Hi all
I’m not suggesting this new one of mine is! Let’s be clear on that. However, I’m really very happy with it, and look forward to sharing it (Dale as singer) at a Christmas gathering tomorrow night’ and perhaps on Christmas Day.
The title of course is a play on words, me emphasizing that God, in gifting Jesus in human form at Christmas has in a sense provided us “the greatest song around”. The best song ever!
A couple of things have inspired this. I came across an excellent sermon from 1966 written by N.T. (Tom) Wright, called The Most Dangerous Baby It significantly challenged me; with comments like:
If Jesus is the true King of all the world, whose kingdom redefines power and glory so that they are now seen in the manger, on the cross, and in the garden, then to pray “Thy kingdom come” from the Lord’s Prayer is to ask that this kingdom, this power, and this glory may be seen in all the world. It is not enough, though it is the essential starting point, that we submit in our own lives to God’s alternative kingdom-vision; we must pray and work for the vision to come in reality, with the rulers of this world being confronted with the claims of their rightful King.
Perhaps I’ll draw on some of this on Christmas Day, my final sermon at Indooroopilly Uniting Church.
As I prepared my sermon for this Sunday, not sure how I got there – I recalled the old Sam Cooke R&B classic from the early 60s: A Change is Gonna Come. It was as I read both Zechariah’s and Mary’s proclamations of God’s intent in Luke 1:
Luke 1:50-53 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
So, I’ve written The Greatest Song Around. Here’s the lyrics. Basic leadsheet here. My worship website will eventually have full piano score – hopefully by Monday night
The greatest song around
There’s a star
shines in the sky
There’s a lowly manger by
There’s a child there born this day
Jesus Christ is born to save
Sing with the angels
Join with their song
Join with their praises
Heaven’s song
God of the ages
in Jesus comes down
Sing with the greatest song around
The proud are scattered
Mighty fall
Hungry hearts hear mercy’s call
Creation’s soul sings praise to God
Jesus comes, light for the world
Kingdoms of this world will fall
Reign of God will triumph all
Peace and pow’r of God’s design
Full of grace
Gift for all time
Hi folks
