I think Isaac Watts was onto something when he wrote Joy to the World, which is based on Psalm 98. “Joy the World, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her King!” is a message needed just as much today as it was in 1719.
In 1836, Lowell Mason composed a new melody based on Handel’s Messiah, which had no lyrics. He named it Antioch. Persecuted Christians fled from Jerusalem to the city of Antioch. Antioch was the first Gentile church, and the first to send missionaries to spread Joy to the World.
It wasn’t until 1839 that Mason discovered that Joy to the World and Antioch were a perfect match. The classic Christmas Carol that we know and love was at least 120 years in the making!
Active Love Church doesn’t have anything new to add to the gospel, which is the “good news of great Joy for all people!” (Luke 2:10) But we do intend to compose our own melody that is our expression of God’s love manifest in our family, our church, and our community. We are thankful for all of the other compositions that God has put in your hearts and the hearts of so many other pastors and churches in our community.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Pastor Nate and Rebecca Moehring
Source: http://www.rayfowler.org/sermons/joy-to-the-world-psalm-98/
