I was at the organ, practicing for the Christmas Concert this weekend, when a colleague came with the news—a friend, active and loved in the congregation had died suddenly. He’d stayed home from work this morning not feeling well, eventually called EMS, and shortly after passed away just blocks from the family home. He was in his 60’s, physically fit, active, and by every account should have gone through this particular Thursday with minimal surprises, anticipating Christmas and the new year with his wife and four grown daughters.
The news spread quickly through the church family. One of the tenors in the choir had sat next to him last night in a men’s small group. Others had similar stories from the past few days. Over the next hours several people expressed the same sentiment: we’re not guaranteed tomorrow.
As I was processing all this, Iola Brubeck’s words found their way into my mind:
God’s love made visible!
Incomprehensible!
He is invincible!
His love shall reign!
Right there is the entire Good News of Jesus condensed into half a verse of poetry. The Savior for whose birth we’re preparing this week truly is God’s love made visible. The Creator of the cosmos truly did make himself over into a human being—incomprehensible. Jesus proved himself to be invincible, even to death itself. And, despite any arguments to the contrary, his love shall reign!
But what do these cleverly versed words even mean for us amid the twists and turns of our normal Thursdays? What do these words mean to the unchurched Gen Z who may wander into one of your Christmas services? What do these words mean to a widow and four young women who just lost a significant part of their world? Everything!
The Brubeck text continues:
From love so bountiful
Blessings uncountable
Make death surmountable
His love shall reign!
Blessings uncountable. Death made surmountable. These are the awesome promises the Bible gives us to share—at Christmas and every day, a unicorn message in the ears of a confused and weary world that may be taking a collective breath before plunging into 2026.
As you make final preparations for Christmas services, remember – we’re not just retelling a traditional story, we’re not just remembering some quaint traditions, we’re not just creating beautiful music. We’re messaging Salvation—God’s love made visible! Emmanuel—God with us! We’re reminding people, no matter their current circumstances, to sing “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come” and “O come, let us adore him” and mean it. Because of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and his departure from a tomb outside Jerusalem, “…God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.”
Joyfully pray for peace and goodwill!
All of [our] yearnings He will fulfill.
Live in a loving way! Praise him for every day!
Open your hearts and pray, His love shall reign!
Praying with confidence for peace at difficult times, loving even those who challenge us, giving God our worship and opening our hearts—this is how we incarnate God’s love every day. But Christmas is a special time when we potentially have access to the greatest number of people. The music of Christmas is a unique delivery system. The words and the sounds of Christmas can convey a special kind of welcome and familiarity. Christmas hymns, carols, and anthems invite all of us to (re)discover how one born centuries ago can find his way into contemporary hearts and minds.
Open all doors this day of his birth,
[All] of good will inherit the earth.
His star will always be guiding humanity
Throughout eternity! His love shall reign.
Last night’s dress rehearsal went well, though I suspect many of us were hearing the words and treasuring the opportunity to sing them a bit more than usual. We all have our daily life patterns, and its comfortable to maintain them. But then, suddenly, life can change. God-in-person broke into the routine lives of a few Bethlehem adjacent people who saw a star that still shines in the music we play and the words we sing.
It’s true—we aren’t guaranteed a tomorrow that resembles today. But we are promised that throughout eternity God’s love will reign—and, for Christians, that’s more than enough. Merry Christmas
God’s Love Made Visible
© 1976, 1978, St. Francis Music Co. and Malcolm Music, Ltd.
Hi Paul!
Four days before Christmas we celebrated the life of a friend and “shaker” in our church–and yes, the carols and songs held a bit more comfort than unusual this season. “Death made surmountable.” We couldn’t do this without Him.
Have a blessed new year, our friend.
Dan & Tracy Garrett [IWU ’81]