“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2
There are major cities all over the world with millions of people. Some have skyscrapers and very expensive buildings and elaborate landscaping - New York, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Shanghai, Mumbai, and Seoul. Then there are those places we call a village or a town because they are so small - maybe even a population that barely hits double digits. But that's home and the place where someone lives. The song "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" is a reminder that to us that the Lord loves each of us.
The author was a clergyman with an amazing presence. He was 6 foot 6 in height and quite a presence in the pulpit. He served primarily in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. He was known for his love of God and children.
As the Civil War was coming to an end, he took a trip to the Holy Land. In those days a trip like this was long, and dangerous as well as exhausting. While he was there he attended a 3 hour Christmas eve service at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. It was a spiritual highlight for him.
Three years later in Philadelphia, he needed something special for the children's church advent celebration. He wrote a poem using the memories and inspiration of his trip to Bethlehem. It was embraced and has lasted these 150 years. There were some memorable lines that still speak to us today:
*The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
*O Holy child of Bethlehem descend on us we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in....be born in us today. AMEN
Do you have any fears? If so, they have been taken care of already.