This is from our esteemed colleague, “jessicafischerqueen”: The Little Drummer Boy, by Bing Crosby. You could do a lot worse than to spend Christmas Eve with your mother and father and a lot of cozy animals.
By the way, if you’re interested in chess and chess history, visit Jess’ excellent youtube channel.
I must be getting soppy in my old age. These Christmas hymns, and the whole idea of Christmas, stir me now as they haven’t since I was a very little boy.
This is The Holly and the Ivy with what I think is the more familiar melody, sung by the Mediaeval Baebes. The running of the deer…
The other night, just before bedtime, Robbie looked out the window and started growling, being the watchcat. I couldn’t see anything because of reflections, so I had to open the window. And there, standing just ten feet away, was a lovely big deer. I’ve been here 40 years, and that’s the first time that’s happened. I choose to think of it as a harbinger of Christmas.
Dear Father in Heaven, give this Christmas season of 2017 the power to draw people’s hearts to Jesus Christ, our natural and rightful Lord, as never before! In Jesus’ name, amen.
“Thewhiterabbit” recommended this: from G.F. Handel’s The Messiah, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, For Unto Us a Child is Born. The text, of course, is from Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Thank you, Phoebe, for being the first to request a Christmas song: Joy to the World. I don’t know who this is, performing it, but it’s beautiful, just beautiful.
Please, everybody, join in prayer for a moment.
O Lord Our God, please bless this year’s Christmas season with power to draw this troubled world to Jesus Christ her rightful king and only Savior. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Update: The hospital just called with news that Aunt Joan’s fever has gone away and her condition is now stable. Thank you all for your prayers on her behalf. She can’t talk anymore, but I’ll be sure to tell her that she’s got a lot of good people praying for her.
For the first time in eight years we have a president who will say “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Generic Holiday.” I think we should be grateful for it.
To celebrate the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh, the only begotten Son of God born into our wretched fallen world to save it, I throw open this blog to you, the readers, and your requests for Christmas music. Any music that celebrates the birth of Christ is eligible and will be posted here. Sorry, no “Santa Baby” here: real Christmas carols only.
It doesn’t matter if a song has already been posted–if you ask for it, we’ll post it. Make as many requests as you like, there’s no limit. If you’ve never requested a hymn post before, well, come on now, join in the fun.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!
This is part of Handel’s Messiah, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra; and for once I can give you the lyrics.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace… –Isaiah 9:6
Suggested by Erlene.
Suggested by Erlene: A Great and Mighty Wonder, sung by the King’s College Choir at Cambridge.
Keep singing!
I love Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, and this wonderful 1984 movie version of it, starring George C. Scott as Scrooge. And I really love this theme music, composed by Nick Bicat, And God Bless Us, Every One.
I guess there are those who think A Christmas Carol is old hat. Are you kidding me? This is a movie about repentance and redemption–and who in this fallen world doesn’t need repentance and redemption? Who is more to be pitied than someone who has no hope of redemption?
But that’s exactly what Our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to do for us.
God promised Abraham that in him and in his seed–ultimately, in Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God–all the nations of the world will be blessed. This promise is repeated throughout the Old Testament, in a variety of forms.
Which brings us to this video of a Japanese orchestra performing a composition by a German composer in praise of Jesus Christ, born in Judea 20 centuries ago. God has blessed all the nations of the world, for Christ is king for all of them.
Let us take great pains to declare that, in this 2016 Christmas season.
(And hey, everybody, I stand ready to post your Christmas hymn requests. Step right up and don’t be shy! You don’t need an alibi!)
It might be said that this is the quintessential Advent hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel–here performed by a traditional choir in a lovely and rather complicated musical arrangement.
Hey, everybody–where are your Christmas music requests? We had a lot of fun with that last year! Let’s proclaim the coming of the Lord!