I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Pastor Ed Cottrell of the Hope United Methodist Church and Hope Ministerial Association is issuing a unique call this Christmas Day.  He would like all area churches to ring their bells at 7:59 am.  If no church bell is available, he hopes hand bells can be rung.  Pastor Ed challenges all the residents of Hope to come outside at 7:59 am and listen to the bells ringing, while adding to the chorus with their own bells. It is his hope it will go viral and other communities will ring their own bells across our great land as well.  What a wonderful way to come together as a community to celebrate Christmas without violating social distancing rules. 

Words from the poet the last two stanzas of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “I Heard the Bellson Christmas Day” seem most fitting for our times:

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."

Let’s ring out our bells in celebration of Hope this Christmas Day!