Annie’s Song of Community

Paul recorded four-year-old Annie singing a made-up song, a song we’ve come to call “Annie’s song of Community.” Find the video clip at http://bit.ly/SongofCommunity.

Annie’s Song of Community

Hello, hello, how are you doing?
Hello, hello, hello!
How are you and how is you?
But now Christmas is here.
Hello, hello, hello.
Hello, hello, hello.
Thanks for Christmas today.
I bless you and you bless me.
Christmas is coming soon
For you and me!
For, for, for, for God Jesus,
And for now, for now!
Let’s see, where was I?

Given that angels are God’s messengers, I think of Annie’s “Song of Community” as, well, angelic. Do you hear what I hear?

Hello, hello, hello.
This is not just a passing “hello.” In case you missed the first five “hellos,” there are six more to get your attention. “Listen up, you—yes, you—are being greeted.”

How are you doing? How are you and how is you? But now Christmas is here.
This is not just a passing, “How are you doing?”  It does not assume to know your answer. Really, now, how are you doing relationship-wise with others?  How is you doing, personally? And, this is not just an everyday greeting–this is a Christmas greeting! Christmas changes everything. Listen up, people: Christmas is HERE! NOW!

Thanks for Christmas today. Christmas is coming soon.

We live in the here and the not yet. We celebrate Jesus, God with us.  We watch, we wait; we pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”

I bless you and you bless me.
We are one in Christ. We are interdependent. We are community. Pointing outward and to herself, Annie visually underscores this mutuality when she sings, “Christmas is coming soon for you and me.”

For God Jesus.
“God Jesus” summaries the incarnation nicely, don’t you think?

And for now, for now.
The kingdom of God is at hand, for now, for now.

Let’s see, where was I?
It’s easy to get distracted and lose focus.  When that happens, it’s time to “go to the well,” and take a refreshing drink.  OK, Annie drank from a sippy cup, not a communion chalice, but just go with me on this one.

Wait, where was I?
—Sue Edison-Swift