When our children were growing up, a pastor in our church presented The Nativity Story, every Christmas season. A stable was constructed and the manger was set in place. Costumes were made for Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the Shepherds, and the Three Wise Men bearing gifts for the Christ child. The children took their places to begin. A child dressed as an angel carried the star of Bethlehem and placed it over the stable where the baby . The shepherds gathered with their sheep and the Magi kneeled as they presented their gifts. The lights dimmed, and the star shined brightly above the manger as Mary cuddled the baby Jesus. The organ began to play, and the children began to sing “Away In a Manger.” Those precious children singing this beautiful carol always brought tears to my eyes. And it still does, when I remember those times.
Away in a manger, no crib for a 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.
Written by the Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
At Christmas, the greatest gift — God in flesh — is entrusted to an unmarried girl, possibly a teenager. Mary’s courage in accepting God’s offer is almost beyond our comprehension. As she faced everything to come, including the arduous journey to Bethlehem, she needed that same courage to continue. The angel had promised that the Holy Spirit would come to her, and it is to that same spirit (the Greek words for “breath” and “spirit” are the same) that she cries out to now. Who in your life is looking for courage right now? How can you be a breath from heaven for them?
Breath of heaven hold me together. Be forever near me. Breath of heaven lighten my darkness. Pour over me Your holiness. For You are holy. Breath of heaven.
Buried in my parents’ saved letters and memorabilia I discovered a small, yellowed booklet. “The Christmas Caroler’s Book,” published in 1935, includes 80 pages of Christmas carols and their history. This discovery took me back to my childhood in the 1940’s. On a cold, sometimes snowy night, many neighbor children joined together to go caroling. Bundled in snow suits, earmuffs, and mittens, we went from house to house, singing carols. Most of them we knew by heart. Many adults came outside to applaud and sing along. Afterward we gathered in a warm house for a festive celebration, drinking homemade hot chocolate and enjoying old fashioned Christmas cookies. On Christmas Eve. at 11PM our family attended a beautiful Service at the nearby Presbyterian Church. The Scripture Story of Jesus’ birth was told and many carols were sung. On the stroke of midnight, the choirs and congregation broke out in the last song, “JOY to The World!” Until recently, I did not know that my favorite song, originally written by Isaac Watts, was not written for Christmas. Part of “Psalms of David,” published in 1719, it was a paraphrase of Psalm 98. To this day, I feel so thrilled to sing the verses telling us the Lord is come, Let Earth receive her king! He rules the world, And Wonders of His Love!”
Joy to the world; the Lord is come; Let Earth receive her king; Let ev’ry heart prepare him room, and heav’n and nature sing…He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove, the glories of his righteousness, and wonders of his love.
I was 5 years old, very shy, and rarely spoke in front of the class. But one December morning in 1950, in my kindergarten classroom, I stepped up to a microphone, and said, “Merry Christmas, Mother and Daddy! I am going to sing a song for you. This is Julie.” I sang “There’s a Song in the Air.” Our teacher, in what was a fairly unusual occurrence at the time, made recordings of the voice of each child in our class and had them made into records, the vinyl variety! They were 78 rpm records, even though they were about the size of a 45. Each record was tucked into a little red envelope, made out of red construction paper and decorated with a Christmas drawing by the kindergarteners, given as gifts to our parents. That record became my mother’s treasure. She played it over and over, until our record player stopped working. It was then put back into its little red envelope with my drawing of Santa, and tucked safely away in her cedar chest, where she kept baby books, baby shoes, curls from my brother’s first haircut, and other treasures from our childhood. I did not hear that record of my childish voice again for many years. It wasn’t until my mother had passed away at age 96, that I opened her cedar chest and saw among her treasures that little faded red construction paper envelope. The record inside was still in one piece. I took it home with me and stored it as safely as I could, but I had no way to play it, until recently when I was able to find a small record player which played all speeds – 33, 45, and 78. The record did not play perfectly, but it brought back that morning in my kindergarten classroom, where I sang my first and only solo! Was it the voice of a budding diva? No, it was the voice of a little girl, singing with all her heart about a mother, and a baby lying in a manger, who would be our Savior. I heard “There’s a Song in the Air” recently in a church service. Memory clutched at my heart, my throat swelled and tears spilled out of my eyes. I will always love that song from a Christmas so long ago, but I don’t think I will ever be able to hear it without a lump in my throat! Here’s a link to the original recording: https://youtu.be/0YY2i1kPSCA.
