Every Knee Should Bow: Alpha and Omega

This name seems to emphasize the bigness of God. It definitely makes my head hurt! But there is much comfort in knowing that He has come before ... well, EVERYTHING! He will always be. And I gotta be honest - it keeps me in my place. Humbled. I may not completely comprehend this one but that's OK. 

"He knew us before we existed and He knows us as though we've already spent eternity together!"

This name gets a little "Christmasy" because of the beautiful hymn that quotes the name of Jesus as Alpha and Omega. Man, I love that song. Here you go. Your welcome:)

Shortly after Jesus was born, the angels showed up to make their announcement to the shepherds of what just happened. It was as if the sky opened up and unveiled what is always there that isn't usually visible to our human eyes: Angels praising and worshiping God. I usually think of angels on guard for us often clumsy and clueless humans, keeping us out of trouble and possibly some car accidents we'll never know we would have had without their interference! Oh, the stories they must have to tell!!! But here we see them created also for worship and praise to God like we are. Some day we'll see this massive worship with our eyes. But until then, we have the Gloria in Excelsis.

Here's the liturgy again! When we sing the Gloria in the Common Service, I love to imagine that sky full of angels and what magnanomous sound must have filled the earth in that moment when heaven collided. It may take only a minute to sing, but I like to picture our worlds colliding again as we sing the words:

Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we give thanks to you, of your great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty. O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You take away the sin of the world; receive our prayer. You sit at the right hand of God the Father; have mercy on us. For you only are holy; you only are the Lord. You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit, are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

In that moment, heaven doesn't seem so far away ... 

*church photos taken on our recent trip to Montreal, Quebec