Christmas Daybook, 5: Savor Christmas carols
Welcome to my Christmas daybook for these 12 days of celebrating. We'll be spending Christmastide with some favorite short films and video clips. Join me, won't you?
Judy Garland - "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
Nat King Cole - "The Christmas Song"
John Denver and The Muppets - "12 Days of Christmas"
Brian and I enjoyed browsing through old television Christmas specials on YouTube this year. Some of it was just plain old unwatchable from the tacky to the wacky, but here's five of our favorite moments that have stood the test of time.
What would you add?
Today's readings: 2 Samuel 23:13-17b, Psalm 18:1-20, 2 John 1-13, John 2:1-11
Prayer for today from Evening Prayers For Every Day of the Year by Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt
“I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-2, NIV
Lord our God, we thank you that we have often felt you close to us. We thank you that you are near us and that you strengthen the weak. Remember us and give each one the help he needs to be true to his calling. Remember all humankind and grant that we may go forward in spirit and in truth. Give new light to the peoples who are still in great darkness. Let your kingdom and your reign be revealed and your name at last be honored by all. Amen.”
Sing Christmas carols.
{an excerpt from my post 12 Ways To Savor the 12 Days of Christmas}
The Anglican worship service sings only Advent hymns during the month of December. We try to follow suit at home. Although -- I'm not gonna lie -- long about December 2 this year I caught Brian singing "Santa, Baby" in the kitchen one morning! The Sunday after Christmas our worship pastor plans a Lessons and Carols service leading us, in his words, in a last gasp of Christmas. With the frenetic pace of December, don't you love the idea of Christmas caroling at a nursing home or around an elderly friend's old upright piano during the last week of Christmas?
May I also recommend an excellent post by worship pastor/musician Bruce Benedict: Christmas Carols – extra verses and alternate lyrics fest. Perhaps you could spend some time today - alone or with others - singing these obscure stanzas.
(See all Christmas Daybook posts from 2016 here.)