As we prepare to celebrate Christmas 2007, the Times-Republican encourages you to stop and remember the “reason for the season” — the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Today, we begin a journey to Christmas Day. The T-R will offer a different Christmas carol each day through Christmas. We hope you’ll take time to reflect on their words, and perhaps grab the family and sing a few verses each night.
As we busy ourselves with the preparations for Christmas, we encourage you to pause and reflect on the final days before Jesus’ birth. Remember the reason for His coming and the great gift God provided with the birth of the one called “Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father.”
Perhaps the words of the 12th century Christmas carol, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” say it best. Written in Latin, the carol was translated to English in 1851. Its author is unknown, but the words are a welcome reminder of the joyous celebration we are preparing for.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.