It’s hard to believe that the Christmas season is upon. Here in London, the official start to Christmas was pronounced earlier this week with the annual Christmas with The Salvation Army concert at the Royal Albert Hall. A glorious celebration of the season! Today, we celebrate the first Sunday in Advent. The Advent season is a time for us to prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas. It is intentionally designed to focus our attention on the real meaning of Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ. This morning in worship, we’ll light the ‘prophecy candle’ – a candle that is typically purple in color - representing the prophets who foretold the birth of our savior. We will continue lighting the other candles in the Advent wreath until the white candle is lit on Christmas Day. Another important part of the Advent season is the singing of Christmas carols. In the early days of The Christian Mission, a 17-year-old teenager by the name of John Lawley was converted under the ministry of William Booth. Lawley became an Officer and served along-side The Founder throughout his ministry. Commissioner Lawley was a poet and he wrote several songs found in our songbook. Indeed, many believe that the song - To Save A Poor Sinner – (SASB 137) is The Salvation Army’s Christmas Carol – with the final two stanza’s having been penned by Lawley himself. On this first Sunday in Advent, I invite you to reflect on the words of - To Save A Poor Sinner – our Christmas carol – which tells the whole story of Christ’s birth and life. When Jesus was born in the manger The shepherds came thither to see, For the angels proclaimed that a Saviour was born To save a poor sinner like me. Chorus To save a poor sinner, to save a poor sinner, To save a poor sinner like me; For the angels proclaimed that a Saviour was born To save a poor sinner like me. He was wounded for my transgressions, Acquainted with sorrow was he; In the garden he prayed, and sweat great drops of blood, To save a poor sinner like me. He was brought to Pilate for judgment, He was sentenced to hang on a tree. It is finished! he cried, when he suffered and died To save a poor sinner like me. But death and the grave could not hold him, He burst them asunder for thee. On the third day he rose, in spite of his foes, To save a poor sinner like me. Im fighting my passage to Heaven, Oer death I shall conqueror be, Then to Glory Ill fly, and shout through the sky: He saved a poor sinner like me. Commissioner Silvia and I invite you and your family to enter into this Advent Season with hearts of sincere expectation. May the true meaning and spirit of the Christmas season be renewed in your life this year. May God bless you.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 08:44:17 +0000
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