Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence by Joylene M. Bailey

Image by janeb13 from Pixabay 

There is no way I could possibly come up with a favourite Christmas carol. I love most of them, as I mentioned here, in a former Christmas post.

But there is one carol that has been echoing through my mind for weeks now, especially the first line:

Let all mortal flesh keep silence.

The haunting, chant-like tune wafts ethereally through my thoughts at least once a day, and I ask my Father, what are You trying to tell me? Help me to grasp it.

It's in keeping with a theme that has been predominant in my life for several months now; a singular ribbon woven in and out of my daily-ness: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 

To make a long story short: two sermon series on the Lord's prayer, and two books (I highly recommend them) have focused me in one direction: God's holiness. Yahweh. I Am.

                 

Interestingly, the lyrics of the hymn are based on a part of the Liturgy of St. James, an ancient liturgy believed to have roots in the ministry of the Apostle James in Jerusalem.

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"The Liturgy of St. James includes a Communion rite with a vivid and memorable text, chanted by the priest before the bread and wine are presented ... The text draws in part from Habakkuk 2:20: “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”   Find the link here.

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They were translated into English from the original Greek by Gerard Moultrie, first published in 1864 in England, and entitled "Prayer of the Cherubic Hymn."

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The text expresses awe at Christ's coming (st. 1) and the mystery of our perception of Christ in the body and blood (st. 2). With images from Isaiah 6 and Revelation 5, it portrays the glory of Christ (sung to by angels) and his victory over sin (st. 3-4). Although it has eucharistic emphasis, the text pictures the nativity of Christ in a majestic manner and in a much larger context than just his birth in Bethlehem. We are drawn into the awe and mystery with our own alleluias." Find the link here.

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"We are drawn into the awe and mystery ..."

We are also drawn into the awe and mystery by the tune, which was not paired with the lyrics until 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The melody was originally a French Traditional Carol and some scholars believe it dates back as far as the seventeenth century.

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Dr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, with his usual genius for finding a suitable tune to accompany a text, set Moultrie’s hymn to the tune PICARDY, a tune which greatly helps to enhance the hymn’s expression of the sense of awe and mystery we experience in the Eucharist where, in ways beyond our comprehension, our Lord comes “from the realms of endless day” to be present with us “with blessing in his hand.” Text and music together provide a memorable description of the Eucharist as a “window” through which, for a brief moment, we may glimpse the eternal praise and worship offered by “the host of heaven” Find the link here.

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Awe, mystery. That's often what prompts silence, isn't it? Put that together with a newborn ... 

Think about it, when have you ever witnessed someone walking into a new baby's nursery with loud voices and clamouring noises? We don't. We enter the room hushed and on tiptoe. There is wonder as we look down on tiny clenched fists and soundly sleeping face. We watch the little chest rise and fall.

I think of the rough, unpolished shepherds coming into the stable. Hushed, in awe. Because they knew this wasn't any baby. This was THE baby. What a holy moment that must have been. Could they take it all in? Can I?

For many of us, this Christmas will already be quieter. Perhaps not of our own choice. But maybe this is an opportunity to gaze with awe on a Holy God in the form of a human infant. God With Us. Emmanuel.

God. With us. 

Keep silence. Take it in. 

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Below is a version of the song on YouTube. If you can't view/hear it from here, please take the time to find it online somewhere. 

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,

and with fear and trembling stand;

ponder nothing earthly-minded,

for with blessing in his hand,

Christ our God to earth descendeth,

our full homage to demand. 

    

    King of kings, yet born of Mary,

as of old on earth he stood,

Lord of lords, in human vesture,

in the body and the blood,

he will give to all the faithful

his own self for heav'nly food.

    Rank on rank the host of heaven

spreads its vanguard on the way,

as the Light of light descendeth

from the realms of endless day,

that the pow'rs of hell may vanish

as the darkness clears away. 

    At his feet the six-winged seraph,

cherubim, with sleepless eye,

veil their faces to the presence,

as with ceaseless voice they cry,

"Alleluia, alleluia,

alleluia, Lord Most High!"

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Joy will be spending Christmas at home in Edmonton with The Cowboy, Babe, and a snowman named Jubal, instead of the usual crowd of kids and grandkids. It will be a quieter Christmas, but she's looking forward to it. Find more of her joy-infused take on the world at Scraps of Joy.

 

Christmas Singing with Our Teachers by Alan Anderson

 

 

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” –Philippians 1:3.

 

I dedicate this message to the memory of our beloved friend, Bobbi Junior. She often encouraged me to write about those I call, “my teachers.”

 

Life in a long-term care facility can be lonely, where a resident is mindful of losses and memories of family and friends. The loneliness is difficult for most residents to deal with. In my role as chaplain, I had the honour of coming alongside many elderly, ill old people. I regarded each of them as my teachers.

