Silent Night, Holy Night

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The Remarkable Story Behind
Silent Night, Holy Night

In 1818 a band of roving actors were performing throughout the little towns and hamlets of the Austrian Alps. One night the players came to the tiny village of Oberndorf , near Salzburg , for their annual presentation of the Christmas story. The play was scheduled for St. Nicholas Church, but the organ bellows had been eaten away by mice and could not be repaired in time. The show was presented in a private home instead, and the church’s assistant pastor, Josef Mohr, attended. So impressed was Mohr with the simplicity of the play and the sincerity of the actors that he began to reflect on the real meaning of the Christmas story.

As Mohr walked home that night through the new-fallen snow, his path led him over a small hill. Looking down on the little village below, Mohr was deeply impressed by the beauty of the glowing scene and the majestic silence of the wintry night. His thoughts took him back to the first Christmas—when angels spoke to wandering shepherds on a holy night such as this—and a poem began to form in Mohr’s mind, “Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!”

Arriving home, the pastor quickly penned the words that would inscribe his poem into history. He sincerely wished his piece could be sung at the church’s upcoming Christmas service, but he had no music. The next day Mohr rushed the verses over to his good friend Franz Gruber, the church organist. It is reported that Gruber composed the musical setting the same day he received Mohr’s poem.

On Christmas Day Gruber and Mohr sang their new song to the congregation gathered in the little church. Since the organ was still in ill repair, Gruber accompanied on his guitar, and “Silent Night” was introduced to the world.

A few weeks later an organ repairman arrived at the church. When he finished his work, Gruber sat down to test the instrument. The first song he played was his new Christmas composition. Deeply touched by the music, the repairman took the song back to his own Alpine village. There, a family of gifted Austrian singers, the Strasser sisters, picked it up and began singing it throughout the countryside.

The Strasser quartet created a sensation, and the carol quickly became a European favorite. It was translated into English from the Austrian language in 1863 by Jane Campbell and made its first appearance in America in 1871 in Charles Hutchins’ Sunday School Hymnal.

“Silent night! holy night!
All is calm, all is bright,
‘Round yon virgin mother and Child!
Holy Infant,so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.”

“Silent Night, Holy Night” is as fresh and beautiful today as when it was first heard in that little Austrian town more than 190 years ago. Year after year we lovingly sing this simple tribute to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

LIFE’S JOURNEY

Pause a few moments and reflect on the awesome fact that Jesus came to earth for you...to give you His love...to give you His peace. During the holiday season we think of Him as the Babe in the Manger—but He really came to die on a cross for the sins of the whole world, including your sins and mine—giving us heavenly peace.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through
him might be saved.” John 3:17

“And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

God truly does bring peace into the hearts of every person who comes to Him in a personal way. Peace overflows our hearts when we realize that we are His children and that we are on our way to Heaven to be with Him. But we must not think of Christ as merely a “babe” in a manger. We must accept Him as our crucified, risen Lord.

Would you like to have God’s “heavenly peace” in your heart? If that’s your desire, here’s how you can do just that:

(1) Admit that we are all sinners.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way...” Isaiah 53:6

(2) Realize that there is a heavy penalty on our sins.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

(3) Believe that Christ came to earth to die for our sins.
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18a)

“...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8b

(4) Accept God’s gift of His Son into your heart, personally.
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” 1 John 5:11

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

Will you accept this wonderful gift that God offers you? Will you, right now, bow your head and pray this prayer, meaning it with all of your heart?

Dear God, I realize that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I want to spend eternity with You in Heaven. I accept Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for my sins. Lord Jesus, come into my heart and save me right now. I turn my life over to You. Help me to live for You all of the days of my life. Thank You for giving me Your heavenly peace. Amen.

THE PAINTINGS
Marilyn is back to painting with a vengeance! In addition to teaching her Ladies Bible Classes, keeping our home immaculately clean and cheery, and helping with the music program at the Church, she is doing what she dearly loves to do -- paint.
In spite of the financial crunch in our country, the Lord has been good to her in allowing some of her work to sell.
Bobby Terry of Decatur, Alabama, Lindsay’s brother, has manufactured some beautiful pendants with a copy of one of Marilyn’s oil paintings on it. Bobby is a real artist when it comes to making jewelry and his work is much in demand. We hope to show you the pendant, which has a sterling silver-plated chain and clasp, in the very near future.
You can find Marilyn’s latest painting on the web site under “Marilyn’s Art.” Back with more later.