Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son,
and will call Him Immanuel
The lights were dimmed and the candles gave off a warm and welcoming glow. My fellow students and I were positioned on the steps leading to the chancel and altar of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ., telling in word and song the story of the birth of the Christ child. We sang with all the faith and joy our hearts could muster.
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend on us we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today
On that night I remember concentrating really hard on all the words to the songs and Scripture we would sing and say. Today, however, it really knocks me over - we were telling our little part of the world that God is with us! We need not be afraid - God is with us! We can live each day with courage - God is with us! We can trust even in the face of adversity - God is with us! Let this truth plant its roots deep in your heart this Advent - God is with you!
We hear the Christmas angels,
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel
lyrics from "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
