Podcasts about from heaven above

Deaconess Sandra Rhein, Sacred Music Educator serving the Lord in the LCMS Asia Region, joins Andy to discuss the history of From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (LSB 358). Angels We Have Heard on High used with permission from TheHymnalProject.com a resource of the Michigan District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Find your edition of the Lutheran Service Book at music.cph.org/lutheran-service-book/related-products and the LSB Companion to the Hymns at cph.org/p-33586-lutheran-service-book-companion-to-the-hymns-2-volume-set.aspx. Find more research at hymnary.org.

Hymn “From East to West”  LW #43 Divine Service I, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal Gloria in Excelsis Deo is omitted Readings:  Isaiah 9:2-7, 1 John 4:7-16, Luke 2:1-14 Hymn “O Jesus Christ, All Praise to Thee” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #5, LW #35, TLH 80) Sermon Offertory: "Create in Me…"                          p.18 Prayer of the Church………                    p.19-20 "To Bethlehem Hasten"  (choir) Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship) Communion Hymns: “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness” LW 239 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” LW 49, TLH 94 “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” LW 37 TLH 85 “Angels from the Realms of Glory” LW 50 Closing Hymn: “A Great and Mighty Wonder” LW 51 --Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin:  Vigil-of-the-Nativity-Divine-Service-for-Online-12-24-2023.pdf https://vimeo.com/897488614?share=copy Picture: The Luther Bible 1534: The Gospel of St. John, #701

From Heaven Above.mp3 by Pastor Eric Tritten

Benjamin Kolodziej — member of Faith Lutheran Church in Plano, TX, professional church organist and composer, and contributor to the Lutheran Service Book Hymnal Companion, joins Andy and Sarah to explore our rich hymnody for the season of Christmas! Today, we learn about Lutheran Service Book 358, "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come." Find this hymn at hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/358. Theme music, “Lo, How A Rose Er Blooming” from theHymnalProject.com, used with permission. Find your edition of the Lutheran Service Book at music.cph.org/lutheran-service-book/related-products and the LSB Companion to the Hymns at cph.org/p-33586-lutheran-service-book-companion-to-the-hymns-2-volume-set.aspx. Find more research at hymnary.org.

Service of Light, LW p.250-255 Lutheran Worship Psalm 24 (insert) Isaiah 9:2-7 Hymn “We Praise, O Christ, Your Holy Name” LW 35, TLH 95 Divine Service begins with Introit, then Kyrie (Lutheran Worship, p.137) Readings:  Hebrews 1:1-12, John 1:1-14 Hymn “Of The Father's Love Begotten” LW 36, TLH 98 Sermon Communion Hymns: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” LW 49, TLH 94 “O Jesus, Blessed Lord, My Praise” LW 245, TLH 309 “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” LW 37 TLH 85 Closing Hymn: “Silent Night” LW 68, TLH 646 --Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin:  Vigil-of-the-Nativity-at-7-PM-Cover-12-24-2022.pdf Insert for Propers:  Vigil-of-the-Nativity-Insert-12-24-2022-Final-Isaiah-9.pdf https://vimeo.com/783363751 Picture: The Luther Bible 1534: The Other Books of the Old Testament, p.1.

