I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

In March of 1863, 18-year-old Charles Appleton Longfellow walked out of his family’s house on Brattle Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts to board a train bound for Washington, D.C. He traveled over 400 miles across the eastern seaboard to join President Lincoln’s Union army to fight in the Civil War. Charles was the oldest of six children born to Fannie and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

That name Henry Wadsworth Longfellow might sound familiar to you. He was a famous poet who is still read by many today. Less than two years before his son Charles left his family to join the war, Charles’s mother and Henry’s wife, Fannie, tragically died from her dress catching fire. Longfellow was sleeping when the incident occurred and was suddenly awakened to learn of this event. He got up and tried to extinguish the fire as best he could, first with a rug and then his own body, but she had already suffered severe burns. She died the next morning on July 10, 1861. The facial burns that Henry received in the event were severe enough that he was unable even to attend her funeral. In fact, he would grow a beard to hide his burned face and at times feared that he would be sent to an asylum over his grief.

What happened to Fannie Longfellow is background information for where I am going here. Lets get back to Charles now. Once Charles arrived in Washington D.C., he planned to enlist as a private with the 1st Massachusetts Artillery. Captain W. H. McCartney, commander of Battery A, wrote to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for written permission for Charley to become a soldier. Longfellow granted the permission. As time passed Charles impressed his fellow superiors so much that on March 27, 1863, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, assigned to Company “G.”

On November 27, 1863, while involved in a skirmish during a battle of the Mine Run Campaign, Charles was shot through the left shoulder, with the bullet exiting under his right shoulder blade. It had traveled across his back and skimmed his spine. He avoided being paralyzed by less than an inch. His dad received the telegram about the incident just four days later on Dec. 1^st  

On Christmas day, 1863, Longfellow, a 57-year-old widowed father of six children, the oldest of which had been nearly paralyzed as his country fought a war against itself, wrote a poem seeking to capture the pain he felt in his own heart as he observed the world around him. What prompted his poem and the conflict of pain was his listening to Christmas bells ringing accompanied by the singing of “peace on earth.” As he listened, his mind would continually drift back to the world of injustice and violence that existed all around him. His wife had died a horrible death, his son almost fatally wounded in war, brother was fighting against brother and there was no peace. The singing he heard seemed to mock the truthfulness of what he message that was proclaimed. Yet, as the bells grew louder and louder, he wrote, “God is not dead nor doth he sleep, wrong shall fail and right prevail, peace on earth, goodwill to men.”

This truth that finally comforted Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, came about not just through the birth of a baby boy, but through the birth of the God/man who was born to ultimately die and rise from the dead, to bring peace to all who would come to him. On this Christmas day, no matter how much joy you experience with family and friends, or how much pain you have with unfulfilled longings and past sufferings, remember that “God is not dead nor doth he sleep.” The baby that we celebrate today will one day return to bring final peace to this earth and right will prevail forever.  May we then celebrate the inbreaking of the God/Man this Christmas, but may be also long for his return when he will finally and fully, “turn the night into day.”

Serving Him with You,

Pastor Michael Nelson       

Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson

Fighter Verse for the Week

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
- Revelation 21:4

Announcements:

Congratulations!: Layla Jane was born to Jake and Faith Anne Norman, December 15th. Layla was 8lbs and 19 inches long.

Christmas Schedule: There will be no Sunday School/Equipping Hour on Sunday, December 28th. Additionally, there will be no activities on Wednesday, December 31st.

New Equip Class: Starting on January 11th at 9:15am, there will be a new class called Habits of the Household beginning. In Habits of the Household, we will discover simple practices that we can implement around our daily routines and seemingly mundane moments that will lead to a lifetime of growing closer to God—both for parents and their children. Go HERE for more information about this study.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering: Every year at this time, we raise funds to support missionaries all over the world who are serving with the International Mission Board (IMB). Our goal at First Baptist Church is to raise $5,000. If you haven’t already, will you consider partnering with us by giving, as we seek to support international missions? You can give on Sunday mornings through one of our offering boxes located in the foyer or the welcome center. Just mark your envelop as “missions” or “Lottie Moon.” Or you can give online HERE. Choose “missions” under the Fund tab. You can find more information about this offering HERE.

Building Remodel: We have officially kicked off our fundraiser! There are commitment cards available in the sanctuary as well as in the welcome center. Feel free to pick up one and return it to one an available basket. If you would like to give a one time or a reoccurring gift, you can do so HERE and select “building remodel.” You can also give through one of the offering boxes at church. Be sure to mark your envelop, “building remodel.” Check out a video highlighting the work done so far.

Men’s Study: On the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, from 8:00-9:15pm, the church hosts a men’s study through the book, The Measure of a Man. See Clint Blankenship for more information.

Food Pantry: The food pantry is currently in need of some food items. For a complete list of food pantry needs, click HERE.

Awana Bible Club

Awana Clubs are held on Wednesdays throughout the school year. Dinner is at 6:00pm with Awana Clubs starting at 6:30pm. Children can be registered HERE.

Equipping Hour

We have three classes held at 9:15am on Sunday mornings. “Firm Foundations” meets in the Sanctuary, a study in Hebrews in the Fellowship Hall, and a Ladies’ class studying the New Testament meets in the classroom next to the nursery. You can find more information HERE.

Giving

To Give Online, Go HERE. 

You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030

Home Groups

Home Groups typically meet on the first and third Sunday of each month. Please contact Pastor Michael if you would like to join a Home Group. You can find more information HERE.

Prayer

An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE.

Prepare for Sunday

Guide for Worship can be found HERE.