GOD OUR FATHER CHRIST OUR REDEEMER MAN OUR BROTHER

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On Sunday, December 7th Sis. Eve and myself were privileged to attend Metropolitan A.M.E. Church in Washington, this house of worship is known as the National Cathedral of African Methodism.

The occasion was the 27th Presentation by the mass choir and orchestra of George Frederick Handel's Sacred Oratorio the Messiah.

This musical masterpiece which has captivated the hearts of countless thousands all over the world as they listened in awe, and first presented by an angelic host who knew nothing of evaluating the quality of cultured voices or tonal quality, the world of music had not developed the contrapuntal technique nor the antiphonal method, but as the Choir from Glory blended their voices praising God for His unspeakable gift not to kings and wise men but that celestial music was heard by a group of shepherd abiding in the fields beyond Bethlehem, watching over their flock.

This was over two thousand years ago, and the echo of this glorious immortal hymn still resounds in the lives of those who have caught even a note from its great melody "Glory to God in the highest!"

Those who can witness to God's goodness and mercy in their lives during this Festive Season should be singing glory to God in the highest and exalting the Prince of Peace! Surely there has never been a time in history when we need to pray for peace, in this war-troubled world, in this country , in our communities! We in the midst of turmoil and confusion need to hear again peace on earth.

Our Premier and all who are in authority, the man in the street, young and old, need to hear the angels song afresh, that right will overcome might, and if we are to see domestic concord and family solidarity, we must remind ourselves that Christ came into this world that there might be peace on earth. Only then will Christmas have any real meaning, and only then will our response be the same as the shepherds, for as soon as they heard, they hurried of to the place and found Him wrapped in swaddling clothes and they worshiped Him they witnessed and then they left praising Him.

This Christmas, Bermuda as we hear again the angelic pronouncement, let us be motivated to seek Him and to serve Him, and to shout our hallelujahs for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.

Let us raise our Ebenezers until the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and he shall reign forever as Kings of kings and Lord of lords ? hallelujah!

The African Methodist community, wish for you and yours a blessed and spirited-filled Christmas!