too, was on my feet with tears streaming down my face. I felt as if a portal of heaven had opened so we could hear the angel chorus and experience a foretaste of being in God’s presence.

To this day, whenever I listen to Handel’s Messiah, I am overwhelmed with the majesty of God and awe at His divine plan to give us His Son in order to free us from our sins. Spirit-inspired music, biblical text so skillfully, at times brilliantly, assembled, combine to transport me out of my common humanity and lift me into transcendent worship. 

 

Handel’s Messiah has become a musical institution, traditionally performed at Christmas by choirs around the world. In 1741 George Fredric Handel composed the music for the world-renowned oratorio in a mere three weeks, after reading scripture passages and excerpts from the Book of Common Prayer compiled by his friend, Charles Jennens. History records that upon reading the texts, Handel was so overcome with their power that he shut himself in a room and worked day and night composing, often forgetting to eat. His servant sometimes heard his sobs as he labored over the inspired text. At the end of his manuscript Handel wrote the letters "SDG"—Soli Deo Gloria, "To God alone the glory.”

Handel is quoted exclaiming as he wrote the famous “Hallelujah Chorus”, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself!” At a performance of Messiah in 1759, honoring his seventy-fourth birthday, Handel responded to enthusiastic applause with these words: "Not from me - but from Heaven - comes all."  

Jennens, who compiled the scripture passages of Messiah, prefaced the first edition of the libretto with the scripture, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Tim. 3:16 KJV)  

Jennens chose the scripture passages for Messiah to illustrate the person and work of the Lord Jesus as summarized above. The great mystery alluded to in the prophetic passages of Part 1 of the oratorio, is realized as God manifest in the flesh through the incarnation. Part 2 focuses on Christ’s redemptive work on earth and Part 3 culminates with His resurrection and future reign. Throughout Messiah, composer Handel employs a technique called text painting, where the musical notes mimic the lines of text. Therein lies the reason for Messiah’s power and longevity. Given the God-breathed words of scripture concerning Christ, combined with the God-given musical gifting of Handel, this timeless classic continues to inspire its listeners to rise to their feet, a custom established since England’s King George II rose at the first Hallelujah of the famous chorus in 1743.

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6_nJ11BgTE&list=RDu6_nJ11BgTE&index=1
    

Valerie's devotionals can be read on her blog https://scriptordeus.wordpress.com

Silent Night, Holy Night by Lynn Dove

 The second wave of Covid-19 is hitting us especially hard here in Alberta.  My small town of Cochrane has had over fifty active cases and a staggering number of people have been diagnosed province-wide with the virus.  To combat the spread, our Provincial Government is forced to place more restrictions on us.  On the minds of everyone is, "How do we celebrate Christmas this year?"

We are told that we can no longer have any kinds of indoor gatherings other than those who live in the same household together.  We cannot have outdoor gatherings with numbers of more than ten people, and even if we keep the numbers to ten outside, we must all wear masks, keep distance from one another, and not share food.  Keeping in mind Alberta temperatures can dip to -25 degrees Celsius, so meeting outside may not be an option.

I have three married adult children and five grandchildren.  Including my husband and I, that makes thirteen loved ones whom I had hoped to gather on Christmas Eve for our dinner and gift opening.  There is the strong likelihood that we may not be able to do that this year due to the Covid restrictions.  For my husband and I, it would mark the first time we would be alone for Christmas since our children were born.  

And it is breaking my heart.

2020 is a year best forgotten I suppose.  I keep hearing people say it was the "worst" year ever!  I would imagine to many who are experiencing financial hardship, grief, isolation, and anxiety brought on by this pandemic, 2020 may be the most challenging year some have ever faced.  I can't say that personally.

2020 was my "recovery" year from my battle with cancer in 2019.  I celebrated strength, stamina and my hair returning!  My youngest daughter was married in July, and my fifth grandchild was born to my son and daughter-in-love the day before the wedding.  My husband and I managed to get out camping quite a bit to combat the Covid blues.  Just being able to enjoy the great outdoors kept our minds off the stresses brought on by forced lockdowns.  We took long drives, exploring sights we had all but taken for granted before Covid forced everyone to change travel plans.  My oldest daughter and son-in-love sold their house quite unexpectedly and are now building their "forever" home only ten minutes away from us.  Although we do not know what will happen in the days or weeks to come, my children still have jobs, we all have homes, and we all have our health.  All things considered; I certainly cannot call it the "worst" year for us as a family. 

Setting up my Christmas tree this year, I put on a DVD with a compilation of all my favourite Christmas hymns, carols and songs, to force myself to get into the spirit of the season.  I tried to sing along to some of them, but admittedly my heart just was not into it until I heard "Silent Night".    

