In 1943, that time in our nation's history when millions of service personnel were on a far-away battlefield, Bing Crosby tapped into our fundamental longing for home by singing:

 

"I'll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the lovelight gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams."

It tapped into such a deep desire that the GI magazine Yank said Crosby "accomplished more for military morale than anyone else of that era. " Despite the song's popularity with Americans at the front and at home, in the UK the BBC banned the song from broadcast, as the Corporation's management felt the lyrics might lower morale among British troops.

Bing Crosby was far from the first to sing about the longing for home. The book of Psalms, an ancient Jewish songbook, is full of poetry and music that talks about the journey home, the longing for home, the need for some sense of belonging and at-homeness.

The opposite, of course, is to live with a chronic sense of exile and dissonance. As one person asked me, "Is it possible to miss your life in the same way that one misses a plane?"

We'll explore this theme at the 8:45, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Fellowship Hall services this weekend. You can prepare by reading these three brief passages.

 

In addition, we're delighted to offer our Service of Lessons and Carols at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary and then again at 5 p.m. on Sunday in the Sanctuary. The various choirs have prepared well and both services will be preceded by ancient English music offered by the  CPCC Early Music Consort. 

At the evening service, we will also take our annual offering for Crisis Assistance Ministry.

 

It's a great time to come, to invite a friend, and prepare our hearts for the coming week.

 

See you this weekend,