Transcription
[Derek Kitayiga]
Welcome to Bridgeway Christian Church’s daily Advent prayer. My name is Derek Kitayiga and I have been part of the Bridgeway community for six years. Today’s Thursday, December 4th.
The story of Christ is coming is proclaimed in a thousand languages and expressed through countless traditions. So, today and every Sunday during Advent, we will pause to highlight one way our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world welcome the light of the world. As we listen and learn, may our hearts be enlarged by the beauty of the global church and the faithfulness of the same spirit who gathers us all into one family.
In Nigerian communities around the world, Christians sing a joyful Yoruba carol called Betelehemu. The title means Bethlehem and the song expresses deep praise and gratitude for Christ’s birth. The song is sung all over the world, wherever Nigerian believers have carried their faith in their music.
The carol was first arranged in the 1950s for choir by Babatunde Olatunji, a Nigerian musician who helped bring African music to a global stage. Its rhythm and repetition invite worshippers to rejoice with their whole selves, heart, voice, and movement, celebrating the same Savior proclaimed in Isaiah 9. And movement, celebrating the same Savior proclaimed in Isaiah 9.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. Let’s listen to the English translation of this Yoruba Christmas carol. We are glad that we have a Baba to trust.
We are glad that we have a Baba to rely on. Where was Jesus born? Where was he born?
Bethlehem, the city of wonder. That is where the Baba was born for sure. Praise, praise, praise be to him.
We thank you, we thank you for this day. Gracious Baba, praise be to you. Merciful Baba.
In this carol we hear the line, that is where Baba was born for sure. In Yoruba, Baba is a rich word. It’s often rendered further in English, but it carries deeper layers of meaning.
Source, protector, life giver. When Nigerian Christians sing of Baba being born in Bethlehem, they’re expressing the wonder that in Jesus, the very source of life has entered the world. The one who created us has come to dwell with us.
Isaiah foretold this mystery when he said the promised son would be called Mighty God, Everlasting Father. And Jesus himself declared, I and the Father are one. The song invites us to marvel in the child of Bethlehem.
Baba, our life-giving God, has come near. Everlasting Father, Mighty God, we thank you for the joy that resounds. We thank you for the joy that resounds from Nigeria to every corner of the world.
We praise you for our brothers and sisters whose songs remind us that your light shines in every language and culture. We thank you for the gift of Jesus, born in Bethlehem, yet present with us. Through him, we have seen your face and known your love.
Through him, you have called us one family. This Advent helps us join the song of your global church to rejoice in the child who is also our Baba, to bear his light into our communities, and to share his peace with all who need hope today. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and his name shall be praised forever.
Amen.