Elizabeth and Richard Deibert
Elizabeth:1 God With Us, O Word made flesh, give us, we pray,
a spirit of Wisdom, that we might see you and know how
great is the hope to which we have been called. Amen.
Richard: One of the favorite books in the Deibert household for
72 child years has been this little volume called Joyful Noise:
Poems for Two Voices,2 in which a parent and a child read a
poem side by side, carefully constructed to clash and to ring
and to sing about the glory of God’s world. We have written
a poem in two voices, based on these two texts before us on
this Christmas Sunday. It is our gift to you and it requires you
to suspend your rational left brain and to relax your imaginative
right brain. It will be an entirely new homiletical experience for
you. So sit back and enjoy this gift on Christmas morning.
Hear the Word of the Lord from Paul to the young pastor Titus
about the glory of Christmas:
Titus 2 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,
12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the
present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory
of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He it is who gave himself
for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify
for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
15 Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority.
Let no one look down on you.
Luke 2 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord
stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and
they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid;
for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the
Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child
wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly
there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising
God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth
peace among those whom he favors!" 15 When the angels had left them
and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let
us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place,
which the Lord
____________
1Elizabeth read the right column; Richard read the left.
2Paul Fleischman, Joyful Noise: Poems For Two Voices,
illustrated by Eric Beddows.HarperCollins, 1988
(winner of the 1989 Newberry Medal).
____________
has made known to us." 16 So they went with haste and found Mary
and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this,
they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and
all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But
Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they
had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Richard
For the grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation to all.
Elizabeth
In that region there were shepherds
living in the fields, keeping watch
over their flock by night.
Richard
The grace of God has appeared.
Elizabeth
Then an angel of the Lord stood before
them, and the glory of the Lord.
Richard
The grace of God.
Elizabeth
The glory of the Lord.
Shone around them.
Richard
The grace of God appeared.
Elizabeth
And they were terrified.
Richard
Bringing salvation to all.
Elizabeth
But the angel said to them, “Do not be
afraid.”
Richard
Bringing salvation.
Elizabeth
“Do not be afraid.”
Richard
Salvation.
Elizabeth
“Do not be afraid.”
Richard
To all.
Elizabeth
“For see — ”
Richard
The grace of God has
Appeared!
Elizabeth
“See!”
Richard
The glory of the Lord
Elizabeth
The glory of the Lord
Richard
shown around them.
Elizabeth
shown around them.
“See — I am
Richard
Bringing
Elizabeth
Bringing
Richard
To all
Elizabeth
You
Richard
Salvation.
Elizabeth
Good news.
Richard
Salvation.
Elizabeth
of great joy.
Richard
Salvation.
Elizabeth
Good news.
Richard
To all.
Elizabeth
For all people.
To you.
Richard
To all.
Elizabeth
Is born this day
Richard
To all.
Elizabeth
In the city of David
Richard
Our great God and
Savior
Elizabthe
Savior.
Richard
Jesus Christ.
Elizabeth
Jesus Christ.
Richard
Jesus Christ.
Elizabeth
Who is
Richard
Jesus Christ.
Elizabeth
The Messiah,
Richard
Jesus Christ.
Elizabeth
The Lord.
Richard
The grace of God
Elizabeth
Good news.
Richard
Has appeared
Elizabeth
Great joy.
Richard
To all.
Elizabeth
For all people.
Richard
The glory of the Lord.
Elizabeth
The glory of the Lord.
Richard
The glory of the Lord.
Elizabeth
You will find a child wrapped in bands
of cloth
Richard
The glory of the Lord.
Elizabeth
Lying in a manger.
Richard
The glory of the Lord.
Elizabeth
And suddenly there was with the angel
Richard
The glory of the Lord.
Elizabeth
A multitude of the heavenly host,
Praising God and saying,
Richard
The glory of the Lord.
Elizabeth
“Glory to God in the highest heaven”
Richard
The glory of the Lord.
Elizabeth
“And on earth peace among those
whom God favors!”
Richard
“Glory to God in the highest heaven”
Elizabeth
The glory of the Lord.
Richard
“And on earth peace among those
whom God favors!”
Elizabeth
The glory of the Lord.
Richard
“Glory to God in the highest heaven.”
Elizabeth
“Glory to God in the highest heaven.”
Elizabeth
When the angels had left them
and gone into heaven,
Richard
“On earth peace.”
Elizabeth
the shepherds said to one another, “Let
us go now to
Richard
“Peace.”
Elizabeth
“Bethlehem
“And see this thing that has
Richard
“Appeared.”
Elizabeth
“Taken place.”
Richard
“Taken place.”
Elizabeth
“Appeared.”
Richard
The blessed hope.
Elizabeth
“On earth.”
Richard
The manifestation.
Elizabeth
“On earth.”
Richard
A people of His own.
Elizabeth
“On earth.”
“Peace.”
Richard
“Peace.”
Elizabeth
“Which the Lord has made known”
Richard
“To all.”
Elizabeth
“To us.”
Richard
Salvation.
Elizabeth
“Peace.”
Richard
“Peace.”
Elizabeth
Salvation.
So they went with haste and found
Mary and Joseph, and
Richard
Our great God.
Elizabeth
A child
Richard
Our great God.
Elizabeth
Lying in the manger.
Richard
Our great God.
Elizabeth
Wrapped in bands of cloth.
Richard
A child.
Elizabeth
Our great God.
Richard
Lying in the manger.
Elizabeth
Our great God.
Richard
Wrapped in bands of cloth.
Elizabeth
Our great God.
