One of my earliest memories is singing with my family.
We would gather together and sing, just to sing,
especially near Christmas.
The songs and carols of the Christmas season always lift my heart.
Please join us.
12:00 a.m. O Come All Ye Faithful.
This unique version shows how people who worship at Westminster Abbey rejoice in the joy of the Savior's birth. Although the words they sing are not common in popular music, we can nevertheless follow their words and hearts toward Jesus Christ.
Westminster Abby, a large Gothic cathedral in England, was founded in 960 A.D., and is steeped with history.
Many of our ancestors are from Britain, and specifically from the London areas of Britain. What was worship at Christmas time like for those that have seen and walked near or in this building?
3:00 a.m.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Some religions believe they know the actual site of the birth of Jesus Christ.
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| 14 pointed silver star marks place believed to be site of the birth of Jesus Christ. "Jesus birthplace in Bethlehem" by DE.MOLAI - Originally uploaded on the Italian Wikipedia. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons |
The Church of the Nativity,located in Bethlehem, is a World Heritage Site.
This link provides a virtual tour of the site first identified in the mid-second century by Justin Martyr.
6:00 a.m.
Away in A Manger
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| What were his grandparents like? |
Lyrics
1. Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
The stars in the heavens looked down where he lay,
The little
Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
2. The cattle are lowing; the poor baby wakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky
And stay by
my cradle till morning is nigh.
3. Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And fit us
for heaven to live with thee there.
Text: Anon., ca. 1883, Philadelphia
Music: William J. Kirkpatrick, 1838-1921;
harmonized by Rosalee Elser,1925-2007. (c) 1980 Rosalee
Elser.
Stars Were Gleaming
1. Stars were gleaming, shepherds
dreaming;
And the night was dark and chill.
Angels' story rang with glory;
Shepherds heard it on the hill.
Ah, that singing! Hear it
ringing,
Earthward winging, Christmas
bringing!
Hearken! We can hear it still!
2. See the clearness and the
nearness
Of the blessed Christmas star,
Leading, guiding; wise men riding
Through the desert dark and far.
Lovely showing, shining, growing,
Onward going, gleaming, glowing,
Leading still, our Christmas
star!
Music: Polish carol; arr. by
Darwin Wolford, b. 1936
Words (c) 1930 by Presbyterian
Board of Christian Education; renewed 1958; from Hymns for Primary Worship.
Used by permission of Westminster/John Knox Press. Arr. (c) 1989 IRI.
12:00 noon
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night
Oh Yeah! watch these sheep - we should follow the shepherd, AND - unlike these sheep, we should think for ourselves so we can receive inspiration and personal revelation suited to our stewardships and needs.
I truly love this depiction of the angels coming to shepherds by night.
Lyrics:
1. While shepherds watch'd their
flocks by night,
All seated on
the ground,
The angel of
the Lord came down,
And glory
shone around.
"Fear
not," said he, for mighty dread
Had seized
their troubled mind;
"Glad
tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all
mankind."
2. "To you, in David's town
this day,
Is born of
David's line
The Savior who
is Christ the Lord,
And this shall
be the sign:
The heav'nly
Babe you there shall find
To human view
displayed,
All meanly
wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a
manger laid."
3. Thus spake the seraph, and
forthwith
Appeared a
shining throng
Of angels
praising God, who thus
Addressed
their joyful song:
"All
glory be to God on high
And on the
earth be peace.
Goodwill
henceforth from heav'n to men
Begin and
never cease."
Text: Nahum Tate, 1652-1715;
based on Luke 2:8-14
Music: Yorkshire carol, ca. 1800
3:00 p.m.
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| Glow in the Dark Angel 2013 tree |
3:00 p.m.
Angels We Have Heard on High
played by The Piano Guys
Lyrics:
1. Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly
singing o'er the plains,
And the
mountains in reply
Echoing their
joyous strains.
(Chorus)
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria
in excelsis Deo.
2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your
joyous strains prolong?
What the
gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your
heav'nly song?
3. Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose
birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on
bended knee
Christ the
Lord, the newborn King.
Text: French carol, ca. 1862
Music: French carol
6:00 p.m.
Joy to the World
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| Dancing Snow Couple ornament 2013 |
What makes you dance with JOY? And sing hallelujah?
Here's another wonderful version of Joy to the World
9:00 p.m.
With Wondering Awe
The human voice is an instrument of wonder. I love barbershop. Sing like that at my funeral, eh?
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| My favorite 3 wisemen. |
And this rendition is worth every second of the 4:40 minutes.
Lyrics
1. With wond'ring awe the wisemen saw
The star in heaven
springing,
And with delight,
in peaceful night,
They heard the
angels singing:
(Chorus)
Hosanna, hosanna,
hosanna to his name!
2. By light of star they traveled far
To seek the lowly
manger,
A humble bed
wherein was laid
The wondrous
little Stranger.
3. And still is found, the world around,
The old and
hallowed story,
And still is sung
in ev'ry tongue
The angels' song
of glory:
4. The heav'nly star its rays afar
On ev'ry land is
throwing,
And shall not
cease till holy peace
In all the earth
is growing.
Text and music: Anon., Laudis Corona, Boston, 1885
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| The Holy Night, by Carl Heinrich Bloch |
12:00 midnight
Silent Night
Lyrics:
1. Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all
is bright
Round yon virgin
mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so
tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly
peace;
Sleep in heavenly
peace.
2. Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at
the sight!
Glories stream
from heaven afar;
Heav'nly hosts
sing Alleluia!
Christ, the
Savior, is born!
Christ, the
Savior, is born!
3. Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love's
pure light
Radiant beams from
thy holy face,
With the dawn of
redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at
thy birth;
Jesus, Lord, at
thy birth.
Text: Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848; trans. by John F. Young, 1820-1885
Music: Franz Gruber, 1787-1863
https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/silent-night?lang=eng
