Elders,
Wow, December is here. Christmas is upon us and another year is close to wrapping up. Time just keeps on “slipping into the future”.
This last week Kris and I went to the Messiah Sing-In at Abravanel Hall. Many years ago we had the tradition of going each year and we somehow fell out of the habit. Maybe it was all the kids. I really can’t remember – the last 20 years have been a blur. When Kris announced that we had tickets, I was both excited and a little conflicted. It was the night of the Utah / Colorado football game after all…
I have always enjoyed Handel’s Messiah. Most everyone is familiar at least with the tune of several of the numbers. His oratorio has become a regular fixture of Christmas. It was originally performed at Easter but quickly became a Christmas favorite. It is broken into three parts. Part 1 speaks of the prophesies about his birth and culminates with the message to the shepherds. Part 2 is about his life and death. Part 3 is about his resurrection and Christ’s place in heaven. Virtually all of the lyrics are taken directly from the bible – Isaiah, Malachi, Psalms, Luke, Matthew, Hebrews, Romans, Revelation, etc.) It is amazing to me that Handel was able to compose the entire work in less than a month and that it has survived for over 250 years.
As I sat there with my wife and participated with several hundred others in singing about the Savior, it really moved me. In a world that is so focused on everything but the Savior – here was a gathering of people singing their hearts out to glorify him. I was stirred by many of the numbers but I think that the soprano solo quoting from Job 19:25-26 “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” moved me the most. It strengthened my testimony and belief in the Savior and in the reality of the resurrection.
As we enter into this Christmas season, I hope and pray that the message of the Messiah will ring in our ears and in our hearts. He truly is our pathway back home to our Heavenly Father. What a wonderful opportunity it is to have this holiday season to celebrate this babe of Bethlehem.
This Sunday, we get to meet as a quorum and hear from Farrell Barlow. I am really looking forward to hearing from him and participating in his message to us.
Just a couple of announcements:
- Renee Goodfellow is out of the hospital and is recovering at a rehabilitation center from her hip surgery.
- Brad Woolley is making great progress and may be back home this weekend.
- Tonight is the Relief Society Christmas dinner – please help make it so that your wife can attend.
- December 21 is the Ward Christmas Breakfast – 9:00am at the Stake Center.
- January 5 we switch our Sunday meeting time to 9:00am.
God bless you this Christmas season. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
President Oldroyd
801-573-6828