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Written by Juan Carlos Acostsa, Director of Worship at The Village Church

One of my all-time favorite verses from my one of my all-time favorite carols is the final verse of “In the Bleak Midwinter.” Christina Rossetti apparently did not intend for this poem to be set as a hymn, despite that as a poem it was simply titled “A Christmas Carol.” Despite the irregular rhythm of each line, and not lending itself to a hymn setting, the 1906 Hymnal (Church of England) included a setting by Gustav Holst,

composer of The Planets. In 1911 Harold Darke published a setting for choir that fit the text a little better. I love them both and have fond memories of singing, playing, and conducting many settings over the years. The final verse (4^th in the Holst and 5^th in the Darke) is the one that really speaks to me. It places the author in the directly in the Christmas story (see below). Oftentimes when I get to this point on Christmas Eve, I am emptied out. I have given all of my energy to concerts, multiple services, caroling, holiday, and family functions. This song helps remind me that the most important thing I can give is my heart. Not gifts. Not my busyness. Not even my music. Somehow it helps center me in what ends up being the busiest season of the year for me.  I am partial to this recording and setting because I think it captures a bit of the mystery of the text. And because we recorded in the Sanctuary of the Village Church.

What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

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Written by Janet Denison, a contemporary writer. This is an excerpt from her devotional “The Songs Tell the Story.”

“The First Noel” might be one of the oldest hymns we have. Some think the tune was written in the 1200s, but the Christmas words were added six hundred years later. The word noel comes from a Latin word that means “to be born,” but noel later came to mean Christmas. Consequently, “The First Noel” means “The First Christmas.” We know people have been celebrating the birth of Jesus since 300 AD, which means Christians have formally and collectively celebrated his birth for seventeen hundred years. And, if “The First Noel” was first sung in the 1800s, people like Abraham Lincoln might have sung it. Your great-great-great grandparents may have sung it. Pause for a moment and consider how many people have sung about that first Christmas, occurring on a “cold winter’s night that was so deep.” The problem with that “cold winter’s night” is that Jesus was likely born sometime in the spring…So why does “The First Noel” contain that line? Because, by the time the hymn had been written, Christmas was celebrated in December—when it’s cold. In other words, that one line of the hymn was written to match its own time rather than the biblical times. But, that trivia doesn’t change the truth about Christmas. The first Christmas was announced by angels who appeared to shepherds in a field. People have been “announcing” and celebrating the story of Christ’s birth ever since. When you sing “The First Noel,” you sing about the first Christmas, and your voice joins with millions of others throughout history. People have always wanted to announce the true meaning of Christmas, just as “the angels did say.” What will you announce about Christmas this year?

The first Noel the angels did say, was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay. In fields where they lay keeping their sheep on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel. Born is the King of Israel.

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Written by Vickie Stone from The Village Church

December of 2000 would be the first Christmas my family would navigate after the loss of my big sis to cancer at age 40. She was our social director and the Christmas season, just 3 months after Lorrie’s passing, seemed empty without her. Songs of the season only reminded me of how much my sister loved Christmas time. For several years the heartache was heavy, as anyone who’s lost a loved one understands as they face the holidays. I recall sitting in my living room looking at my Christmas lights one year, and a song played, “And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth,” I said.”  That fits, I thought.  Yet, the following lines of the song forced open my heart and tenderly reminded me of the significance of the Savior’s birth:  “Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men”. When Henry Longfellow penned these words over 150 years ago. He was himself in the grips of despair, from the tragic loss of his wife in a fire and the serious injury of his son in the Civil War. Indeed, our very country was also hurting.   So how poignant that now and over the decades, Longfellow’s lyrics can be so comforting to a hurting world. Whether during war times, terrorist attacks, mass shootings, or even this year’s horrific political assassinations including that of young Christian Charlie Kirk who encouraged so many to open their Bibles and believe in the Savior. So, let us hold fast to our faith and celebrate this Christmas and every day of the year, remembering God is not dead. He was born a baby to enter our world and save us; and nothing will ever separate us from Him.

