Bright and Glorious Is the Sky, ELW 301
1 Bright and glorious is the sky,
Radiant are the heavens high
Where the golden stars were shining
And their rays to earth inclining,
Beckoning us to heaven above,
Beckoning us to heaven above.
2 On that holy Christmas night
Through the darkness beamed a light
All the stars above were paling,
All their luster slowly failing,
As the Christmas star drew nigh,
As the Christmas star drew nigh.
3 Sages from the East afar,
When they saw this wondrous star,
Went to the find the King of nations,
And to offer their oblations
Unto Him as Lord and King,
Unto Him as Lord and King.
4 Him they found in Bethlehem,
Yet He wore no diadem;
They but saw a maiden lowly
With an Infant pure and holy,
Resting in her loving arms,
Resting in her loving arms.
5 Guided by the star they found
Him Whose praise the ages sound,
We too have a star to guide us
Which forever will provide us
With the light to find our Lord,
With the light to find our Lord.
6 As a star God's holy Word
Leads us to our King and Lord;
Brightly from its sacred pages
Shall this light throughout the ages
Shine upon our path of life,
Shine upon our path of life.
Devotion
When I served in northern Minnesota, one of my favorite things to do on a winter evening was to ski across the lake to the forests on the other shore, often by myself. This is as close to walking on water as I have ever gotten. To me, the night, dark and cold as it was, never felt frightening. In fact, "bright and glorious (was) the sky. Radiant were the heavens high." The lights of the town along with the stars and the moon all guided me in case I would get lost. I had just enough light to find my way but not so much light that it blinded. Retired as I am, I still find that to be true. Doubts and confusions still arise but I still keep finding: "As a star God's holy Word leads us to our King and Lord."
Prayer
O Christ, keep on leading us to you. Amen.