My favorite church experience is singing “O Holy Night” at a Christmas Eve service. Many churches will turn off the lights and pass out candles that are lit as the song begins. It's quite moving. Today's episode is about the interesting and surprising history of “O Holy Night.” But first this: Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, you've come to the right place. Here you'll discover practical principles you can use to experience the life-giving relationships you were made for. I'm your host, John Certalic, award-winning author and relationship coach, here to help you find more joy in the relationships God designed for you. To access all past and future episodes, go to the bottom of this page, enter your name and email address, then click on the follow or subscribe button. The episodes are organized chronologically and are also searchable by topics, categories, and keywords. "O Holy Night" The words to “ O Holy Night” were written in 1843 by Placide Cappeau, a French wine merchant and poet. Although he was never particularly religious, Cappeau was asked by a local parish priest to write a Christmas poem to celebrate the recent renovation of the church organ in his hometown. The poem was entitled “Midnight, Christians.” Four years later in 1847 his friend, Adolphe Adam, wrote music to accompany the lyrics creating the song initially titled, “Cantique de Noel,” or “Christmas Carol” in English. Adam was a French composer and music critic who wrote mostly operas and ballets. Alongside the opera Giselle (1841), “O Holy Night” is one of his best-known works. “Cantique de Noel” (i.e., “Christmas Carol”) became popular in France and was sung in many Christmas services. But when Placide Cappeau left the church to join a socialist movement, and it was discovered that Adolphe Adams was a Jew, the French Catholic church leaders decided “Cantique de Noel” was “unfit for church services because of its lack of musical taste and total absence of the spirit of religion.” But even though the church no longer allowed the song in their services, the French people continued to sing it. An American perspective on “O Holy Night” Then in 1855, an American minister and writer, John Sullivan Dwight, saw something in the song that moved him beyond the story of the birth of Christ. An abolitionist, Dwight strongly identified with the lines of the third verse of the song “Truly he taught us to love one another; his law is love, and his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother, and in his name all oppression shall cease.” He published his English translation of “O Holy Night” in his magazine, and the song quickly found favor in America, especially in the North during the Civil War. Back in France, the song continued to be banned by the church for almost two decades, while the people still sang “Cantique de Noel” at home. Legend has it that on Christmas Eve 1871, in the midst of fierce fighting between the armies of Germany and France, during the Franco-Prussian War, a French soldier suddenly jumped out of his muddy trench and began singing “Cantique de Noel.” Then a German soldier stepped into the open and answered the Frenchman's song with Martin Luther's “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come.” The story goes that the fighting stopped for the next twenty-four hours while the men on both sides observed a temporary peace in honor of Christmas day. There is no proof that this ever happened, but that's why it's a legend and a good story, never the less. One thing I couldn't find is how or when the title of this Christmas carol became “O Holy Night.” "O Holy Night" is a first Years later on Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Fessenden–a 33-year-old university professor and former chief chemist for Thomas Edison–did something long thought impossible. Using a new type of generator, Fessenden spoke into a microphone and, for the first time in history, a man's voice was broadcast over the airwaves. And what did he say? He recited the beginning of the Christmas story found in chapter 2 of Luke's gospel, “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed… After finishing his recitation of the birth of Christ, Fessenden picked up his violin and played “O Holy Night,” the first song ever sent through the air via radio waves. Starting as a poem requested by a local parish priest in 1843, which morphed into a song 4 years later, “O Holy Night” has a most interesting history. Written by a poet who later left the church, then given soaring melodies by a Jewish composer, and then brought to America and used in the anti-slavery movement, this beloved Christmas carol is sung by millions around the world today. Lyrics to “O Holy Night” O holy night, the stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth; Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn; Chorus
 Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices! 
O night divine! Oh night when Christ was born. O night, O holy night, O night divine. Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming; With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand: So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here come the wise men from Orient land, The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger, In all our trials born to be our friend; Chorus
 He knows our need, To our weakness no stranger! Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend! Behold your King! your King! before him bend! Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is Love and His gospel is Peace; Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother, And in his name all oppression shall cease, Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we; Let all within us praise his Holy name! Chorus Christ is the Lord, then ever! ever praise we! His pow'r and glory, evermore proclaim! His pow'r and glory, evermore proclaim! Sources https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/occasions/christmas/o-holy-night-original-lyrics-composer-recordings/ (Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas”  Zondervan) https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-is-the-meaning-and-story-behind-o-holy-night.html What does all this mean for you? “O Holy Night" reminds us of God's relentless creativity in pursuing all of us. Using a man who left his faith in God to write the lyrics, and a Jew who rejects Jesus, God uses this song, over 200 years old, for the purpose of drawing us to himself. "O Holy Night" isn't just about one night, Christmas night. It's about all the nights and days that follow. Nights where you are offered reconciliation and forgiveness for your sins. Nights of faith made possible by the birth of Jesus who knows your needs and weaknesses, and who teaches us to love one another. It's about nights of hope for the future because Christ entered our world to save us from ourselves. It's about nights of worship for all that the Lord has done for us. Here's the main takeaway I hope you remember from today's episode “O Holy Night" shows God's passion for making himself known. He uses music written by people who don't believe in him to comfort people who do. Closing Well, that's it for today. If there's someone in your life you think might like to hear what you just heard, please forward this episode on to them. Scroll down to the bottom of the show notes and click on one of the options in the yellow “Share This” bar. Merry Christmas everyone! Other episodes or resources related to today's shows 082: A Christmas Gift of Anticipation 136: Make it a Merry Christmas this Year 021: The Most Important Relationship of All Last week's episode 188: Joy to the World - The Unintended Christmas Carol The place to access all past and future episodes JohnCertalic.com Our Sponsor You Were Made for This is sponsored by Caring for Others, a missionary care ministry. The generosity of people like you supports our ministry. It enables us to continue this weekly podcast and other services we provide to missionaries around the world.