When men repent and turn from sin the Prince of Peace then enters in, and grace imparts within their hearts His peace on earth, good will to men. O souls amid earth’s busy strife, the Word of God is light and life; Oh, hear His voice, make Him your choice, Hail peace on earth, good will to men. Then happy, singing on your way, your world will change from night to day; your heart will feel the message real, of peace on earth, good will to men.

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Written by Joanne Melton from The Village Church

When I was around seven or eight years old, my sister and I took piano lessons every Saturday.   My mother was an excellent pianist, and my sister was on the way to being that good.  Unfortunately, that was not on my list of fun things to do.  I would have preferred being outside climbing trees, talking with my friends, riding a bike…but, alas and alack, piano practice was part of my weekly activities. So, with a frown on my face, I sat down at the piano bench and began my practice.  There was a new piece of music I had never seen before.  The cover was fascinating…there was a picture of an angel on it.  She was just beautiful! I opened the first page and looked at the music.  It appeared that maybe I could play this…when I started the first stanza, I was just totally amazed with the words and the music together.  The more I began to play, the music filled my head. It was in the very first verse that my breath was taken away: “Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born! O night, O Holy night, O night divine!” Can anything be more beautiful than those words?  I appreciate the hymn every time I hear it played!

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; it is the night of the dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine! O night when Christ was born!

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Written by Nina Pope from The Village Church

For me, it started at an early age…as far back as I can remember, I used to sing myself to sleep nightly. Prior to the emergence of what we now call a record player, in the era of the “Victrola,” I listened to and learned the entire score of the musical “South Pacific.” To this day, a chord or two of “Some Enchanted Evening” still warms my heart. By the time I got into the church children’s choir at about age 9, I was fully invested in Christmas music. Those were the days when Christmas hymns were commonly heard on the radio or publicly sung in school, and when many people seemed to know the lyrics of hymns and went caroling. At one Christmas pageant, our choir sang a jubilant presentation of “Angels We Have Heard on High,” which remains a personal favorite. Over the years, many other lyrics found their way into my repertoire, and today I enjoy those sacred songs by various artists from croonings by Nat King Cole to Willie Nelson and beyond. My very favorite lyric by far is lifted from verse 3 of “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” which actually calls us to silent reverence. Wishing you a soothing, musical Christmas filled with silent, eternal truths.

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav’n. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

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Written by Joan Osborne from The Village Church

Many decades ago, at Christmastime, my elementary school choir sang carols at a local shopping center. Whenever Angels We Have Heard on High was the next selection, I got excited, knowing the beautiful musical runs that were coming as we sang “gloria in excelsis deo” even though I barely knew what those words meant. It didn’t matter. As a child, the music alone transported me. I felt joy. I felt the grandeur of the scene. I felt the angels, singing over the plains. I felt the mountains replying. I felt the praise to God in the highest. I didn’t really understand themagnitude of the moment, but I knew its joy. The music carried me there. It was a moment experienced by its sound. Years later I began to study the lyrics. When I understood the words of praise to God for bringing our Savior into the world and the response of everything in heaven and on earth that rejoiced at His coming, I appreciated my favorite carol anew. Grab your hymnal, read all four verses, and let the music play in your head. Imagine the heart of the Frenchman who put the two together. And then thank God for the treasure of Jesus–and for the music. Or for a full experience, click the link below.

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.

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Written by Alan Vermilye, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from Volume 3 of his book “The Carols of Christmas.”

The setting was London, England, in the 18^th century, shortly before the advent of the Industrial Revolution. Half of the population was living in dire conditions…Nearly half of the children born during this period didn’t survive past their second birthday…Charles Wesley was all too familiar with this reality. He and his brother John had been tirelessly preaching the gospel across the country and had witnessed firsthand the exploitation of children and the horrible conditions they endured…While sitting on a train coach in 1744, he couldn’t help but ponder the profound sense of injustice that surrounded him. In his discouragement, he clung to Haggai’s reminder to the Israelites that God’s power can transform a bleak present into a future filled with unimaginable glory… Wesley found himself deeply moved and motivated to write a prayer that would capture the profound needs and longings of humanity, as well as the hopeful anticipation of Christ’s imminent return to restore justice and bring about complete renewal. It was a prayer filled with eager anticipation, reminding believers of Christ’s first coming to Bethlehem and their longing for his future return…This beautiful hymn resonates through time, offering peace and inspiration. Like Wesley, we, too can examine the decline of culture in modern times, the attack on Christian values and principles, international conflicts, and the persisting challenges in our own lives that leave us feeling overwhelmed and in need of deliverance, peace, and hope.