There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky! There’s a mother’s deep prayer and a baby’s low cry! And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing. For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
Written by Mary Whittier Johansen from the Village Church.
When I was ten years old, I received a beautiful hardbound, illustrated book, titled Sing for Christmas. It was a gift from my cousin, Edwin McNeil and his wife. I was ready and eager to play and sing of silent nights, angels, shepherds and joy. But O Holy Night was written with five flats, and the vocal music was separated from the accompaniment. That carol became a favorite when our daughters could sing, and I could play in five flats. Years later, my oldest granddaughter, Anna did the honors. She sang I Know That My Redeemer Liveth at her grandfather’s celebration of life. Later she sang The Lord’s Prayer when Jack Baca performed my marriage to Fred Johansen at La Costa Glen. Anna really has the voice of an angel. Now I am blessed with six great grandchildren. Imagine my surprise this October when my snail mail included a charming Christmas card, O Holy Night. Joan, age six, mailed it to me. I am GG, great grandmother. Joan prints her name and mine and draws hearts. She likes to receive my postcards and letters, and I am thrilled she writes to me. My mother, also Anna, had eight sisters and four brothers. (Joan has two sisters and 1 brother). My mother was especially close to Kathryn, Edwin’s mother. Ed, an only child, piloted a plane over the English Channel on D-Day. He could still recall Sing For Christmas at his 100th birthday. He died at 102. I am heartened that my family and many young couples are choosing to have children and raise them to know and love our savior Jesus who came to us as an infant one holy night.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, let all within us praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever! His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim! His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
There is so much wonderful music in our lives every day, but especially at Christmas when the carols we sing and songs from the holiday movies we watch, evoke warm memories of past times.There are many Christmas carols I love singing and they inevitably bring me to tears. ‘O Holy Night’ is one such song. Another favorite is ‘What Child is This’. They both make me think of that night when Jesus was born in a stable- the calmness, the sense of wonder.One of my favorites is ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’. Hard to imagine such a thing here in San Diego, but the hymn makes me think of a perfect winter scene with lots of snow, a cottage with dim lights at the windows and smoke coming out of the chimney.The hymn describes the scene of Jesus’ birth and makes me think I’m a bystander, wondering what can I do for, or give to a special baby. ‘Yet what I can I give him…. Give my heart’. That’s what Jesus wants us to do – give Him our heart.In addition to the words which were written by Christina Rossetti, I love the music and clearly remember practicing singing the high notes. I even like saying the author’s name, which has stuck with me all those years, and seemed so exotic back then.But most of all, I love the simple message of giving my heart to all those I love. The message of Christmas is love.
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.
Years ago, I was responsible for choosing music for a carol-sing that took place before
our late service on Christmas Eve at a small Episcopal church. Some familiar carols would be included, but it was also an opportunity to share some of the lesser-known hymns of Christmas. I discovered an American hymn written in 1957 which became a personal favorite. The melody is both warm and haunting, with an interlude between verses that gives time to absorb words just sung. The mood suits the lyrics, from the birth of Christ through His death and resurrection – the fulfillment of Christmas. There is a line of text repeated in every verse that spoke to me: And every stone shall cry. The stones cry out as the sky glows at Jesus’ birth, as He rides into David’s city, as He is pierced, and as He is lifted up to reconcile the worlds. It portrays the whole point of Christmas, remembering that God came as human to save humanity and endured the Passion and rejection and overcame death to give us all eternal life.
A stable lamp is lighted whose glow shall wake the sky; The stars shall bend their voices, and ev’ry stone shall cry and straw like gold shall shine; A barn shall harbor heaven, a stall become a shrine. This child through David’s city shall ride in triumph by; The palm shall strew its branches, and ev’ry stone shall cry though heavy, dull, and dumb, and lie within the roadway to pave His kingdom come. Yet He shall be forsaken and yielded up to die; The sky shall groan and darken, and ev’ry stone shall cry for stony hearts of men: God’s blood upon the spearhead, God’s love refused again. But now, as at the ending, the low is lifted high; The stars shall bend their voices, and ev’ry stone shall cry in praises of the Child by whose descent among us the worlds are reconciled.
