Songs Of Hope - Sing We Now Of ChristmasSample

Angels from the Realms of Glory

Written by Scots-Irish poet, James Montgomery, on Christmas Eve 1816. Montgomery, son of Irish Moravian missionaries, spent much of his life writing poetry and stories. When he was five years old, his parents left Scotland to serve on the mission field of the West Indies. Young James didn’t know that would be the last time he would see his parents as they died on the mission field. Many of his younger writings were about his loneliness and faith.

Montgomery spent his years writing and became a voice and advocate for seditious causes such as abolition of slavery and freedom from Great Britain. While throughout his life, Montgomery drifted from his faith, as he matured he came back to his Moravian roots and faith. On December 24, 1816, rather than writing pro-Irish rhetoric to inspire a revolt against the British, Montgomery reached out to bring everyone together, penning a poetic story of angels proclaiming the birth of the Savior for all people- Irish and English, poor and rich, Anglican and Moravian.

Montgomery’s beautiful words ring true even today. While many times our world may seem more divided than ever, Montgomery’s words remind us that God is sovereign over all. His words remind us of God’s power to bring all nations together to sing of His praises, and to worship God- the Father, Spirit, and Son.

As Montgomery so beautifully penned, God commanded the angels to turn their voices from the creation story to the Messiah’s birth. At the same time, He commands us to leave our concerns or complementation, to come together as all nations to

Come and worship
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Dr. Brandon Skaggs
Vice President for Student Life
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor