All on a Christmas Morning

The title is, of course, from a Christmas carol. I cannot promise news of everything happening on a Christmas morning, esepcially as it is quiet here.

Services at church last evening went quite splendidly. (See below for the complete list of musical selections.) There was a festive air about and an atmosphere of love and joy. I am proud to have added to the scene (for I am the Director of Music).

It occurs to me how starkly such an event contrasts with the goings-on in most of political Washington and other places in the world. Such sentiments are often seen as impossible goals, "soft", even crazy. Yet such is the true meaning of the Christ Child, who did quite upset the reigning purveyors of cynicism of his day, the Herods and the Pharisees. Today, the sneering cynics are represented by the Cheneys, the Kissingers, men who believe God did not create a good world, but rather a bad world. They are like Scrooge, who says in Dickens "A Christmas Carol" words to the effect that one must steel oneself against a world which was becoming increasingly cold and uncaring. The battle of coming days will be deciding which vision of the world is correct.



Hymns and Carols

O -- O Come, All Ye Faithful ADESTE FIDELIS

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing MENDELSSOHN

Angels We Have Heard on High GLORIA

Away in a Manger CRADLE SONG

O Little Town of Bethlehem ST. LOUIS

P -- Silent Night! Holy Night! STILLE NACHT



Prel. Noel on the Flutes -- Louis Claude D'Aquin

Anthem. La Jornada -- Venezuelan Carol, Arr. Bruce Trinkley
Chancel Choir

Handbell Carol. Mary Had a Baby -- African-American Spiritual, Arr. Anna Laura Page
Handbell Choir

Handbell Carol. Watchman, Tell Us of the Night -- Arr. S. Ullom-Berns after a tune of Joseph Parry

Offer. Carols Around -- Carl Nygard
Chancel Choir

Postl. In Dulci Jubilo (In Sweet Joy) -- Johann Sebastian Bach