December 2020 - LPNI

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December 2020

LPNI Devotion

Now at the Manger Here I Stand

This is the beginning of a German Christmas hymn, with lyrics by Paul Gerhardt, which was first published in 1653. In our church we sing it every Christmas to a melody which was created by Johann Sebastian Bach. Such wonderful words come together with a wonderful tune. It is my favourite Christmas hymn, and I always look forward to singing it.

Paul Gerhardt, a Lutheran theologian and minister, wrote the text of 15 verses. He had experienced a lot of loss. The Thirty Years' War ended in 1648. In some areas of Germany, it has been suggested up to 60 percent of the population died. In Berlin, for example, the population before the war was 12,000 …after the war 5,000. This was also due to the plague and other diseases.

Paul Gerhardt also suffered a lot of personal loss, four of his five children died. However, through his songs he gives hope and courage even today. This year, 2020, will be our first Christmas during a pandemic since the early 1900’s. COVID-19 is changing the way we will celebrate Christmas. In Germany, we will probably not be able to worship in a traditional Christmas service at church nor to meet with family and friends in the same way as we have in the past. For those of us working as nurses, doctors, other health-care professionals and first responders, we might have a lot of extra work, and need to stand beside patients fighting for their lives during and even on Christmas Day.

But one thing will be for sure: we can celebrate Jesus coming into our dark and disturbed world. Just as Paul Gerhardt could write hymns of comfort and hope, we can join in his words knowing our God is the same. It is the same God who spoke to the people during the plague and other hard times over 400 years ago. In Jesus, he came to us on earth, and he is with us every day. He is with us when we have to cope with loss and sadness. He is with us in midst of the pandemic. During Advent and Christmas of 2020, we are connected through Christ with each other all around the world. We can stand by the manger and join in singing the old words of comfort and joy:

1. Now at the manger here I stand,

My Jesus, Life from Heaven!

I stand, and bring Thee in my hand

What Thou to me hast given.

Take it, it is my mind and wit,

Heart, soul, and all I have, take it,

And deign to let it please Thee!

3. Ere ever I began to be,

Thou hadst for me appearèd,

And as Thine own hadst chosen me

Ere Thee I knew or fearèd.

Before I by Thy hand was made,

Thou hadst the plan in order laid,

How Thou Thyself shouldst give me.

4. I lay still in death’s deepest night,

Till Thou, my Sun, arising,

Didst bring joy, pleasure, life, and light,

My waken’d soul surprising.

O Sun! who dost so graciously

Faith’s goodly light to dawn in me

Aye cause; Thy beams how beauteous!

14. One thing I hope thou’lt grant to me,

My Saviour! ne’er deny me,

That I may evermore have Thee

Within, and on, and by me.

And let my heart Thy cradle be,

Come, come and lie Thou down in me,

With all Thy joys and treasures!

You can listen to a traditional German version here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3FI1LULIEY

Have a merry and blessed Christmas!

Angela Glaser, MA, RN

Parish Nursing Coordinator and Educator in Germany

Evangelische Kirche der Pfalz

Schubertstr. 1a

D-67373 Dudenhofen, Germany

angela@glaser5.de