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

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Written by Joanne Melton from The Village Church.

The song “Children, go where I send thee” is a traditional African-American  spiritual. It  was first recorded in 1936, but dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The verses relive many familiar stories  from the Bible that remind us  of our call to move beyond our comfort zone and carry Jesus’ message of love and  hope to the world. What better time to do this than during the  Christmas season?  The tasks don’t need to be grand. We might be delivering a meal to someone who is in need, visiting the lonely, writing a note of encouragement, teaching our children and grandchildren the true meaning of Christmas, or simply having the courage to take the next step in faith when an opportunity arises. I hope you enjoy this lively song as much as I do as we celebrate joy and hope this season.

Children, go where I send thee; How shall I send thee; I’m gonna send thee one by one. One for the little bitty baby born of the Virgin Mary. Born, born, born in Bethlehem. 

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Written by Alexis Waid, a contemporary pastor and spiritual director.

In so many of our beloved Christmas songs we find a call to action that asks us to “come.” Have you ever noticed that? It’s because in order to follow God, we must come to him. Of course he is always there, but we must respond, must come. There is an action required on our part in order to be a witness to the miracle of who God is. The coming is not a one-time action, nor is it a compartmentalized function of our lives. In order for us – for you – to fully grasp the magnitude of God and his amazing love, it needs to be fully infiltrated into every part of your life. This is not just for Sundays or designated times of Bible study or prayer, but you must come to God at all moments of your day. While you are driving, working, running errands, playing, resting, etc… you must come to God. Why? Because it is worth everything. A life fully infused with God is one that most never breach. It’s a life with immense purpose and love. It is living your life to the fullest as you seek God in every moment. Is it hard? You bet. But anything worthwhile is hard. Your natural instincts will fight you, but if you stay disciplined, and through God’s help you will get better and better at coming to him. This is what Christmas is all about, and it’s not just for this season, but all the days of your life.

Love incarnate, love divine. Star and angels gave the sign. Bow to babe on bended knee. The Savior of humanity. Unto us a child is born. He shall reign forevermore. Noel, Noel. Come and see what God has done. Noel, Noel. The story of amazing love!

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Written by David Herman, Adult Ministry Director at The Village Church.

 Christmas is most magical when you’re a child. When I was a boy, we played the 1965 Christmas album from the Harry Simeone Chorale on repeat so often we could put shopping centers to shame. Since The Little Drummer Boy was the first song on the vinyl, it’s probably the one I heard most. Its constant masculine vocal strums underlie its feminine vocals throughout, suggesting a boy who loved playing his favorite toy all the time. And when your favorite toy is a drum, your parents likely heartily encourage time outside. So, we imagine this novice musician wandering around the neighborhood one evening and curiously joining a peculiar procession into a local barn. Seemingly the sole guest without a gift, this little boy on this silent night tentatively pa-rum pum-pums a rhythm to please this newborn king. A kindergartener among adults. By far the loudest in a room with travel-worn parents and their infant so tender and mild. Woefully out of place. “Then he smiled at me.” If there was ever any doubt of acceptance in that boy’s heart, it vanished in that instant. If there’s ever any doubt God loves you and receives what you have to offer him, spend some time with a newborn. When my little daughter smiles at me, her opinion outweighs that of every other human being in the world. It’s magical. And that’s the smile of God!

I played my best for Him. Pa rum ump um pum. Rum ump um pum. Rum ump um pum. Then He smiled at me. Pa rum ump um pum. Me and my drum. Mary nodded. Pa rum ump um pum. The ox and lamb kept time. Pa rum ump um pum. I played my drum for Him.

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