 

I will never forget one Christmas Eve day. Here is the memory. A practice of the leadership team at Christmas comprised visiting the various neighbourhoods in the facility. With each visit the team sang Christmas carols and songs for the residents. Our residents lived with many serious health challenges. We loved them as people and respected them for their life experiences.

Memories of walks to the neighbourhoods stay with me even now. When the team entered the neighbourhood, the residents would wait for us to begin. Their faces of smiles like bright lights drew the team to them. We sang to our elders as people entrusted to us by families who knew we cared for their loved ones.

 

The songs we sang were Christmas classics like Silent Night, Away in a Manger, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, and catchy songs like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Residents and staff along with a few family visitors smiled, laughed, tapped their toes, and clapped their hands.

 

Occasionally residents held still by the progression of Alzheimer’s disease swayed to the rhythm of the songs. Traces of smiles brought their lips to life for a moment. One lady who had been a choir leader years ago moved her hands as if she took on the role of the team’s conductor.

 

When our Christmas song time would end, the team would return to their various responsibilities. We also had time to reflect on the honour of our call to serve our beloved elders. Neighbourhood staff had by then turned on Christmas music now heard throughout the care home. We all hoped this act of Christmas cheer helped our residents enjoy memories of the season.

 

As I would come alongside residents, especially those who were dying, they often reminded me of their precious memories. Most of their memories were of times with family and loved friends. The elders, my teachers, confirmed life is a gift we are to live and love. There were a few each year who knew this Christmas would be their last. This made singing for them more than Christmas cheer. This would be a time of farewell and memories of precious people.

 

I conclude this post with a personal note.

Bobbi is a precious person to me. I only met her once in person. What a wonderful memory I have of meeting her at our 2019 InScribe conference. My wife, Terry, and I met Tracy first as we entered the room at the conference. I turned around and there was Bobbi. She had a big grin on her face, and she said, “We finally get to meet each other.” We then shared a hug. I still remember her hug and I will always remember Bobbi.

 

Merry Christmas, Bobbi!

 

Alan lives in Deroche, B.C. with his wife, Terry. He contributed stories to Good Grief People by Angel Hope Publishing, 2017 and Story by Story: The Power of a Writer, Unstoppable Writers Publishing, 2018. Alan has also written articles for FellowScript Magazine. Blog: https://scarredjoy.ca. Alan is the Provincial Rep. Liaison and BC rep for InScribe.

Meaningful Music - Tracy Krauss

My all-time favourite Christmas Carol is Silent Night. I wrote about it last year in December, recounting a bit of its history and my fond childhood memories of it being sung in German. (Sentimental Silent Night)  Since I don't want to repeat myself, and since so many others have already written about it this month, my thoughts went to other Christmas songs that I love. 

I could mention Mary Did You Know, What Child Is This? or O Come O Come Emmanuel. Trying for something less known, how about Third Day's Jesus Light of the World?

As I tried to choose just one song, I realized that I genuinely enjoy Christmas music during the holiday season - period! There is something about listening to Christmas music that puts me in the Christmas mood. I especially love old favourites like Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole. Christmas music - both old and new - is the perfect backdrop for baking, decorating, wrapping and all the other 'chores' that come with the holiday season. It brings me joy, no matter how many times I hear the same songs sung by different people. I also enjoy playing songs and carols on my piano. 

I suppose it speaks to the power of music in general. Music can have such a profound effect. It's why worship is so powerful and why I believe we must be mindful of what we allow into our minds through music. Isn't it interesting that this is one time in the year that the message of Christ can be heard coming from the mouths of both the secular and religious alike?

So, crank up the Christmas tunes, everyone and enjoy the holiday season!

Tracy Krauss is currently serving as InScribe's president. She writes from her home in northern BC.  https://tracykrauss.com -fiction on the edge without crossing the line - 

On the Way to the Baby – Denise M. Ford

Prior to the latest round of restrictions in Alberta, we met our grandchildren for a morning walk to a neighbourhood park. Holding 5-year-old Violet’s gloved hand, I twirled her around and started to sing Jingle Bells.

 

“No Nana let’s sing my favourite,” Violet stopped and pulled me down, closer to her.

“There was a little baby,” she began to sing. From the inside of the stroller, where her 2-year-old brother Finn sat, a “Me too!” called back to us.

 

The carol singing began with Violet and Finn chiming together on the refrain.

 

There was a little baby, Oh my Lord.

There was a little baby, Oh my Lord.

There was a little baby, Oh my Lord. Way down in Bethlehem.

They layed him in a manger, Oh my Lord.

They layed him in a manger, Oh my Lord.

They layed him in a manger, Oh my Lord. Way down in Bethlehem.

They named the baby Jesus, Oh my Lord.

They named the baby Jesus, Oh my Lord.