"Silent Night", written by an Austrian priest named, Joseph Mohr just after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, was an attempt to bring a sense of hope to his little congregation who had suffered through twelve years of war and were now experiencing bitter cold and widespread famine.  Mohr hoped that the song's message of peace and of God's goodness in giving us the Gift of His Son, would speak into the hearts of those who were experiencing such hardship in 1818.  

"Silent Night" has always been one of my most beloved Christmas songs.  We sing it every Christmas Eve at church and at home.  It describes so melodically what my Danish parents always called the night before Christmas: "Hygge Aften".  

"Hygge" is a Danish word used to acknowledge a feeling or moment.  "Aften" is the Danish word for "evening".  Many of my Danish relatives will tell you that "Hygge" cannot be translated adequately into English because there is no one word to describe it.  To experience a sense of "hygge" is to be fully present in the moment, to recognize the blissful feeling of tranquility; to be in a state of perfect peace.  The Nativity scene, with Mary embracing Baby Jesus in her arms while He sleeps in heavenly peace, is the closest I can come to describing a visual representation of the first perfect "Hygge Aften". 

"Silent night, Holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin, mother and child

Holy infant, tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace." 

My husband and I are already thinking about how we might be spending this Christmas without our family gathered around us.  I know we will profoundly feel the silence of the night, without our children and grandbaby voices and laughter around us.  It will be a far different Christmas than the one I had thought we would have, but I am still determined this year to experience "Hygge Aften" with the same sense of wonderment as I do every year.  I will purposefully immerse myself in quiet contemplation of what Christmas is all about.  I choose to fully embrace the Joy of the Season giving praise to God for the incomparable Gift of His Son given to us on the most holy of nights.  

The song "Silent Night" alludes to the fact that the first Christmas was not at all what was expected on that starry night over two thousand years ago.  Although the Saviour of the world was prophesied, no one expected a King would be born in such lowly estate, with angels heralding His birth.  The shepherds never imagined that a baby lying in a manger would be their Deliverer and mine as well.

"Silent night, Holy night

Shepherds quake, at the sight

Glories stream from heaven above

Heavenly, hosts sing Hallelujah.

Christ the Savior is born,

Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, Holy night

Son of God, loves pure light

Radiant beams from Thy Holy Face

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at Thy Birth!

Jesus, Lord, at Thy Birth!"

The first three verses of "Silent Night" I know so well, but it is the rest of the song I seldom sing that have a poignant meaning for me this Christmas as never before:

"Silent night, Holy night

Here at last, healing light

From the heavenly kingdom sent,

Abundant grace for our intent.

Jesus, salvation for all.

Jesus, salvation for all.

Every year I pray that friends and family will accept the Gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ, and that the Good News will bring the promise of Hope to a lost and hurting world.  Singing the last two verses of "Silent Night" becomes my heartfelt prayer for 2021, that each of us would be reminded that God is in control, no matter our circumstances.  I pray for that peace that surpasses understanding as we celebrate, each in our own way in 2020, and look forward with great anticipation to the New Year ahead.

"Silent night, Holy night

Sleeps the world in peace tonight.

God sends His Son to earth below

A Child from whom all blessings flow

Jesus embraces mankind.

Jesus embraces mankind.

Silent night, Holy night

Mindful of mankind's plight

The Lord in Heav'n on high decreed

From earthy woes we would be freed

Jesus, God's promise for peace.

Jesus, God's promise for peace."

Amen!

(read more of the history of  the song, "Silent Night" here: https://theconversation.com/the-humble-origins-of-silent-night-108653) and the translations of the song: https://www.stillenacht.at/en/text-and-music

(This post was originally published on December 7th, 2020 on Lynn's blog: "Journey Thoughts")

Lynn Dove is the award-winning author, of the YA “Wounded Trilogy”- a contemporary Christian fiction series with coming-of-age themes.  A wife, mom, grandmother, and free-lance writer with articles published in several magazines and anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul books, her blog, “Journey Thoughts” is a Canadian Christian Writing Award winner.  Readers may connect with her at lynndove.com 

We Need A Little Christmas Now by Bob Jones

More than ever we need Christmas. Now.

 

Don’t you feel it?

 

One of my favourite Christmas songs makes the point.

 

“We need a little music, need a little laughter,
Need a little singing ringing through the rafter
And we need a little snappy, happy ever after
We need a little Christmas now!”

 

As the world groans under the weight of a pandemic, all of us are in the mood for a “little snappy happy ever after.”

