“Joy to the World,” a beloved Christmas classic, turns 300 this year. Isaac Watts’s gorgeous interpretation of Psalm 98 marks Christmas for so many, whether it’s listening to Bing Crosby, dancing to your favorite artist’s take, or singing together in church.
At one of the churches I served, they always ended Christmas Eve worship by singing Joy to the World. They sang Silent Night by candlelight with the lights dimmed, as so many churches do. But at some point in their history, they realized that Christmas was a joyous occasion! Now was the time to celebrate, not contemplate. So after singing Silent Night, the lights were flung back to full strength and everyone broke into “Joy to the World.”
At first, I was taken aback. I was used to the contemplative “Silent Night” and soft “Merry Christmas”-es. But I soon learned to appreciate this joyful take on Christmas which flowed so easily into boisterous conversation and Christmas Greetings as families chatted before heading home for the Christmas Eve festivities.
This December, we will be focusing on Joy: Hopeful Joy, Loving Joy, Abundant Joy, Peaceful Joy, Incarnate Joy, and Compassionate Joy. Rather than “joy” being yet another word for “happiness,” we will discover the depths of joy that can be found- all part of the coming of Jesus to this world and a message the world still so desperately needs.
So let’s celebrate this historic year with deep joy this December.
Blessings and Joy,
~Pastor Annie
Pastor Annie McMillan