"Carol of the Bells"

Christmas Eve 2008 at Northland Church in Longwood, Florida.

Poem by Clare Sera

Its time.
Hushed, the frost of heaven.
Twinkling, the eyes of God
Roam. Search.
Its time

Love
Love
Drops like snowflakes
Tenderly
to touch our faces
Restless to arrive
In fullness.

Gabriel, Go!

My beloved is ready
My perfect dove.
Its time.

Without hesitation
Gabriel flies to earth
Furrowed holy brow--
For whom does he seek?
How will he know
This favored one?

A rush of wind as
In pursuit he flies
East
A sea of faces
West
A throng of bodies
Which one? Who? Where?

Until

One looks up
And
Gabriel is found

He falters at her gaze
Surely not this child

How can she, so frail, so human,
love enough to say--

Yes.

Yes to God.
Yes to Joy!
Yes!

Yes
to submission
Sacrifice
Pain
A path of tears
A sword that pierces
Choices
that rend the human heart

No
to the world
Yes
to God

Gabriel,
struck by one so weak
choosing grace to be strong
Departed

And all around her yes

Mankind moves on, oblivious
To the option
Of Grace
Of Yes
Choosing Comfort
Without Joy
Spending time buying time
Pressure hardened against
Time

All the while
His eye still roams
The angel still calls
A holy wind rushes above us
Do we hear it,
Can we feel it
Does your heart not pound
Does it not burst
With the call...

Hail favored ones

Look up
Look up
Its time
Its time

But how does a mere mortal say yes to God?
How can one so weak be strong?
How?
How?

GOD. WITH. US.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Northland
• Church
• Longwood
• Worship
• Northland Church
• Northland Worship
• Instrumental
• Vocal
• A capella
• Clare
• Sera
• Florida
• Christmas
• Traditional

[xoreborn145ox]

i love that poem!..where can i get a copy of it?

[NorthlandChurch]

just click on "more info" on the right column of this page.

[Quintinlicious]

first to comment. cool. i might be going there tonight

[samtheman55566]

@bebopblues I don't think you can make that distinction just from this video. Have you ever attended a full service at this church? Lights and stages and video screens don't mean that the "true word of God" isn't being shared. And if you read the poem that is shown during this video, you'll see that this isn't just an entertaining song. There's a real message behind it. If anything, it makes a service more exciting and meaningful. When the congregation is engaged, THEN, it is true worship.

[MiniBroadwayShow]

Can't wait! Going tonight! I hope it's great!

[sissona1]

@bebopblues So, sad that you can make a comment like this on watching a video ....

[purple1633]

Best arrangement I've heard. I love it! Light, refeshing, beautiful, bold and exciting.

[fannykarom]

coooolll!!! :O

[juliebugify]

so glad i go to this church

[Madison3231]

I go there!

[Palmerito]

@bebopblues

The ability to make beautiful music is one of God's most wonderful gifts to us. Ever since there has been worship of God, one of the most meaningful ways to show that love has been through music. And if people are drawn to this church through music, then so be it. The call of God may be just that simple.

[ChosenJuStice]

Who did the arrangement for this? Please let me know asap I wanna shake their hand

[bebopblues]

you call this a church? more for people to come and get entertain.. and not the true word of God