Order of Service: - Prelude: "Do You Hear the Angels?" by Spencer Urban BLC, Dec. '22 - Hymn 139 - Once in Royal David's City - Luke 2: 1-7: And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 137 - O Little Town of Bethlehem - Blessing - Postlude: Piano duet: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come, arr. Jeffrey Blersch Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Laura Matzke (Organist), Andrejs Mudulis (Pianist)

Luther Gulseth, Church Musician and Sacred Music Curator for KFUO Radio, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the differences between a chorale and a hymn, some hymn tunes we might find in Bach's chorales, and things to listen for as you listen to these familiar tunes. Find the chorales mentioned at the links below: A Mighty Fortress (LSB 656/657), Cantata BWV 80 Movement 8 (Ein Feste Burg) youtu.be/dRCRPzcLQBk Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands (LSB 458), Cantata BWV 4 Movement 4 (Christ Lag In Todesbanden) youtu.be/7vGWlk8oiZM (starts at 10:45) O Sacred Head Now Wounded (LSB 449/450) (Herzlich Tut Mit) youtu.be/8o7GFn1vbd4 From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (LSB 358/385) (Vom Himmel Hoch) youtu.be/BJYn7H1Labw

Daily Lectionary: Job 20:1-23, 29; John 8:21-38Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin." (John 8:34)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Words of slavery are always the most optimistic. When there's no escape, you don't have to waste time hoping for something realistic. Addicts say things like, "I'm fine. It's okay. I have a plan,"  all the while lying in a gutter and smiling about it. It's the ugly truth about the bondage of sin. The same kind of slavery happens under the Law in the name of religion. It doesn't look like it's the Law telling you what to do. It looks like it's you who can't keep from doing the stuff that's killing you. You can even dare to think that it's your job to fix it somehow. Those are the dreams that leave you wanting to love Jesus but hating yourself while looking for an excuse for everything you do that He says not to. When you can't describe yourself without balancing your accomplishments and failures on a lopsided hill, hoping nobody notices, you know. Anyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. If your religion is just false optimism based on trying harder in the face of everything that hasn't worked yet, then Christianity has become a race towards not needing God. And that's not working. It's just the bold dreams of another addict. That's not okay with the Son. He sets sinners free. He is bound to the Cross in their stead. He bears the weight of the bondage of sin. He dies for you, and your sins are forgiven. Now you are bound to the Cross, too. That's where the real freedom is. It isn't license to do whatever you want. It's hope in an escape so rooted in reality that they buried Him in a tomb and three days later He moved the rock so you'd see. Jesus rose from death. You are free, indeed. You are free from having to fix this. You are free from being known by what the Law would call you. You are free from excuses that hide from wrath. You are even free to love yourself as God first loved you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen."This is the Christ, our God Most High, Who hears your sad and bitter cry; He will Himself your Savior be From all your sins to set you free." ("From Heaven Above to Earth I Come" LSB 358, st.3)-Rev. Harrison Goodman is content executive for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane BamschDiscover new insights from each line of the Psalms in Engaging the Psalms: A Guide for Reflection and Prayer. Read, repeat, and return to the Lord as you walk through all 150 Psalms. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

