12 Days Of Christmas: Hallelujah

We send out Christmas greetings to friends and family near and far.  We put up the tree in hopes that Santa will arrive, but most of all we take the time to thank God for His Son.

- Kate Summers

Every Sunday afternoon, my extended family from Indiana, Colorado, Arizona, and Northern and Southern California (they are two different states, you know) gather together via Zoom to connect with one another and keep up on each other’s lives. My eldest sister always presents a few questions in advance to help stimulate the conversation. A couple of weeks ago, the questions were:

1. What did you learn this past week? (This one is a weekly staple)

2. If you could wake up every morning, open up your bedroom blinds, and look out a huge glass window at the perfect view, what would that view be? (Pam said the view we have right now from our home. I said, “Looking through the palm trees at the ocean in Hawaii.” Both are very acceptable to me.)

3. In your opinion, what was the greatest piece of music ever written? My response: “It’s a toss-up between Handel’s Messiah and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. (okay, I may have been joking a little on the latter one… maybe)

Handel’s Messiah beautifully tells the story of the coming Messiah and King. The musical concludes with the very familiar “Hallelujah Chorus.” A portion of the song contains:

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

King of kings (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)

And Lord of lords (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)

And He shall reign forever and ever

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah

It has been tradition since 1743 when King George II rose from his seat, enthralled by the beauty of the music, to stand for the Hallelujah Chorus.

This Christmas, as we remember the gift of the baby Jesus, who is and forever will be…King of kings and Lord of Lords... may we stand in awe of His majesty, His greatness and His power. Hallelujah!

Pastor Ken

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