We have a game at my house. If you can get the song that’s stuck in your head to be stuck in someone else’s head too, you win. So, sometimes it’s Good King Wenceslas, sometimes it’s Barbara Manatee, last week it was You Put This Love in My Heart by Keith Green. So today, I would like to play this game with all of you. I hope you don’t mind.
The song will come in two pieces today. The first piece is the lyrics to read, to meditate on, and to celebrate. The second is just a fun video with the melody that is most commonly associated with this hymn.
READ: Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before You,
Op'ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
Always giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother,
Let Your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God's own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us Sunward
In the triumph song of life.
WATCH:
REFLECT: As you watch the video imagine the musicians represent us, the believers, the Church, all with different gifts, different parts, old, young, male and female, playing/singing together the triumphant song of Joy in Jesus. The world cannot help taking notice. And, as the Church does its job, they are drawn into the celebration!