Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Sunday, 28 December 2014 - "From Heaven Above" ELW 268

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Sunday, 28 December 2014 - "From Heaven Above" ELW 268
[The text for today's hymn cannot be published due to copyright limitations. We apologize for the inconvenience.]
Yesterday's devotion noted how the Christmas season has inspired poets and musicians from the earliest days to lead the Christian community in contemplation of the wonder of the birth of Christ-child. Martin Luther is well-known as one who recognized that good hymns and good singing could be an effective medium of teaching the central truths of our faith.
In this hymn—all fourteen verses of this hymnal edition!—he lays out the good news of the "tidings of great joy" that echo the angels song at Bethlehem. Through word and image the hymn seeks to make sure that the good news does not remain only a matter of information, but that the manger of the holy child born to Mary may reach to transform our hearts into a "bed, soft, undefiled," a "quiet chamber" in which this Christ-child may continue to dwell.
O God of Blessing, we pray that this child of wonder, born in a manger in Bethlehem, may be born again today in us; that our hearts may be prepared to receive such a gracious treasure, and that with the shepherds we may return to tell the story of such great Love. Amen.
James L. Boyce
Emeritus Professor of New Testament and Greek
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. 
Master of Divinity , 1972
"From heaven above to earth I come" by Martin Luther, 1531; translated by Catherine Winkworth
1. From heaven above to earth I come
to bear good news to every home;
glad tidings of great joy I bring,
whereof I now will say and sing.
2. To you this night is born a child
of Mary, chosen mother mild;
this little Child, of lowly birth,
shall be the joy of all the earth.
3. Were earth a thousand times as fair,
beset with gold and jewels rare,
she yet were far too poor to be
a narrow cradle, Lord, to thee.
4. Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
make thee a bed, soft undefiled,
within my heart, that it may be
a quiet chamber kept for thee.
5. 'Glory to God in highest heaven
who unto man his Son hath given,'
while angels sing with pious mirth
a glad new year to all the earth.
7. Welcome to earth, thou noble Guest,
through whom e'en wicked men are blessed!
Thou com'st to share our misery;

what can we render, Lord, to thee?[Oremus Hymnal}
"From Heaven Above to Earth I Come" by Martin Luther, 1483-1546
1. "From heaven above to earth I come
To bear good news to every home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will say and sing:
2. "To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen virgin mild;
This little child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all the earth.
3. "This is the Christ, our God and Lord,
Who in all need shall aid afford;
He will Himself your Savior be
From all your sins to set you free.
4. "He will on you the gifts bestow
Prepared by God for all below,
That in His kingdom, bright and fair,
You may with us His glory share.
5. "These are the tokens ye shall mark:
The swaddling-clothes and manger dark;
There ye shall find the Infant laid
By whom the heavens and earth were made."
6. Now let us all with gladsome cheer
Go with the shepherds and draw near
To see the precious gift of God,
Who hath His own dear Son bestowed.
7. Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes!
What is it in yon manger lies?
Who is this child, so young and fair?
The blessed Christ-child lieth there.
8. Welcome to earth, Thou noble Guest,
Through whom the sinful world is blest!
Thou com'st to share my misery;
What thanks shall I return to Thee?
9. Ah, Lord, who hast created all,
How weak art Thou, how poor and small,
That Thou dost choose Thine infant bed
Where humble cattle lately fed!
10. Were earth a thousand times as fair,
Beset with gold and jewels rare,
It yet were far too poor to be
A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.
11. For velvets soft and silken stuff
Thou hast but hay and straw so rough,
Whereon Thou, King, so rich and great,
As 'twere Thy heaven, art throned in state.
12. And thus, dear Lord, it pleaseth Thee
To make this truth quite plain to me,
That all the world's wealth, honor, might,
Are naught and worthless in Thy sight.
13. Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.
14. My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more can silence keep;
I, too, must sing with joyful tongue
That sweetest ancient cradle-song:
15. Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto us His Son hath given!
While angels sing with pious mirth

A glad new year to all the earth.[The Lutheran Hymnal]
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