First Baptist Church of Herndon

The Bells Are Calling

Linda Soller | Dec 15, 2014

I have jingle bell jewelry! You know the type, shiny, colorful, noisy, and cheap! I have earrings, a necklace, or two, or three, and a bracelet. I think my jingle bell bracelet is my favorite because I forget I have it on and every now and then I hear the soft sound of bells jingling. You wouldn’t really say they are ringing, no it’s more of a jingle. Now church bells, they ring! At our church someone gets to help ring the bell right before our Sunday service. Usually it’s one of the children, but now and then an adult gets into the mix. We are all sitting there waiting for the bell, and when it rings, and you know folks in town can hear it too, well it just makes you smile. The church bell is calling people to worship.

Bells are a big part of the Advent season. Just pause a minute and see if you can think of three Christmas songs that mention bells… It wasn’t that hard to do was it? Ringing bells, music, and Christmas are really a package deal. It’s difficult to think of one without thinking of the other two. Sure sometimes you might hear bells on a horse’s harness, which makes you think of sleigh bells, which admit it, makes you think of Christmas! Can you hear bells without thinking of jingle bells? Then again when I hear a church bell ringing it makes me think of the holidays and celebrating, even in the summer. The sound of the steeple bell is familiar and stirring.

Music, well, that is another story. If I asked you how many songs you could sing most of the words to, how many would be Christmas songs? I’m guessing it would be half. There’s a radio station in our area that starts playing Christmas music all the time beginning the weekend before Thanksgiving. I would prefer if they waited until the Friday after so instead of waking to “Black Friday” we could wake to the first day of Christmas music. But the station gets an early start and people seem to love it. When I have that particular station on I love singing along, usually with gusto, and occasionally with a few hand and/or arm motions. Mind you I’m not always singing the same arrangement as the artist on the radio. It’s crazy! Music is the outer voice of our inner joy at Christmas.

Yet, we all know of people who aren’t hearing the bells, feeling the music, or loving Christmas. I was thinking the other day how sad it would be if there were no bells or music at Christmas. There is something powerful and compelling about music. I think music is emotional. I think Advent is an emotional time. The story of Jesus’ birth is simple, yet rich with subplots and deeper meanings.  Christmas music tells a story, highlights the excitement of the season, and calls us to adore Him. Bells, with their clear tones, twinkle in the air like stars. A single ringing bell, in a person’s hand, beside a red pot outside of a store reminds us it’s a time for giving. Words are not needed. Next time you hear a Christmas song listen for the bells. They may be prominent or part of the background, but I think you will hear them in nearly all the music. Let yourself make the connection to the true meaning of Christmas, let yourself say thank you each time you hear them. Remember they are calling us to worship and celebrate. The bells are proclaiming, it’s Christmas! Can you hear them? The bells are calling you.

Have a joyous week!  :o)    Linda