# Introduction I prefer quiet. I grew up in a house where my dad more than preferred it, he punished the rest of us, not ironically and quite effectively with his own unvoiced anger, for not being quiet. Quiet is drilled into me. Many stories we've heard about “spiritual” people also involve quiet. Among us Bible-reading types we even have our own modern-monkish moments we call “quiet times.” We've turned quiet into a *virtue*, and virtues typically get promoted and defended. Four sure, quiet can be good, polite, appropriate, reverent. For sure, the night Jesus was born was *not* silent. We come by it naturally; every time we sing “Silent Night” it strums the sentimental heart strings, as long as you don't actually have a newborn you're trying to juggle in one arm while holding the candle for the Christmas Eve service in the other. Silence is more a platonic idea than an incarnate one. We sing “let all mortal flesh keep silence,” which is an inspired line in Zechariah 2:13. But that is a call to silence for those who *won't* serve the Lord, in contrast to the call to those who put their trust in the Lord, “Sing and rejoice, …for behold, I come and will dwell in your midst” (Zechariah 2:10, see verses 11-12 as well). The silence is urged on those who about to face Yahweh's holy judgment. But when it comes to the birth of His holy Son, what does it sound like? “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host saying, ‘Shhhhhhhh!'” Yes, the angelic army of shushers as seen on TV nativity sets. The thing is, the skies were not silent, neither were the shepherds, or Mary or Joseph. The only quiet character in these first two chapters of Luke's gospel is Zechariah, and he was muted as discipline for *not* believing the word he was given. I am not calling for as many decibels around your tree or table, but songs of loudest praise are appropriate. Raise a glass, and raise your voice. Be careful trying to keep your joy, and your kids' joys, at a whisper. We're at the fourth of four advent messages. Already we've considered the Annunciation, the Magnificat, and the Birth of Christ. The next most immediate event concerns the shepherds and angels on the same night, and that will give us something to treasure and ponder in our hearts this week. As in the previous sermons, the three parts will be the story, a doctrine, and an application. # Joy to the World - Luke 2:8-20 As for the chronology, we know it is the same night because verse 14 says, “born this day.” As far as location, Luke says, “in the same region,” so outside of Bethlehem, near enough for the shepherds to cover the distance. “There were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (thank you again to the KJV translators; such language is four centuries old). There's one flock, of an unknown number watched by another unknown number of shepherds. Since it's plural there must have been more than two, and probably less than ten. They are on the graveyard shift. “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shown around them, and they were filled with fear” (2:9). If it was Gabriel he is not named, and the glory—the dazzling brightness—gets emphasized. Zechariah and Mary had both been startled, these shepherds no less. The next lines are Christmas gold. The angel said: > “Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (verse 10) At the moment, it is one angelic herald and a few small town shepherds. This hardly seems like a crescendo. Bethlehem was not highly regarded (Micah 5:2), and it's usually said that shepherds weren't either. And probably, these shepherds were not the guys you invited to your parties unless you absolutely had to. At the least, the gospelization did *not* come to temple priests or public dignitaries. While the consequences of this event would be extensive (all the world, Israel are “the people” and Gentiles are mentioned in 2:32) and eternal (salvation) and political (Christ the Lord), the good news was shared at small scale. It was no small celebration, though, but news of “great joy.” Joy to the world! > And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among those with whom He is please.” (verses 13-14) Glory *in altissimis Deo*! There are some things a solo just can't satisfy. This news, this great joy, took a *choir* of angels. It's a “heavenly host,” they are an angelic army of praise-rs. These singing-soldiers have lit up the sky and filled the silence with their song. You may notice that the ESV is not the standard holiday greeting card quote, which is “on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” That's from the KJV, based on a different set of handwritten copies of the New Testament (the Textus Receptus) that don't have a final sigma (ς) on *eudokia* (εὐδοκία), which would be in the nominative case (so, “goodwill to men”). The better reading has the sigma, making it a the genitive case, as reflected in most modern translations (so, “peace among men of [God's] goodwill”). The emphasis is on peace, and peace to those God elected for receiving His favor. The angel told them where they could see this Savior (verse 12) and they decided to go see for themselves “this thing that has happened, what the Lord made known to us” (verse 15). They went “with haste,” and whether by asking around or by their knowledge of a limited number of manger spots in the city (maybe it was their own stable), they found the family. “Hi. You don't know us, but we were just flash-mobbed by an angel choir about your baby.” The news got around. The shepherds were *not* silent about it; they are the only ones who saw the extraordinary glory, and they didn't keep it to themselves. And people “wondered,” some perhaps