Zechariah's Song

Music is a rich part of the celebration of Christmas.  Who does not have rich memories of Christmas music surrounding us through a season that invites us to hear the music that too often gets shifted into the background.  Many of the tunes that play around us throughout the rest of the year reflect very different themes, and hopes of a different kind.

One of the songs of the season, that sometimes does not get heard even during the Christmas season even though it is a Christmas song, is Zechariah's song.  It is a song that arises out of a story, which you can read in Luke 1 beginning with verse 5.  It is the story that precedes the story we are most familiar with, but there is much to share there.  Take a few moments to review the story.   

Against all odds, God works in the life of Zechariah to give he and Elizabeth a son.  It was difficult for Zechariah to fully grasp it at the outset, and Zechariah had 9 months when he was unable to speak, to have time in the silence to reflect on what God was doing in his life.  At the end of that time, when John was born, and he had he opportunity to name him, it was then that Zechariah had his speech restored, and what came out of his mouth is his song.  What would be on your heart if you had not spoken for almost a year?  Do you ever have moments of stillness and silence to reflect and give God room to be heard over the noise of he other tunes that surround us so much of the time?  Zechariah's song reflects what was on his.

In the sermon this week, Pastor Jon invites us to take a few moments to reflect on the music, and listen for what was on Zechariah's heart as he sang, and what is happening in ours as we join him in the song.  If you would like to listen to the sermon once again, or perhaps for the first time, you can access or sermon library here, or listen to the livestream version here.