“Come to Our World, O Christ-Sophia” Christmas Carol Video

Our world is in deep need of healing. As we join together to labor and to sing of healing, peace, and justice, we create a better world. We give birth to Christ-Sophia, who provides a foundation for equality and justice. Christ-Sophia empowers us to make the Gospel vision of new creation a reality. This Christmas carol video expresses longing, hope, and celebration of the birth of Christ-Sophia.

Come to our world, O Christ-Sophia, Wisdom;
our hearts are longing for Your peaceful way.
Lead us from fear and bondage into freedom;
with You we labor to bring Your new day.

Transform our world, O Christ-Sophia, Wisdom;
the poor and wounded await healing days.
Give us the power to sound Your call to freedom;
as equal partners, we show Your new way.

Led by Your Truth and Life within us growing,
we follow You on Your pathways of peace.
Filled with Your grace, Your loving kindness showing,
we share our gifts and our visions release.

REFRAIN:

Our weary world still longs for new creation,
for peace and justice coming to the earth.
Hope springs anew; we sing in celebration;
O Christ-Sophia, blessed be Your birth;
O Christ-Sophia, blessed be Your birth.

Words © Jann Aldredge-Clanton                              CANTIQUE DE NOEL

It’s been a joy to collaborate on “Come to Our World, O Christ-Sophia” and other inclusive carols with a splendid music group from Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran in San Francisco. Alison Newvine, Dionne Kohler, Kathleen Neville Fritz, Lana Dalberg, and I had a wonderful time creating an Advent/Christmas album, Sing of Peace.

“Christ-Sophia” is a biblical symbol of the Divine, making equal connections between male and female, black and white, Jewish and Christian traditions, thus providing a foundation for communities based on partnership instead of domination. Christ-Sophia brings change to church and society by forming a theological foundation for gender and racial equality, dismantling patriarchy and creating egalitarian communities.

Sophia, the Greek word for “Wisdom,” is a biblical female divine image. New Testament writers link Christ to Sophia (“Wisdom”), a feminine symbol of God in the Hebrew Scriptures. Wisdom (Hokmah in Hebrew) symbolizes creative, redemptive, and healing power. In their efforts to describe this same power in Christ, the apostle Paul and other New Testament writers draw from the picture of Wisdom. The apostle Paul refers to Christ as the “power of God and the Wisdom (Sophia) of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24), and states that Christ “became for us Wisdom (Sophia) from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30). The book of Proverbs describes Wisdom as the “way,” the “life,” and the “path” (4:11,22,26).  The Gospel of John refers to Christ as “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Bringing this biblical connection of Christ and Sophia to our worship can inspire partnerships that contribute to peace, justice, and equity in our world. For a fuller explanation, see In Search of the Christ-Sophia: An Inclusive Christology for Liberating Christians.

Video Credits

Performed by: Spiral Muse (formerly Devi Vaani)—Dionne Kohler, Kathleen Neville-Fritz, and Alison Newvine with Lana Dalberg on violin—from album “Sing of Peace,” recorded at Joe Hoffmann Studios, Occidental, CA

Lyrics: Jann Aldredge-Clanton

Visual Art:

Mirta Toledo:  “Sophia”

Alice Heimsoth: photo of candlelight service in Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran, San Francisco

Katherine Skaggs: “Black Madonna”

Sande Harte: photo of circle of women, Alchemy of Women’s Collective Wisdom and Power

Black Lives Matter photo, “How Black Lives Matter is Changing British Universities,” Sadhvi Dar, The Nation 

Me Too March photo, “People are questioning why Taylor Swift’s was among Time Magazine’s ‘The Silence Breakers,’” Ruchira Sharma, International Business Times:

Equity for Women in the Church, photo from website

Photo of woman crossing river with 3 children, “Mexico Worries About Its Own Southern Border” The New York Times

Eastside Baptist Church Choir photo, “’PLU Sunday’ Celebrates Life, Faith, and the Friendship Shared by BLU and Eastside Baptist Church,” Pacific Lutheran University website

Nevertheless She Preached 2018, photo from Facebook page

Photo of abused woman, “We Can Save Some of America’s Most Vulnerable Women from Violence,” Jenny Shank, Nation Swell

Nevertheless She Preached 2017, photo from Facebook page

The Gathering: A Womanist Church, photo from website:

Photo of house destroyed, “Puerto Rico Two Months After,” Mato’s Blog

Photo of woman holding sign, “Peace, Jobs, Justice, Schools Not Bombs,” Santa Cruz IMC

Photo of Our Lady of Guadalupe at march, “Mexicans Celebrate Virgen de Guadalupe,SF Gate

Photo of relief workers in Puerto Rico, “2017 Hurricane Maria: Facts, FAQS, and How to Help,” World Vision

Photo of students at March for Our Lives Rally, “Thousands register to vote at March for Our Lives demonstrations,” NBC News

 

 

 

 

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