Philip suggested an excellent blog post query: What's your favorite Christmas carol? Have at it, folks.
I'll go first: Of the Father's Love Begotten!
20 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Mine is Joy to the World. The music and the message is such a stirring anthem. I look forward to it every year. Feels like we should be standing when we sing it!
Pastor, I found your favorite Christmas carol at a site that plays the music and provides all the verses at: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/f/ofthefat.htm
Of the Father's Love Begotten - hands down favorite.
O Rejoice, Ye Christians Loudly (LSB #897) - a strong runner-up. It goes much better auf Deutsch and with the 12-fold Alleluia that got left out of LSB.
What Child is This (I cry every time I sing about nails and spears piercing Him through), also, on a slightly cheesier side, The Little Drummer Boy is also a big favorite.
Many of my favorites have been mentioned (love the Apple Tree) but no one mentioned In dulci jubilo yet. I love how it points to the Cross and Resurrection. "Oh, that we were there" about does me in.
Good people all, this Christmas-time, Consider well and bear in mind What our good God for us has done In sending his beloved Son. With Mary holy we should pray To God with love this Christmas day; In Bethlehem upon that morn There was a blessed Messiah born.
The night before that happy tide The noble Virgin and her guide Were long time seeking up and down To find a lodging in the town. But mark how all things came to pass; From every door repelled alas! As long foretold, their refuge all Was but an humble ox's stall.
There were three wise men from afar Directed by a glorious star, And on they wandered night and day Until they came where Jesus lay, And when they came unto that place Where our beloved Messiah was, They humbly cast them at his feet, With gifts of gold and incense sweet.
Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep; To whom God's angels did appear, Which put the shepherds in great fear. "Prepare and go", the angles said. 'To Bethlehem, be not afraid, For there you'll find this happy morn, A princely babe, sweet Jesus born.
With thankful heart and joyful mind, The shepherds went the babe to find, And as God's angel had foretold, They did our savior Christ behold. Within a manger he was laid, And by his side the virgin maid, Attending on the Lord of life, Who came on earth to end all strife.
I'm surprised that no one else has mentioned "Silent Night." Standing in front of a sanctuary illumined by candles while singing those well-known, beloved words along with the congregation - that always makes Christmas eve for me. Another favorite of mine is "O Holy Night" - especially the second stanza.
There are too many good ones to say one is my favorite. Not too long ago I discovered "Da Droben Vom Berge." Here is a link to some free holiday music that has that carol and some other beautiful, but lesser known ones. Enjoy.
This is question is almost as ridiculous as asking, "Which Sacrament means the most to you?" But since it was asked anyway - my favorite hymn is probably one that I just sang at the most recent church service, or heard most recently. In other words, it's constantly changing. Right at this moment, working on choosing hymns for the upcoming cycle of services through Epiphany, I'd have to say, "Now Sing We, Now Rejoice"... it's hard to beat a line like, "Come from on high to me, I cannot rise to Thee. Cheer my wearied spirit, O pure and holy Child."
And I also love "Of the Father's Love Begotten" - especially the version recorded by the Ft. Wayne Kantorei, with my classmate's solo, the tolling of the bell, and then the swelling of the organ. wow.
20 comments:
Mine is Joy to the World. The music and the message is such a stirring anthem. I look forward to it every year. Feels like we should be standing when we sing it!
Pastor, I found your favorite Christmas carol at a site that plays the music and provides all the verses at: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/f/ofthefat.htm
"Let Our Gladness Have No End"
"Jesus Christ the Apple Tree"
(Yeah, it's not in the hymnal. I don't care. I still love it.)
Hm, it's a tie: Joy to the world, Angels we have heard on high, and What child is this?
Never heard of the apple tree one ...
Take care & God bless
Anne / WF
'Jesus Christ the Apple Tree'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm3fZDZxiko
Of the Father's Love Begotten - hands down favorite.
O Rejoice, Ye Christians Loudly (LSB #897) - a strong runner-up. It goes much better auf Deutsch and with the 12-fold Alleluia that got left out of LSB.
Once in Royal David's City - LSB 376
What Child is This (I cry every time I sing about nails and spears piercing Him through), also, on a slightly cheesier side, The Little Drummer Boy is also a big favorite.
Hey, I'm in good company! I have the same favorite as Pastors Cwirla & Weedon!!
"It Came upon a Midnight Clear." Don't know why; just always moves me.
Otherwise, I've always been partial to "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" & "From Heaven above to Earth I Come."
My apologies that I can't put just one:
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day"- God is not dead nor doth He sleep
"Away in a Manger"- I sing it every night to my sons as I put them to bed.
"Come your hearts and voices raising" LSB 375
"O Jesus Christ, thy manger is" LSB 372
"O Sing of Christ" LSB 362- A new one and I can't wait to sing it!
Sorry for not putting just one!
Jeremy
Many of my favorites have been mentioned (love the Apple Tree) but no one mentioned In dulci jubilo yet. I love how it points to the Cross and Resurrection. "Oh, that we were there" about does me in.
The Wexford Carol:
Good people all, this Christmas-time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas day;
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born.
The night before that happy tide
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark how all things came to pass;
From every door repelled alas!
As long foretold, their refuge all
Was but an humble ox's stall.
There were three wise men from afar
Directed by a glorious star,
And on they wandered night and day
Until they came where Jesus lay,
And when they came unto that place
Where our beloved Messiah was,
They humbly cast them at his feet,
With gifts of gold and incense sweet.
Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep;
To whom God's angels did appear,
Which put the shepherds in great fear.
"Prepare and go", the angles said.
'To Bethlehem, be not afraid,
For there you'll find this happy morn,
A princely babe, sweet Jesus born.
With thankful heart and joyful mind,
The shepherds went the babe to find,
And as God's angel had foretold,
They did our savior Christ behold.
Within a manger he was laid,
And by his side the virgin maid,
Attending on the Lord of life,
Who came on earth to end all strife.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMaubOI5flk
The Wexford Carol:
This is a great carol and worthy of all singing. Love the melody!
I'm surprised that no one else has mentioned "Silent Night." Standing in front of a sanctuary illumined by candles while singing those well-known, beloved words along with the congregation - that always makes Christmas eve for me.
Another favorite of mine is "O Holy Night" - especially the second stanza.
Gerhardt's "All My Heart This Night Rejoices" (especially the stanzas that got left out of LSB) and Luther's "To Shepherds As They Watched By Night."
There are too many good ones to say one is my favorite. Not too long ago I discovered "Da Droben Vom Berge." Here is a link to some free holiday music that has that carol and some other beautiful, but lesser known ones. Enjoy.
Pastor G
http://www.rhapsody.com/molly-watson/o-holy-night
I'd have to say it's a tie between "What Child is This" and "O Holy Night"
This is question is almost as ridiculous as asking, "Which Sacrament means the most to you?" But since it was asked anyway - my favorite hymn is probably one that I just sang at the most recent church service, or heard most recently. In other words, it's constantly changing. Right at this moment, working on choosing hymns for the upcoming cycle of services through Epiphany, I'd have to say, "Now Sing We, Now Rejoice"... it's hard to beat a line like, "Come from on high to me, I cannot rise to Thee. Cheer my wearied spirit, O pure and holy Child."
And I also love "Of the Father's Love Begotten" - especially the version recorded by the Ft. Wayne Kantorei, with my classmate's solo, the tolling of the bell, and then the swelling of the organ. wow.
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