"What Child is This?" - 25 December 2022

 


What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while 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. That, Lord, is our prayer. That nations and countries, tribes and peoples, would race to bring him laude and honor. Toward this end, we ask you to calm the threats and international thrashing. Take up our country and restore goodness and rightness from the Whitehouse to our house. Rebuild communities and turn neighborhoods to neighborliness. All the liberties our forefathers won, may we and all the inhabitants of this land maintain in righteousness and peace. And for the nations of this world, including North Korea, Morocco, Argentina, and Venezuela, bring them to the one who is born Christ the King, and find their fullness in him and in his rule.

 

Why lies he in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear, shall pierce him through; the cross be borne for me, for you: hail, hail the Word made flesh, the babe, the son of Mary. We implore your mercy and kindness to change hearts and minds and life-directions of many (…). May our families and family get-togethers become enclaves of godly tranquility. To that end, bring about forgiveness and reconciliation where it is needed (…). And we ask on behalf of those who feel the misery of their condition through poverty or troubles with their mental health or physical ailments (…), may they come to know that nails, spear have pierced him through, he bore the cross and took our afflictions upon himself. And may they find that by his wounds we are healed.

 

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; come, peasant, king, to own him; the King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him. Raise, raise the song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby: joy, joy for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary. For us we pray, for your church world-over, and for these congregations in Oklahoma – Michigan Ave Baptist Church, New Hope, Olivet, and Plainview Baptist Church, may we bring him incense, gold and myrrh. May loving hearts enthrone him! And may joy, joy come forth from our lips and in our lives, for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary!


And now, we join together to pray as Jesus taught us, saying, Our Father…

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