Advent Devotions Door County 2022

Fourth Week of Advent: Love - Christmas Eve December 24: Fum, Fum, Fum (Catalan) - Links & Lyrics Below I grew up in a home bursting with Norwegian pride and tradition. As relatives would come to visit, the house would be filled with the languages and expressions from “the old country.” But also overheard were English words sprinkled in and, occasionally, an odd blending of both when the conversation required a word that neither language could do justice. Occasionally, I would ask about a particular word or phrase, and the response often was, “well…there’s no English word for it…” So it is with Fum, Fum, Fum . If I were a child, my question to an adult in the room would be, “What’s a fum?” Historians who have studied this carol from the northeast region of Spain can’t agree. Is the word meant to imitate the rhythm created by an instrument? Or is it a take on the word “smoke,” based on the dialect of the area? The carol has simple words that retell the story of Christmas, focusing s...

Fourth Week of Advent: Love December 23: Wexford Carol (Irish) - Links & Lyrics Below  During the Advent Season it is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season that we lose sight of what it is all about. When we listen to Wexford Carol and listen to the words and music, it slows us down to remember the true meaning of the season. It takes us to Luke 2:1-20, “The Birth of Jesus.” It is a reminder of a desperate world needing the love of God. Even though this took place over two thousand years ago, it seems that we are still a desperate world needing God’s love. We need to remember that God loved us so much that He sent his son into this world as a tiny baby and be born of meager means. God sent angels to appear to the shepherds in the fields to let them know what was taking place. The angels told them not to be afraid. Words that we need to hear this day as well. With haste they went to see the baby Jesus with thankful hearts and joyful minds. What thin...

Fourth Week of Advent: Love December 22: Gesu Bambino (Italian) - Links & Lyrics Below Traditional Advent-Christmas carols come mainly from the nineteenth century and earlier, with relatively few written in recent years. One exception is Gesu Bambino , written by an Italian, Pietro Yon in 1917, with the melody composed by Frederick H. Martens. While this carol does not appear in several denominational hymnals I consulted, you may find it in supplemental song books. However, there is wide use among well-known singers, choral groups, and symphony orchestras.                                    When blossoms flowered ‘mid the snows Upon a winter night, Was born the Child, the Christmas Rose, The King of Love and Light.     Yon’s chorus was patterned on O come All Ye Faithful :               ...

Fourth Week of Advent: Love December 21: Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit (Filipino) - Links & Lyrics Below Today is the first day of winter, and tonight is the “longest night”. The Christmas season is marked by joy and excitement and for good reason: We celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ to the world. Many celebrate family members coming home, and church family coming together for special services.   But the season is also full of pain and grief that many experience and for good reasons. They have known personal loss, even very recently. Or pain lingers from losses suffered long ago. It is not unusual for churches to have a special service on this “longest night” to help hurting people in their struggle with the darkness of grief and despair.   A favorite Christmas carol in the Philippines is called Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit . I encourage you to plug that title into a search engine, and if you include “Filipino Choir of Los Angeles” you can get to a public performance. There is obvious ...

Fourth Week of Advent: Love December 20: What Child Is This? (English) - Links & Lyrics Below Read Luke 2:8-21 We live in a time where we have access to whatever we want within moments or two-day shipping. It is hard to imagine the anticipation that must have filled the minds of those who were waiting for the Messiah. We can quickly forget that there was a 400-year gap of silence between the prophets and the birth of Jesus. When we sing songs like What Child Is This? , we struggle to know the weight of the joy and celebration that the savior has finally come. We can look to Luke 2:8-21 and see how the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds. They at first were fearful but quickly the angel told them of the good news for great joy that would be for all the people. That this child who was born in Bethlehem is Christ the Lord. The waiting is over and the king has come. I love the lyric from this song, The King of kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone Him . This season...

Fourth Week of Advent: Love December 19: All Is Well (United States of America) - Links & Lyrics Below Matthew 9:36 The wait is almost over! Christmas is just a few days away. I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but I really do not like waiting. I’m so bad that if I see a line with more than 2 people, I will either continue shopping or put my items back. Recently, I went to the drive-thru with a friend. The nice young man at McDonald’s told me it would be a two-minute wait for my fries. TWO minutes? Are you kidding me? I was pretty upset, and my friend said the one word that has the complete opposite effect on me: Relax. Do you REALLY think I relaxed? I’ll give you a hint, NO. We all have had our moments. During Advent and the days before Christmas, it’s easy to let stress overwhelm us. Listen to the song: All Is Well . It’s like Jesus is whispering to us to just relax and to let His peace enter our hearts. But if we really listen to His whisper, we won’t get upset, we will st...