What will you do to prepare for God's arrival? Rethink Church

This poem was sung at a Christmas concert last night and I was so moved by the words.  

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote this poem during Civil War, and I think it is appropriate to us today as we wonder about the possibility of peace.  Prepare the way by keeping hope for peace, by listening for the bells, no matter how distant they may be.  

Christmas Bells

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

 And wild and sweet

 The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

 Had rolled along

 The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

 A voice, a chime,

 A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,

 And with the sound

 The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent

The hearth-stones of a continent,

 And made forlorn

 The households born

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;

"There is no peace on earth," I said:

 "For hate is strong,

 And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!

 The Wrong shall fail,

 The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men!"