When I think of favorite Christmas hymns, I usually think of those with a melody that I enjoy playing on my flute. However, the request stressed the lyrics, so I decided to choose a hymn that I enjoy both the lyrics as well as haunting melody. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is a theologically rich carol based on its use of the O Antiphons, liturgical prayers based on Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah’s coming, which have been sung as part of the Advent liturgy, originating in the 8th and 9th century. Each verse addresses Christ with a different title from scripture, building a deep theological case for His awaited arrival and His role in liberating people from sin and death. The carol is not only a song of longing but also an expression of hope and assurance that God will fulfill His promises. Each verse of the hymn invokes a different messianic title for Jesus. Emmanuel [He is “God with us.”] Rod of Jesse [He is a descendant of Jesse (King David’s father), who will bring freedom from Satan and death.] Dayspring [He is the dawn that will “cheer us” and put “death’s dark shadows” to flight.] Key of David [He holds the power to open the “heavenly home” and “close the path to misery.”] Lord of Might (Adonai) [He has always been with His people, revealing Himself with “majesty and awe.] Wisdom from on High [He is the personification of God’s wisdom, which “orders all things mightily” in the cosmos], and Desire of Nations [He is the one who can bind “all peoples in one heart and mind,” bringing an end to strife and ushering in God’s peace.] The original Latin chants contained a hidden acrostic. The first letter of each title—Sapientia, Adonai, Radix Jesse, Clavis David, Oriens, Rex Gentium, Emmanuel—spells “SARCORE.” When read backward, this forms the Latin phrase “Ero cras,” meaning “I shall be with you tomorrow.” The carol’s mood and structure reflect key theological themes of exile, longing, and already but not yet. The initial verse describes Israel as “captive” and “mourning in lonely exile.” This reflects the historical Babylonian exile but also the spiritual state of all people separated from God by sin. The hymn captures the deep longing of God’s people throughout history as they waited for their promised Messiah. It is a humble, serious call for a savior, not a festive, celebratory one. The constant refrain, “Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel,” injects a powerful note of hope into the mournful verses. It reminds Christians that while Christ has already come, we still live in a fallen world and await His promised return to make all things new.
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
The prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 means “God with us” and that is what hope sounds like. Our trip to Lahore, West Pakistan in 1960 had a noble purpose. My father, a civil engineer, was to build 12 inter-river link canals for water supply. My mother was to assist nurses in caring for malnourished babies. I was between 5 and 8 years of age when we moved there. I befriended a neighbor Pakistani girl and attended a Pakistani kindergarten. Experiences there were mixed—with occasional blessings and much shock. Our front door would open to a beggar with a bloody rag stuffed in an empty nasal cavity or in an ear opening. Sin, in a radical Muslim country, was punishable by removal of appendages. How fortunate we were to know God who forgives. Once, as we drove into the Old City looking very white, about ten men surrounded, lifted, and moved our car out of the way. Other unmentioned traumas would have devastating effects UNTIL the calls to prayer were drowned out by my turntable. I played the smooth, resonant Harry Belefonte 1958 rendition of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and the lyrics (below) moved me. Jesus is the hope of this life and the next. Isaiah foretold it. Immanuel means God [is] with us.
I heard the bells on Christmas day, their old familiar carols play. And wild and sweet, the words repeat of peace on earth, good will to men. I thought, as now this day had come, the belfries of all Christendom had rung so long the unbroken song of peace on earth, good will to men. And in despair I bowed my head. There is no peace on earth, I said. For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men. 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.
I am always drawn to the modern carol “Mary, Did You Know?” There’s something about the lyrics that capture both the beauty and mystery of the Christmas story. The questions posed in the song remind me that Christmas isn’t just about a baby in a manger. It’s about God Himself stepping into our world. This tiny, fragile child was the Savior of all humanity — the same one who would walk on water, heal the sick, calm the storm, and conquer death. Mary knew her baby was special, chosen, and holy — but could she have truly grasped that she was holding the Creator of the Universe in her arms? For me, this song rekindles the sacred wonder and awe that began in a manger and still changes lives today.
Mary, did you know that your baby boy is the Lord of all creation? Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy was heaven’s perfect Lamb? And the sleeping Child you’re holdin’ is the Great I Am!
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