 

Most every Christmas season when I was the pastor of Central Tabernacle and host of the Singing Christmas Tree, this song was a part of the choir’s repertoire. It's not religious in any way but the song speaks to the heart of a worry weary world.

 

"We Need a Little Christmas" originated from the Broadway musical Mame, and was first performed by Angela Lansbury in that 1966 production. The song is notably featured at the very beginning of A Muppet Family Christmas.

 

In 2020 we could all use a LOT of Christmas.

 

Our world is crying out for the healing and peace that is inherent in the birth of the baby in the manger.

 

We need a hefty dose of peace and goodwill toward all.

 

We need good news of great joy.

 

We need to know that “Jesus is the reason for the season” is not just a trite saying but the why behind Christmas.

 

We need the Christmas spirit now more than ever.

 

The reality of life is that the gift we need comes not in the shiny wrapping of a package but in the presence of God.

 

I agree with Rev. Susan Sparks, pastor of Madison Avenue Baptist Church in New York City. "For 364 days of the year, we are bombarded by news of the inhumanity of the world: the violence, racism, hatred and callous disregard. On this one day, we are reminded that in addition to the inhumanity, we as a people carry a spark of hope and joy."

 

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:7-12 (NIV)

 

Merry Christmas!

 

We Need A Little Christmas

Haul out the holly
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again
Fill up the stocking
I may be rushing things but deck the halls again now

For we need a little Christmas right this very minute
Candles in the window, carols at the spinet
Yes we need a little Christmas right this very minute
Hasn't snowed a single flurry, but Santa dear we're in a hurry

Climb down the chimney
Turn on the brightest string of lights I've ever seen
Slice up the fruit cake
It's time we've hung some tinsel on the evergreen bough

For I've grown a little leaner, grown a little colder
Grown a little sadder, grown a little older
And I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder
Need a little Christmas now

For we need a little music, need a little laughter,
Need a little singing ringing through the rafter
And we need a little snappy, happy ever after
We need a little Christmas now!

ISWC T-070.201.609-8

 

Discovering Christ in Christmas by Sandi Somers

Our InScriber Bruce Atcheson wrote, “I remember how amazed I was when I was making cards and my teacher told me how to spell Christmas. Until I was eight years old, I had no idea that the first five letters spelled the title of the King of Kings.”

Our theme question this month asks: When has Christ revealed something about Himself to you at Christmas?

Christ of "The Messiah"

It was a magical dusk in early December when neighbours dropped by our house on the way to Calgary to hear The Messiah. I was only a child, but this, my first exposure to the performance, piqued my interest, and I determined someday to attend The Messiah.

As a young adult, I attended two live performance of The Messiah. I had recently experienced a renewal of my faith, and the message became so meaningful to me. The majesty of the music covered the grand sweep of Christ's purpose: beginning with God's promises as spoken by the prophets, His Nativity, Passion, Resurrection and Ascension. It ended with Christ's glorification in heaven.

 As I write this blog, I’m listening to the beautiful music. I have attended the live performance several times since, and listen to each Christmas season, including on CBC Radio on Christmas morning.

But the story of its composition also has deep meaning for me.

* * *

The year was 1741. George Frederic Handel was deeply in debt and in poor health, having been prone to strokes and rheumatism, and nearly blind from cataracts. At fifty-six, he was nearly a forgotten composer, his music no longer played by the great orchestras of Europe.

He was deeply depressed and troubled, with little hope for his future and his music, and was ready to retire in disgrace.

But then he received a commission to compose a piece of music for a benefit concert for prisoners and hospital patients. A friend had an idea for a new oratorio, based on the Old and New Testament stories of Christ’s redemption.

The challenge inspired and revived Handel. Locking himself in his study , he feverishly wrote, sometimes even refusing food.

At one time, a servant came in to see the weeping Handel who explained, “I did think I did see all heaven before me, and the great God Himself.” He had just completed writing the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

Twenty-four days and 260 pages of manuscript later, The Messiah was finished. At the end of his manuscript, Handel wrote the letters "SDG"—Soli Deo Gloria—“To God alone the glory".

It became a huge success. When performed in London, King George II was so moved that he stood for the “Hallelujah Chorus.” And thus began a tradition we still follow today.

It has been the nearly 300 years since The Messiah’s first performance. Handel’s biographer, Sir Newman Flower, stated, “Considering the immensity of the work, and the short time involved, it will remain, perhaps forever, the greatest feat in the whole history of music composition.”

Handel continued to conduct this piece until his death in 1759, eighteen years after he composed it. He was buried with honour at Westminster Abbey.

The man who once felt life had no more to offer him had birthed a piece that has brought many—including me—closer to an understanding of God’s great plan of salvation through Christ.