Advent Reflection 16 December

The First Nowell

 

Pause for a moment

 

Who do you want to share news with first?

 

Listen to the music

The first “Nowell” the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

        Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!

        Born is the King of Israel!

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.

And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.

This star drew nigh to the northwest:
O’er Bethlehem it took its rest; 

And there it did both stop and stay,

Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Then entered in those wise men three,
Full rev’rently upon their knee,
And offered there, in his presence,
Their gold and myrrh, and frankincense.

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made heaven and earth of nought,

And with His blood mankind hath bought.

Learn about the carol

"The First Nowell" is a traditional English Christmas carol with Cornish origins. It has been around since at least the 1700s. The word Nowell (or Noel) comes from Noël which is French for Christmas. Noël in turn is derived from the Latin word ‘natalis’ which means birthday. It was first published more widely as a carol in 1823, The tune is a traditional folk melody.

Time for reflection

Reread the first 2 lines of the Carol… they proclaim that the first ever Christmas Carol was sung by angels. But it was not sung in a religious space. it happened on an obscure hillside. And it was not sung to kings, politicians, academics, businessmen, or priests - but to poor shepherds.

Although looking after sheep has been the work of ordinary people in most societies, shepherds in first century Israel were particularly looked down on by the rest of the community.

Jesus said he came to ‘preach good news to the poor’ (Luke 4, quoting Isaiah 61:2) and ‘to seek and save those who are lost’ (Luke 19: 10); so this prioritising of the shepherds over other groups was entirely
consistent with His mission and message.

The King of Israel was building a very different kind of Kingdom -  one where those on the outside would be sought out first

 

Time for Action

 

Look for the people on the outside of our society, and imagine a way to show them Jesus’ love.