Best tunes reveal traits of Jesus Christ

The Rev. Sandra Walton, associate pastor, First Baptist Church, 1330 Kasold Drive:

I resisted this question at first. How does one pick a favorite from hundreds, yea, thousands of carols which span a period of 2,000 years? If we know little else about the Christian faith, or the Christ from whom that faith springs, we probably know, or think we know, a few things gleaned from the abundance of music surrounding us (sometimes it feels like assaulting) for most of October, November and December each year.

If I could pick a favorite, it would be one which not only tells the story of Jesus’ birth, but also tells us something of who he was and is:

¢ “Word before the world began/God revealed to us in man” from “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise”

¢ Why he came into our world in the first place, like “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” – “Born to set thy people free/ from our fears and sins release us”

¢ And what we might expect if we took him seriously, like “O holy Child of Bethlehem” – “Descend to us, we pray/cast out our sin, and enter in/be born in us today.” That raises the larger question, “What does it mean to ‘be born in us?'”

Perhaps my favorite, if I could name one, is not always listed in the carol section of contemporary hymnals but is often associated with Christmas. It is “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” – “And thy kingly crown but in Bethlehem home there was found no room.”

It speaks something of the birth, ministry, purpose and climax of Jesus’ earthly life. I am always moved when singing the recurring final line of each stanza, an invitation to Christ to dwell within my very being: “O come to my heart, Lord Jesus. There is room in my heart for thee.”

– Send e-mail to Sandy Walton at pastorsandy@firstbaptist.lawrence.ks.us.

Music, atmosphere recall fond memories

The Rev. Sandra Walton, associate pastor, First Baptist Church, 1330 Kasold Drive:

I resisted this question at first. How does one pick a favorite from hundreds, yea, thousands of carols which span a period of 2,000 years? If we know little else about the Christian faith, or the Christ from whom that faith springs, we probably know, or think we know, a few things gleaned from the abundance of music surrounding us (sometimes it feels like assaulting) for most of October, November and December each year.

If I could pick a favorite, it would be one which not only tells the story of Jesus’ birth, but also tells us something of who he was and is:

l “Word before the world began/God revealed to us in man” from “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise”

l Why he came into our world in the first place, like “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” – “Born to set thy people free/ from our fears and sins release us”

l And what we might expect if we took him seriously, like “O holy Child of Bethlehem” – “Descend to us, we pray/cast out our sin, and enter in/be born in us today.” That raises the larger question, “What does it mean to ‘be born in us?'”

Perhaps my favorite, if I could name one, is not always listed in the carol section of contemporary hymnals but is often associated with Christmas. It is “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” – “And thy kingly crown but in Bethlehem home there was found no room.”

It speaks something of the birth, ministry, purpose and climax of Jesus’ earthly life. I am always moved when singing the recurring final line of each stanza, an invitation to Christ to dwell within my very being: “O come to my heart, Lord Jesus. There is room in my heart for thee.”

– Send e-mail to Sandy Walton at pastorsandy@firstbaptist.lawrence.ks.us.