Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night,
though dark the winter and cheerless,
the rising sun shall crown you with light,
be strong and loving and fearless.

Love be our song and love our prayer
and love our endless story;
may God fill ev’ry day we share
and bring us at last into glory.*

Marty Haugen’s Advent Hymn, Awake! Awake and Greet the New Morn, concludes with this, the fourth stanza.  Now the theme is love.  “Let love be our song, and love our prayer, and love our endless story.”  The babe of Bethlehem is coming, the nativity draws near, and it is a scene of pure love.  We picture the love in Mary’s eyes as she gazes at her newborn.  We see the love of the shepherds as they kneel at the manger. 

In 1885 Christina Rossetti wrote the poem, which we know as “Love Came Down at Christmas,” although it was originally published without a title.  It has since been set to music by many composers, often titled “Christmas Carol.”  The message of her poem is simple and sincere.  Love came down. Love was born.  Love shall be yours.  Love shall be mine.

May love fill your heart this Christmas season.  And may we share that love generously with all those around us. 

Judy

*Stanza 4, Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn, Text & Music Marty Haugen