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Christmas Concert 2017


        In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  
          There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
          The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 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 1:1-14) 

          And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
          Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven,  and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14)

Christmas Concert


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.









        While the melody of this song is beautiful, the original words offensively make a complete muddle of Scripture. The words in this version have been changed so that it is a Christmas song.

Hallelujah  (Lindsey Sterling instrumental)

         What makes this version a Christmas song is what Lindsey Sterling does with it.



      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.

In 1914, soldiers on the front lines observed a Christmas truce. Christmas Truce (History.com)

In 2014, for the 100th anniversary of that truce, Sainsbury produced this dramatized version as an ad. Sainsbury's Christmas Truce ad
































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