They named the baby Jesus, Oh my Lord. Way down in Bethlehem.

 

Violet chose this song because we had sung it together at Christmastime whenever she came to visit. Raffi, a popular singer/lyricist of children’s songs, had featured it on his Christmas album. This became her most requested song during December 2017 when Violet as an older two-year-old became aware of a little baby coming to join her family in the summer of 2018. Not surprisingly when her Mommy and Daddy asked her what they should name the new little baby, Violet declared that he/she should be called Jesus.

 

A simple song, with a catchy rhythm. A refrain that resounds throughout the Christmas season, “Oh my Lord, Way down in Bethlehem.”

 

This month I discovered this song has a profound history, rooted in the African American Spirituals from the slavery period. Derived from the spiritual called, Mary Had a Baby, it has been recorded by various gospel singers over the years.

 

MARY HAD A BABY

Saint Helena Island Spiritual

Collected by N. G. J. Ballanta-Taylor

Mary had a baby, oh, Lord,

Mary had a baby, oh my Lord,

Mary had a baby, oh Lord,

People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

 

What did she name him? oh, Lord,

What did she name him? oh my Lord,

What did she name him? oh Lord,

People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

 

She named him Jesus, oh, Lord,

She named him Jesus, oh my Lord,

She named him Jesus, oh Lord,

People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

 

Named him King Jesus (My Lord)

Named him King Jesus (Oh My Lord)

Named him King Jesus (My Lord)

People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

 

Now where was he born? oh, Lord,

Where was he born? oh my Lord,

Where was he born? oh Lord,

People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

 

Born in a stable, oh, Lord,

Born in a stable, oh my Lord,

Born in a stable, oh Lord,

People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

 

And where did she lay him? oh, Lord,

Where did she lay him? oh my Lord,

Where did she lay him? oh Lord,

People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

 

She laid him in a manger, oh, Lord,

Laid him in a manger, oh my Lord,

Laid him in a manger, oh Lord,

People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone.

 

Several more verses follow as transcribed and recorded by N. G. J. Ballanta-Taylor, who went to Saint Helena Island, off the coast of South Carolina, to purposely document the African American Spirituals before they became changed and altered.

 

Freed slaves and their families lived on the isolated island after emancipation. They continued the practice of singing spirituals in the worship services held at the local praise houses and in their daily work.

 

In the book Celebration Stories of the Songs of Christmas by Linda Hargrove-Teets, she states: “Mary Had a Baby celebrates the birth of Jesus, the Christ, who brings salvation from slavery of every kind. This spiritual focuses on the gift of the Christ Child, but it is a celebration of mother and child also. First the call, an announcement: Mary had a baby! Then the response of appreciation and awe: Oh my Lord. The refrain, The people keep a-comin’ and the train done gone, ends every verse. Trains represented a new opportunity…They reached and linked places. And they offered a way out. Train imagery figures prominently in African American legends. There were also real trains of the Underground Railroad: “the freedom train,” “the lonesome train,” “the gospel train.”

 

In further research I learned that this song belongs to a group known as the Marian spirituals which included “Mary Had a Baby, Sing Hallelu,” “Mary Had a Baby , Aye Lawd,” “Mary Had a Baby, Muh Lawd,” and “Mary Had de Leetle Baby,” all four dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the birth of Jesus.  The Saint Helena Island Midwifery Program employed these songs during the early 1900’s to remind women of the holiness of giving birth. Although slaves had been trained as midwives during the slavery period, (owners would send them to Charleston for formal training), after being freed many returned to old superstitions and folk remedies. The Marian spirituals became prominent during the Saint Helena Island praise house services to reinforce the sacredness of birth.

 

This song seems more poignant than ever to me this December. Violet and Finn’s day home owner suffered a miscarriage and closed her facilities to recuperate. Suddenly I had unexpected company as I provided care for my grandchildren. We reveled in our time together decorating the Christmas tree, making crafts, baking cookies, putting on plays, setting up trains, playing in the snow and singing our favourite songs. While I prayed over the loss of one baby, I thought of Mary pondering the pending birth of Jesus. As all mothers do, she probably worried over the travail of labour. As did the mothers who suffered through slavery and the agony of bringing another child into a world of such brutal abuse. As mothers do, continually facing childbirth throughout time, mothers all united in one thought, the baby.

 

I now sing this song with an awareness beyond imagining. Simple, sweet, rhythmic, profound. This song reminds me that despite the woes of the common world we need to focus on the baby, on Jesus, while on our way to Bethlehem.

 

Saint Helena Island is part of the Sea Islands region, comprised of the North Carolina, South Carolina, and the Georgia coastal area. Scholars have studied the rich history of African American spirituals coming from the home of the first freed slaves.

Saint Helena Island, Chapel of Ease

Freed slaves worshipped here holding praise services and sang their familiar spirituals.