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Christmas Concert











In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)  
   

 

   
      I love Christmas music. It's one of the I love most about Christmas. Even when every other piece of Christmas seemed ruined by the world, I enjoyed good Christmas music. But, as much as I love Christmas music, there are a few songs and videos that somehow seem to resonate with me. Some of them aren't even what I'd call good Christmas music, but they have something in common. One way to describe it is that they express some of the schizophrenic nature of the holiday: The Christian perspective and the world's. Another way is that they at least hint at the hiddenness that is Christmas.

      My Christmas gift to you this year is a short concert for Christmas day with songs that touch on that theme.

     I can't say that it's been my favorite Christmas carol, but I've loved it for years. It expresses my own sense about Christmas and the world. I chose this performance because it includes more verses from Henry Longfellow's original poem than most of those we hear.
    There doesn't seem to be anything that says "Christmas" about this orchestral piece except its title. It's beautiful, but I had to listen to it several times to realize that Michael W. Smith was putting the circus that is the world's view of Christmas in juxtaposition with the majesty that is the real Biblical Christmas.


     This one isn't even a Christmas song. If you listen to the original lyrics you'll probably hate it. This is an instrumental version is part of a video has a strong message about how easy it is to miss Christ in Christmas - or anywhere else.
     The last two are both "Mary, Did You Know?" The first version is performed by Pentatonix, and their a cappella is played on the radio and in retail stores. It came out last year and has become a classic already. The second is by Jordin Smith, who was apparently advised against singing it on The Voice, but it was the song with which he won that competition. This song deals with how easy it is to miss the divine in the infant in a manger.


Mary, Did You Know? (Pentatonix)
Mary, Did You Know (Jordin Smith) - scroll down for the video



      So many people miss Christ in Christmas. It is tempting to think that we have to fight to "keep Christ in Christmas." Christ may be hidden in Christmas, but He emerges in the strangest places (like vocal competitions and New York City subways) in the strangest ways. No matter how dark it may seem around us, God is not dead, nor doth He sleep... so keep your eyes open because it's clear that Jesus still shows up in places that clearly have no room for Him. Merry Christmas, and may He bless you with His presence in the coming year.


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In 1914, soldiers on the front lines observed a Christmas truce.


Christmas Truce (History.com)


Last year, for the 100th anniversary of that truce, Sainsbury produced this dramatized version as an ad.
Sainsbury's Christmas Truce ad


Tonight is the full moon. There will not be another full moon on Christmas for 19 years.


Christmas Full Moon

















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