politely and others more open in their unbelief. Mary was collecting her thoughts, overwhelmed with the events, and then the shepherds went back to work, “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” What a night, loud and bright, and not quiet. # The Doctrine - Salvation Again, unlike the virgin birth and a qualified kenosis in the incarnation which are the focus of a few verses, salvation is a front-to-back-of—the-canon doctrine. But as we hear the angels voices about this divine night, we understand that it's about the “dear *Savior*'s birth.” Interestingly, Luke is the only one of the Synoptic Gospels to use the word “Savior” (and the title is used only once in John 4:42). The great joy of the Christmas story is about salvation, a Savior who saves and reigns as Savior-King, as Messiah. Gabriel told Joseph that the son of Mary should be named “Jesus,” Yahweh saves, “for he will *save* his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Mary magnified the Lord and rejoiced in “God my *Savior*” (Luke 1:47); did she know that the bitty-baby in her belly was her Savior? Zechariah, after he got his voice back, celebrated God who has “visited and redeemed his people, and he has raised up a horn of *salvation*” (Luke 1:68-69). John would go before Jesus “to give knowledge of *salvation* to his people in the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:77). So again, the angel of the Lord told the shepherds about the birth of “a *Savior*, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). The angelic host praised God for “peace,” and this is news of forgiveness and fellowship between God and man, that is, *salvation*. In the next section of Luke, Simeon recognized the Lord's Christ, “for my eyes have seen your *salvation* that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples” (2:30). And so, in this Christmas season we sometimes even need salvation from sinning in our “Christmas sins,” like snobby pride and selfish discontent and impatience and anxiety, in carol-vexation and silent-joy. # Use - A Christmas Call to (Expressible) Joy Let me state again that quiet isn't always bad, and silence is certainly not violence. Be thankful for the moments when not a creature is stirring in your house. But don't let Thomas Kinkade paint your picture of Christmas. Remember, it was the Grinch, like Grendel before him, who was *mad* at all the joyful noise. When you can't hear yourself think because it's so loud, transpose that into a meditation on what fussy shepherds might have said when the choir started all their hubbub. “You're startling the sheep!” The way the shepherds showed their faith was not by finding the manger and then miming congratulations. They talked among themselves, they shared testimonies with Joseph and Mary, they seem to have told anyone who crossed their paths, and ended up making more joyful noise in the Lord's name when they went back to the fields. There is a joy that is “inexpressible.” > Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8–9 ESV) But this is not describing a kind of joy, like something kept safe behind bullet-proof glass, rather it refers to our limited capacity to get all the rejoicing out. The Incarnation of our Savior is not a truth protected in a museum but proclaimed in a concert hall. # Conclusion In my message on the Magnificat I said about Mary's praise, “This is faith, yes, but it is not sleeping or silent. It's faith that goes all in, in obedience and also in reverence and *joy*.” In his poem “The Turn of the Tide,” C. S. Lewis writes: > Revel, mirth and shout > Descended to her, sphere below sphere, > Till Saturn laughed and lost his latter age's frost > And his beard, Niagara-like, unfroze In pre-Copernican cosmology, Saturn was the final planet, the planet of the end, the planet of old and cold, the planet of death. At the Incarnation, even Saturn couldn't stay hard. I am not trying to be a Scrooge or make all the needles on your pine tree brown, or to red pill your Precious Moments Christmas edition, but to open you up to a harder, more tiring, more Bethlehem-consistent, joy. “Silent Night, Holy Night” is two-thirds right, it was night and the baby was holy. Who knows, the only silence that night might have come between the baby gathering oxygen to wail. And in “O Little Town of Bethlehem” - “how silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given,” really? The first verse in “Let all mortal flesh keep silence” is quite shushy, so is “ponder nothing earthly minded,” except that the next couple verses require just the opposite. Is it only angels that, “with ceaseless voice” “cry: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Lord Most High!” How about instead: “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” verse 14: “My heart for very joy must leap; my lips no more can silence keep.” I'm not sure what your favorite Christmas carol is, and it's fine if it's not “Joy to the World” and you're just wrong. But Christmas is not pianissimo. The Savior reigns, “Let men their songs employ” and “repeat the sounding joy.” ---------- ## Charge All of us have it better than the shepherds. We do not need to go to Bethlehem and see, we have our own completed copies of the Bible to read. We have not heard the heavenly choir, but we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed (2 Peter 1:19). We've not seen a baby in a manger, but we've been privileged called to steward the whole story of the Savior. If the shepherds enjoyed the choir, how much more joy do we have to *join* in the choir? All you have to do is *not* keep silent about Him. ## Benediction: > But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18, ESV)

