Can you imagine Christmas without carols? No “O Come, All You Faithful”? No “Joy to the World”? No “Silent Night”? No “Away in a Manger”? No “We Three Kings”? The list could go on and on and on and we haven’t even gotten to songs like “White Christmas” and “Sleigh Ride” and “Chestnuts Roasting on An Open Fire” and “Jingle Bells”! No other holiday has as much music specifically associated with its celebration. And that music is ubiquitous this time of year. You would have to try pretty hard to go through a day in December without hearing any Christmas music.
The songs of Christmas carry our feelings and our memories and our hopes for this season. They take us beyond the Biblical story to our story. To our stories. Many of the pop songs associated with Christmas hearken back to World War II and families separated with loved ones serving in the military. The traditions, the experiences, the associations that we have with Christmas are often poignant and beg to be shared. This sharing happens so readily through music.
Each year, a group from the church goes caroling to homebound people of the congregation and to several nursing homes in the area. It is amazing to see the laughter and the tears evoked by the music. The people simply come alive through the singing however out of tune or raggedy the performance may be! The message still shines through.
Try to imagine a Christmas without music. With no carols. With no songs. It’s impossible. The joy, the fun, the delight, the depth of this holiday simply cannot be held in. The Spirit of this season bursts forth – in song. Bringing us together. Which is where we should be.
Praise God with trumpet sound;
praise God with lute and harp!
Praise God with tambourine and dance;
praise God with strings and pipe!
Praise God with clanging cymbals;
praise God with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes praise God!
Psalm 150: 3-5a
Prayer: We are grateful for the gift of music. Music conveys what words alone cannot convey. The rhythm, the beat, the words, the melody all combine to express what is in our spirits. In this Advent season, we are especially grateful for the music of Christmas and how it stirs our hearts bringing us joy and bringing us together. Amen.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 