“To you is born this day
Richard
“A Savior.”
Elizabeth
“A Savior
Richard
Our great God,
Elizabeth
“The Messiah.”
Richard
Jesus Christ.
Elizabeth
Jesus Christ.
Richard
He it is
Elizabeth
Jesus Christ.
Richard
Who gave Himself
Elizabeth
Jesus Christ.
Richard
For us
Elizabeth
Jesus Christ.
Richard
That He might redeem us
Elizabeth
A Savior.
Richard
From all iniquity
Elizabeth
Do not be afraid.
Richard
And purify for Himself
Elizabeth
Do not be afraid.
Richard
A people of His own
Elizabeth
Do not be afraid.
Richard
Who are zealous for good deeds.
Elizabeth
Do not be afraid.
When they saw this, they made
known
Richard
Declare these things.
Elizabeth
They made known
Richard
Declare these things.
Elizabeth
What had been told them
Richard
Declare these things.
Elizabeth
About this Child.
Richard
He it is Who gave Himself.
Our great God
Elizabeth
This Child.
Richard
And Savior,
Elizabeth
This Child.
Richard
Jesus Christ.
Elizabeth
Jesus Christ.
And all who heard it were amazed
at what the shepherds
Richard
Declare these things.
Elizabeth
Told them.
Richard
Told them.
Elizabeth
Declare these things.
Richard and Elizabeth
Declare! Declare!
Elizabeth
But Mary
Richard
Let no one look down on you.
Elizabeth
Treasured all these words
Richard
Let no one look down on you.
Elizabeth
And pondered them in her heart.
Richard
Let no one look down on you.
Richard and Elizabeth
Mary. Mary.
Treasured. Treasured.
In her heart. In her heart.
Elizabeth
The shepherds returned, glorifying
and praising God.
Richard
Glorifying.
Elizabeth
Praising.
Richard
Praising.
Elizabeth
Glorifying.
Richard
Glorifying and praising.
Elizabeth
Praising and glorifying.
Elizabeth
For all they had heard and seen.
Richard
The grace of God has appeared.
Elizabeth
Heard and seen.
Richard
Appeared.
Elizabeth
As it had been told them.
Richard
Good news.
Elizabath
Great joy.
Richard
Grace.
Elizabeth
Peace.
Richard
Salvation.
Elizabeth
Christ is born!
Richard
Glorify Him!
Christ is born!
Elizabeth
Glorify Him!
Richard and Elizabeth
Christ is born! Christ is born!
Glorify Him! Glorify Him!
Richard
One Lord,
Elizabeth
Jesus Christ,
Richard
The only Son of God,
Elizabeth
Eternally begotten of the Father,
Richard
God from God,
Elizabeth
Light from Light,
Richard
True God from true God,
Elizabeth
Begotten,
Richard
Not made,
Elizabeth
Of one Being with the Father;
Richard
Through Him all things were made.
Elizabeth
Through Him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
Richard
He came down from heaven,
Elizabeth
Was incarnate of the Holy Spirit
Richard
And the Virgin Mary
Richard
And became truly human.
Elizabeth
And became truly human.
Richard
For our sake he was crucified under
Pontius Pilate;
Elizabeth
He suffered death and was buried.
Richard
On the third day
Elizabeth
He rose again in accordance with the
Scriptures;
Richard
He ascended into heaven
Elizabeth
And is seated on the right hand of the Father.
Richard
He will come again in glory
Elizabeth
To judge the living and the dead,
Richard
And His kingdom will have no end!
Elizabeth
And His kingdom will have no end!
Richard
The Word was made flesh!
Elizabeth
Glory to You, O Lord!
Richard
Jesus, Son of the Living God,
Elizabeth
Splendor of the Father, Light eternal!
Richard
Glory to You, O Lord!
Elizabeth
Jesus, King of Glory, Sun of
righteousness,
Richard
Born of the Virgin Mary!
Elizabeth
Glory to You, O Lord!
[PowerPoint shifts to bring
congregation into the litany on the
refrain, “Glory to You, O Lord!”]
Richard
Jesus, Wonderful Counselor,
Elizabeth
Mighty God, everlasting Lord!
Congregation
Glory to You, O Lord! Glory to You, O Lord!
Richard
Jesus, Prince of Peace,
Elizabeth
Shepherd of souls, perfect in holiness!
Congregation
Glory to You, O Lord! Glory to You, O Lord!
Richard
Jesus, Friend of all,
Elizabeth
Protector of the poor,
Richard
Treasure of the faithful!
Elizabeth
Treasure of the faithful!
Congregation
Glory to You, O Lord! Glory to You, O Lord!
Richard
Jesus, Good Shepherd,
Elizabeth
Inexhaustible Wisdom,
Richard
Our Way, our Truth, and our Life!
Elizabeth
Our Way, our Truth, and our Life!
Congregation
Glory to You, O Lord! Glory to You, O Lord!
Richard
Jesus, joy of the angels,
Elizabeth
And crown of all the saints!
Congregation
Glory To You, O Lord! Glory To You, O Lord!
Richard
Christ is born!
Elizabeth
Give him glory!
Richard
Christ has come down from heaven!
Elizabeth
Receive him!
Richard
Christ is now on earth!
Elizabeth
Exalt him!
Richard
O earth, sing to the Lord!
Elizabeth
O earth, sing to the Lord!
Richard and Elizabeth
Glory! Gloria in excelsis Deo! Glory! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
[PowerPoint shifts to hymn]
[Sung]
Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo; Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo.
Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.
Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo; Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo.
Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heavenly song?
Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo; Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo.
