“Come to Our World, O Christ-Sophia” from Christmas Album “Sing of Peace”

One of the songs on the new Christmas album Sing of Peace is “Come to Our World, O Christ-Sophia.”  Here Devi Vaani sings stanzas 2 & 3 of “Come to Our World, O Christ-Sophia” at Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran in San Francisco (Pastor Stacy Boorn). Devi Vaani (left to right): Lana Dalberg, Dionne Kohler, Alison Newvine, and Kathleen Neville Fritz.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8AfusRfYwE&feature=youtu.be

Preview and Order Sing of Peace:

 

Sing of Peace brings inspiration, healing, and empowerment through new inclusive lyrics to familiar Christmas tunes, sung in sublime harmonies by Devi Vaani.

Devi Vaani is a trio of women who write and perform music in praise of the Divine Feminine for ritual, empowerment, and justice, in the hopes that the world will re-awaken to the goodness of the Mother and once again honor all women as sacred beings in Her image.

Lana Dalberg adds her beautiful violin accompaniment to most of the songs on Sing of Peace. She is an activist-fundraiser, mother, and published author. Her most recent book, Birthing God: Women’s Experiences of the Divine, explores women’s stories of spirituality and faith.

Sing of Peace reclaims and amplifies the themes of peace, joy, hope, awe, and love that so much of the world associates with the Christmas season. It includes the experiences of women, minorities, and all oppressed people who are not directly referenced in traditional Christmas music. Including multicultural biblical female divine names and images, Sing of Peace affirms the sacred value of females throughout the world who continue to suffer from violence and abuse. This Christmas album celebrates the sacredness of all people and all creation. It weaves the magic and mystery of Christmas with urgent cries for justice, an end to suffering, and respect and dignity for all beings.

“Come to Our World, O 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, from Inclusive Hymns for Liberation, Peace, and Justice (Eakin Press, 2011).

“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. Sophia, the Greek word for Wisdom, is a biblical female divine image that opens new possibilities for justice, liberation, and new life. New Testament writers link Christ to 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 and justice in our world. Christ-Sophia inspires continual new birth. Christ-Sophia empowers us to make the vision of the new creation a reality. Celebrate the birth of Christ-Sophia!