“The White Rabbit” requested this hymn, and today’s his birthday–so may it bring you barrels of joy, Dave! Magnificat by Keith and Kristyn Getty–of course it’s in the Christmas Carol Contest: the “Magnificat” starts off the Gospel of Luke, we don’t get the actual birth of Christ until Chapter 2; and you can’t have a second chapter unless you’ve had a Chapter 1.
Another little treat for those of you who made it here today: God Bless Us Every One, by Nick Bicat, the theme music for A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott as Scrooge, 1984–wonderful treatment of the story, and packed with good, old-fashioned, robust Christmas music.
That’s old Shrewsbury Cathedral, down at the end of the street.
Look at that–no Christmas hymn requests today, no carol contest entries. Guess I’d better provide one myself.
This is the English melody that goes with Away in a Manger, sung here by the King’s College Choir at Cambridge. Same hymn, different tune. Just as beautiful either way.
It’s a little late to start posting entries now, but tomorrow is another day.
Proclaim the joy of Christmas–and its truth.
Jeremy requested Joy to the World by A Capella, but I couldn’t find it. But I did stumble upon this guy “Acapeldridge,” who uses modern technology to–well, he sings in perfect harmony with himself. And it sounds great!
Lyrics by Isaac Watts, 1719–and still growing strong, 299 years later.
The nooze is already knocking at my door this morning, with all the vileness of the fallen world. But first we have this–praise God, first we have this, the Good News–It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, sung by St. Peter’s Choir. Independently and simultaneously requested by SlimJim and Erlene (how did they do that?)
This is one of my favorite Christmas carols, and I had just decided to post it on my own when I received a message from Phoebe requesting it. Happy to oblige! I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing, by Blackmore’s Night.
Requested by Joshua–All the World Was Waiting, sung a capella by GLAD. Enjoy!
Okay, we’ve posted a lot of Christmas hymns for you today. Out here it’s raining, it’s dark, and Patty and I are still a little bit under the weather; so now we’re going to take a break and watch A Christmas Carol, the one with George C. Scott as Scrooge. I hope you’re all enjoying listening to this potpourri of Christmas music.
Something a little different, requested by Susan: Children, Go Where I Send Thee–with Kenny Rogers and Home Free. What a collection of voices, to make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
Well, that left me breathless! Thanks, Heidi, for suggesting this: Ode to Joy to the World by the Piano Guys, plus bell-ringers, orchestra, choir, and a couple of heartfelt wows on my part.
If you look at the title and go, “Huh?”, just give it a chance. Just play the video, and prepare to be blown away.
Pagan “gods” are not supposed to do this!
“Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God…” (1 John 4:2-3)
We tend to forget how truly revolutionary the Christian message was and is, in the apostles’ time and also in ours, to this day.
Mark Rushdoony offers us this reminder:
https://chalcedon.edu/blog/a-perpetual-reminder
Jesus is the golden stairway that unites life on earth with its Creator and sustainer in heaven. This was very, very hard for First Century intellectuals to swallow! And still is. But the doctrine that Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, was born in the flesh as we are, to live and work in our world, winning our salvation, is absolutely necessary to the Christian faith