Dear reader, this Christmas we would like to give you something warm and lovely, like Spiced Chai sipped on the couch in the company of family, carols, feasting, worship and wonder.
If you are like this author, you might be tired of the annual internet fights about the so-called pagan origins of Christmas, or tired of the reminders (just and true though they be) that this holy day is not about Santa or commercialism or greed. Because of that, we have sought not to bring a lecture, for today is a day of cheer and glory, not mere study. Instead, we have sought to bring a song, or a poem. We hope that this will bring more colour to your appreciation of Incarnation Day, and that it will drive you to love and cherish the Lord Jesus, and be oh so grateful for the world that he created, sustained, redeemed, and which he is currently restoring.
So, please receive these lines not as some masterful work of important poetry, but as a simple Christmas gift from this author to you.
A poem of Stephen
To the tune of Greensleeves
Into the for’st and by the river
Whispers are wraiths and leaves
The fallen world with erring song
Is drained to its dregs and lees
Drained of glory, drained of light
Shiver the trees in the blackest night
Now rise, O moon, you heav’nly body
To Bethlehem do guide
He whose wife upon his steed
Bears one whose reign abides
Bear him Mary, bear him on,
Spoken by prophets, God’s own son
Creep o’er the fields, you rays of light
O standard bearer sun
And thaw our weary hearts again:
The morningstar has won!
Thaw the hopeless, thaw the frost
He’s here to seek and save the lost
Wise men bow and give their gifts
This boy destined to die
Herod crimson paints the streets
To Egypt off they fly
Fly O child, fly and live
Show us the grace your father gives
The roots of mountains tremble now
A sovereign king will reign
The birds can’t help but sing his praise
This child they proclaim
Praise the poor boy, praise the King
The Lion and lamb his name we sing
Into the for’st and by the river
Those leaves the nations heal
The gospel conquers every king
His peace on earth is real
Peace he brings, peace we preach
The corners of earth will our gospel reach
Distilled Orthopraxy 