Christmas is fast approaching like an unstopable jaggernaut. Here we are gearing up for our many Christmas activities, and I've been rehersing the choir for our annual Carol Service.
Whilst preparing the carols that we are going to be singing this Christmas I became increasingly aware of the amazing treasures and truths that are contained within so many of our old Hyms and carols. The words that they often use are so rich with theology, oozing with the truth of who God. Take O come all Ye Faithful, it feels like many of the lines come straight out of the Nicene Creed.
In my conversations recently this idea of making use of our wonderful Christian musical heritege has been a recurring theme. There is a vast reservoir of resources waiting to be used in the hym books of old and it is wonderful to be able to sing of truths which have been sung by generations of believers in a contemporary style, reviving the old with the best of the new. This idea can be found in Matthew 13 v52 where Jesus descibes how the wise teacher will bring out treasures both old and new. In our churches to borrow a phrase from a friend of mine we need to bring out the best of the old with the best of the new.
Well I hope this Christmas as we gather in our churches to sing some our well known Carols, I hope we are reminded of the treasures and the amazing truths that are contained within.