by 
Sunday, December 25
On, on they send, on without end, their joyful tone, to every home.
From Carol of the Bells
By Rev. Carol Bennett-Barker
Carol of the Bells,” also known as the Ukrainian Carol, was adapted from Shchedryk by Mykola Leontovych (1877-1921), and was first performed in December 1916 by students at Kiev University. The original Ukrainian song is based on an old Slavic legend that every bell in the world rang in honor of Jesus on the night of his birth.
Today is Christmas! Bells are ringing around the world – do you hear that beautiful sound of celebration and praise? “On, on they send, on without end, their joyful tone, to every home” – wild, jubilant ringing—big bells, tiny bells—and all to celebrate the birthday of the King of Kings! There is no greater joy—our Savior is born today! He has come to set the captives free, to restore peace and justice—to radically change the world by changing our hearts!
Jesus is our hope, our peace, our joy, because of love! And it’s the craziest kind of love imaginable for us sinners—a bunch of misfits blind to our faults and politically correct passivity, distanced from the needs of others , with their suffering, struggles, and vulnerability. Jesus came to remind us we are all made in the image of God—God the Creator of all, source of all love, grace, and power. Jesus came to remind us who we really are! Children of the Heavenly Father—born to dance, sing, and rejoice in His light and love!
Celebrate today and every day with abandon—with many embraces, with thanksgiving, with love for everyone who crosses your path and your mind! It’s Christmas, and we are blessed forever and ever! Let your life be like those wonderful bells, lifting their sweet tones to heaven, “on, on they send, on without end, their joyful tone, to every home”!
Prayer: Happy birthday, Jesus! We love You, we worship You, we give You our praise! Make our lives a reflection of You!—a song of love that never, ever ends, to all the world. In Your precious name we pray, Amen!