Mr. Justin Benson joins The Wittenberg Hour to discuss keeping Christmas in the home. ______________ What is Christmas?  How might Christmas be observed in the home? ______________ Bump music: Lord, Help Us Ever to Retain - Kirk Meyer - Kloria Publishing ______________ Hymns used in the episode: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come LSB 358 All My Heart This Night Rejoices LSB 360 Of the Father's Love Begotten LSB 384 _______________ Suggested resources: Around the Year with the Von Trapp Family Christmas Spirit _______________ Coming up next: _______________ Learn more about Wittenberg Academy. Register for classes (2020-21 academic year).

A brief hymn reflection on "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come."

Services for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 2019Service on 12/24/2019Christmas VigilOrder/Rite VespersService NotesPsalm 2 (Tone 4), p. 174Immediately following the Psalm: hymn #121, then the Pastor sings the Introit (p. 142), followed by the "Glory be to the Father" as with PsalmsThe Canticle = The Magnificat (p. 123) (easy-to-play version at the keyboard)The Collects will be the first option on pp. 125-125 and #9 on p. 148Introit When all was still and it was midnight, Your almighty Word, O Lord, descended from the royal throne. The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty. The Lord said to Me, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You." Glory...Gradual Alleluia! Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad before the Lord: for He has made known His salvation. Alleluia!Color WhiteTheme Nativity of our LordHymns:ELH115 vv. 1-3, 7, 8 All My Heart Sings and RejoicesELH 127 I Am So Glad When Christmas ComesELH 115vv. 9-12 All My Heart Sings and RejoicesELH 115vv. 13-15 All My Heart Sings and RejoicesELH 140 Silent NightService on 12/25/2019ChristmasOrder/Rite Rite OneService NotesPsalm 98 (Tone 1), p. 187Introit Unto Us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and government will be upon His shoulder. His name shall be called Worderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Oh, sing to the Lord a new song, For He has done marvelous things. Glory...Gradual Alleluia! Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad before the Lord: for He has made known His salvation. Alleluia!Color WhiteTheme Nativity of our LordELH 133 O Come, All Ye FaithfulELH 143 vv. 1, 4, 5, 7 The Happy Christmas Comes Once MoreELH 142 Festival Verse Rejoice, Rejoice This Happy MornELH 123 Distribution Hymn From Heaven Above to Earth I ComeELH 123 vv. 13-15 From Heaven Above to Earth I ComeELH 138 Joy to the WorldService on 12/25/2019ChristmasOrder/Rite Rite FourService OutlineThe Invocation, Hymn #138, Confession III & Absolution I (p. 131)Introit (p. 142) with "Glory be to the Father" as with PsalmsKyrie: Hymn #121:1, 5Gloria: Hymn #125The Collect (#10, p. 148)The Epistle - Titus 3:4-7The Chief Hymn: #137The Gospel - Luke 2:15-20The Creed Hymn: #38The Sermon (festival verse: hymn #142)The Prayer of the Church (p. 96)The OfferingThe Exhortation (p. 52)The Lord's Prayer (p. 53)The Consecration (p. 54)The Distribution, with hymns: #134, #313The Collect of Thanksgiving (p. 56)The Benediction (p. 56)Hymn #147Introit Unto Us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and government will be upon His shoulder. His name shall be called Worderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Oh, sing to the Lord a new song, For He has done marvelous things. Glory...Gradual Alleluia! Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad before the Lord: for He has made known His salvation. Alleluia!Color WhiteTheme Nativity of our Lord

On the celebration of the Transfiguration, Pastor David Keil preaches on the theme, "From Heaven Above." Scriptures of the day were Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Hebrews 3:1-6, and Luke 9:28-36.

00:00 - Introduction 03:40 - Scripture Narrative (Hymn: From Heaven Above To Earth I Come) 09:48 - Free-for-All (Favorite Part of Christmas...at Church) 24:19 - Main Topic (A Merry Christmas Episode) On episode THIRTY-NINE of Let the Bird Fly! Wade, Mike, and Peter are without Ben, but they are joined by EIGHT of their lovely daughters. Many of these voices are not strangers to the podcast, but this is the first time we’ve had them all on the same episode, as well as first appearances by Beatrice and another Sophia (that’s two Sophia’s for those keeping count at home). The girls help the guys through the Scripture Narrative, which turns out to be more of a hymn study, as Wade walks through From Heaven Above to Earth I Come. They also stick around for the free-for-all, but decide to leave their dads to manage the main topic alone. Speaking of the main topic, the guys share some of their thoughts on Christmas and the Christmas season. The guys mention a couple of books the you might be interested in, so here they are with links to their Amazon page: Luther at the Manger: Christmas Sermons on Isaiah 9:6 trans. Nathan Biebert and Martin Luther's Christmas Book ed. Roland Bainton. From all of us here at Let the Bird Fly!, we wish you and yours a very happy and blessed Christmas! Thank you for listening, we hope that you enjoy the conversation. As always, if you are enjoying the show, please subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn Radio. You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. And, of course, share us with a friend or two! If you’d like to contact us we can be reached at podcast@LetTheBirdFly.com, or visit our website at www.LetTheBirdFly.com. Thanks for listening! Attributions for Music Used in this Episode: “The Last One” by Jahzzar is licensed under an Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. “Horses to Water” by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena “Gib laut” by Dirk Becker is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License. “Whistling Down the Road” by Silent Partner “Not Drunk” by The Joy Drops is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.

