Through Advent we are looking at Psalms.  There’s something about singing that lifts our spirits, and we often experience that with Christmas carols.  There’s something about singing that connects us with our hearts, and, for people of faith, singing connects us with God.  Psalms are songs that people of God have been singing for thousands of years.  Today’s scripture, Psalm 96, is a song of praise to God, inviting not only all people but all of nature to sing.  The scripture from Luke read this morning for the lighting of the Advent candle was Mary’s song of praise when she was pregnant with the holy baby.  As Methodists, we have a heritage of hymns, including many written by Charles Wesley, including “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing!”  And in our age we are living a new hymn.  (NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are livestreaming the early service only, using a chamber choir but having no congregation.  NOTE: The video begins with the Children’s Moment, but after starting it you can scroll back to the beginning of the service if you want to see the entire service.)