Rebel to Redeemed…Sharing HIS Kind of Love
In the Bleak Midwinter is based on a poem by Christina Rossetti, an English poet. The poem was published in the January 1872 issue of Scribner’s Monthly under the title “A Christmas Carol”. The 1906 English Hymnal first published the poem set to music by Gustav Holst. In 1911, Harold Darke wrote a more complex anthem which is often used […]
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John Rutter, an English composer and conductor, wrote Candlelight Carol in 1984. He recorded the song with his own group, the Cambridge Singers. The group released the song on their 1987 album Christmas Night. The song was commissioned by a church in Pennsylvania celebrating the Virgin Mary. Rutter is said to draw inspiration from the Geertgen’s painting, Nativity at Night. […]
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The Calypso Carol is often known by it’s opening line “See him lying on a bed of straw”. Some announcers have introduced the song as a traditional folk carol of the West Indies. However, it was written by an Englishman, Michael Perry. Perry wrote the song in 1964 while a college student for their Christmas concert. The song became famous by […]
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Christmas Canon is set to Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major. Paul O’Neill provided lyrics to Pachelbel’s music. The song is performed by Trans-Siberian Orchestra and a departure from their normal rock arrangements. The group is accompanied by a children’s choir and was released on the 1998 album The Christmas Attic. As on 2016, the song ranked 7th among the all-time […]
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The song originated as a spiritual The text was first published in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine in January 1891. The song appears in the middle of a story by Ruth McEnery Stuart and takes place at a place called Sucrier Plantation in Louisiana. It is believed Stuart transcribed the song from a real plantation song, rather than creating one herself. Stuart’s version was […]
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“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to […]
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1. On the first day of Christmas an Angel appears to Mary with the most unexpected news of all {Luke 1:26-38} 2. On the second day of Christmas Mary travels to visit Elizabeth and the babe within her leapt {Luke 1:39-45} 3. On the third day of Christmas an angel gives Joseph a vision to keep Mary as his own {Mathew […]
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Noel is how we choose to say Christmas Peace on Earth we long for all the time Family and all those we hold dear Christmas cheer to lift our heart and mood Christmas magic to never lose hope Holly jolly for a bright, happy and cheerful time Yuletide a reminder of the Christmas season Scrooge for the miser down the […]
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Mary’s Boy Child is a popular Christmas carol written in 1956 by Jester Hairston. Hairston roomed with a friend who asked him to write a song for a birthday party. He wrote the song with a calypso rhythm for the culture of those attending and titled the song “He Pone and Chocolate Tea”. However, the song was never recorded in this […]
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Spend time with family we hold so very dear Kiss under the mistletoe with the one we love Give gifts to our family and those we hold dear Decorate the Christmas tree to reveal our style Send Christmas cards to let friends know they’re not forgotten Sing Christmas songs to lift our moods and enjoy this time of year Christmas […]
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Joy Exaltation Peace on Earth Good will toward men Nostalgia for memories we long to hold Generosity to help others most in need Forgiveness reigns in our heart when it’s been broken Majestic because Christ came to earth Miracles make us believe anything’s possible at Christmas Heartfelt to show others all they mean to us
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The Friendly Beasts is another strong contender as one of the oldest Christmas songs. It was written in French about the animals surrounded Christ at the nativity. The song is about the gifts that five animals {a donkey, cow, sheep, camel and dove} brought to baby Jesus. The song dates back to the 12th Century. The French lyrics were set to […]
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Hot chocolate with marshmallows to make us smile Christmas cookies of every shape, color and design Turkey and ham warms our tummy on that special day Pies of every flavor and size to top it all off Eggnog is a special delight for us all to behold Gingerbread to decorate in a variety of ways Peppermint reminds us it’s almost […]
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Of the Father’s Love Begotten is another song considered among the oldest Christmas hymns. It started as a Latin poem titled “Corde natus” and was written by the Roman poet Auerlius Prudentius. He wrote it for his Liber Cathemerinon. The song was paired with the plainchant, Medieval melody “Divinum mysterium”. Over the years the plainchant was musically embellished. The melody first appears in […]
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Christmas Trees of every size, color and theme Flickering Lights blinking to music so light Falling Snow to whiten the ground Shiny Packages to entice our curiosity Nativity Sets to remind us of Jesus birth Horse drawn carriages to dream of days gone by Carolers on the walk wrapped against the cold air Santa with his elves and reindeer to […]
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A friend was searching for the oldest Christmas hymns and stumbled upon this hymn. So, it lead me to search out the stories behind these old Christmas hymns. The song was composed in Latin by St. Hilary of Poitiers in the fourth century. The Latin translation is “Jesus refulsit omnium”. The song is said to have been composed after the first […]
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Popcorn popping to string the tree Cranberries warming to create a scented memory Gingerbread filling the kitchen Fresh cut Christmas trees to fill the air Hickory logs burning in the hearth Pumpkin pie to bring out stomach to a rumble Cinnamon in a variety of dishes Oranges simmering on the stove Scented Candles filling the air Scented pine cones ensconced […]
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This year has been unique all by itself and as I thought about ways to celebrate the Christmas season I decided we will celebrate the most wonderful time of the year using our senses. We will explore Christmas through the sights, sounds, smells, taste, feelings, words, and traditions of the season. How we celebrate each of these may vary depending […]
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A great and mighty wonder is a little-known Christmas Carol. The hymn is German in origin. The hymn was written by St. Germanus I. He was born in Constantinople of a patrician family in 634 Greece. He was ordained in Constantinople and subsequently became bishop of Cyzicus. He was present at the Synod of Constantinople in 712, which restored the […]
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The Wise Men have worshiped at the feet of the Christ child or baby Jesus. They then bestow three gifts to him of gold, frankincense and myrrh. When they leave, they probably planned to head back to Jerusalem and inform King Herod of the child’s location as he requested. “We do not find that the wise men promised to come […]
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