It’s a few days before Christmas. ProfessorMom and the kids and I are on an intense Christmas road trip and we find ourselves in Wittenberg, Wisconsin. There's a Wittenberg in Wisconsin?! I wonder if we'll see Robot Martin Luther!! Happy Reformation 500 and Merry Christmas! I wonder if Robot Martin Luther wrote any Christmas hymns. Of course, he did!From Heaven Above to Earth I Come.From heaven above to earth I comeTo bear good news to every home;Glad tidings of great joy I bring,Whereof I now will say and sing:To you this night is born a childOf Mary, chosen virgin mild;This little child, of lowly birth,Shall be the joy of all the earth.This is the Christ, our God and Lord,Who in all need shall aid afford;He will Himself your Savior beFrom all your sins to set you free.More fun at www.ComposerDad.comFind video episodes of ComposerDad vs. Bible on YouTube

Pastor Todd concludes our series with the how the Christ-child gave us the eternal gift of life From Heaven Above. Also included in this podcast is an original song based on Martin Luther's hymn "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come."

Retro 70s Rock Fusion Feel with this song. Fans of Phil Keaggy may appreciate the Phil Keaggy style lead guitar work ; a bright, overdriven electric guitar tone playing inventive, chromatic, melodic and bluesy 16th note phrases ( nobody compares to Phil's virtuoso playing!). The song has a very engaging Funky Rhodes Electric Piano( very 70's!), a warm groovin' Pop Bass playing syncopated 1/2 notes with tasteful fills, Fingerpicking Acoustic Guitars, and Nashville influenced drumming. The song has a very Retro 70s Rock Fusion Feel. The Outro has a delightful guitar jam.Time: 3:13Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.                                                               1Peter 5:7Blessings, Shiloh Worship MusicWww.ShilohWorshipMusic.comOur Music Free on iTunes:http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/free-praise-and-worship/id436298678© 2012 Shiloh Worship Music Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.                                                               1Peter 5:7* I Need More I Need More of Your MercyI Need More of Your LoveEverlasting Father From AboveChorus:I Know That You CareYou Care for All of My NeedsLike The Lilies Of the ValleyYou Provide All of My NeedsI Need More of Your PeaceYour Righteousness To IncreaseHoliness, Oh Father, Is What I Need!I Need Overcoming WisdomI Need Overcoming FaithI'm Looking To The SaviorFrom Heaven AboveSong StructureIntroBm     C#m    D    EVersesA    F#m  A  F#m D6/F#          AChorusAmaj9 D2/A  E7 ABm     C#m    D    EI Need More © 2012 Shiloh Worship Music COPY FREELY;This Music is copyrighted to prevent misuse, however,permission is granted for non-commercial copying-Radio play permitted   www.ShilohWorshipMusic.com Free Christian Worship Music on the iTunes Storehttp://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/free-praise-and-worship/id436298678Please check out our Free Christian Worship Music on the iTunes Store. We offer 4 free Podcasts that contain our original worship music. Below are the links- if you like them you can subscribe FREE and receive new songs in the form of podcasts as they are released.FREE Original Praise and Worship MusicOur style is very eclectic ranging from Blues to Folk to Reggae to Worldbeat to Bluegrass to Rock-n-Roll. Most songs Are in English, some songs are in English and Spanish, and  a few songs have been translated into other languages like Swahili, French, Chinese, and Korean. Etc.http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/free-praise-and-worship/id436298678

Staring out Pastor Wolfmueller tries his hand again at the game "Don't forget the lyrics...to your Hymns" with the Martin Luther hymn, "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come." Only then will we play "Bigg