Has any other season got it's own soundtrack? You could argue that there's a distinct summer sound but no season has us singing more than Christmas. Christmas is a musical and we can't help singing.
And while Mariah Carey, Slade and Michael Buble get their annual Christmas bonuses we still love singing the ancient songs. This struck me afresh at the beginning of December in Primark as 4 teenager girls giggled and laughed as they walked past singing Hark the Herald angels sing. These ancient hymns hit a cord with us in ways that Let it snow, let it snow can't. I wonder do we have a sense that Christmas began before Irving Berling wrote White Christmas. That there's more to be hoped for than a cold snap on the 25th December. I wonder do our hearts ache for a better song than Santa Claus is coming to town. One that acknowledges our hopes and fears of all the years. Songs of a story that give real hope, deep joy, lasting peace. Not once upon a time stories but Once in Royal David's City.
Maybe these songs awake within us deeper longings. Maybe they stir in us a cry for our true home, our eternal Father, our everlasting rest.
Christmas is a musical and when we sing the ancient songs we join with Mary as she sing "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour..." and with the angels as they declare "Glory to God in the highest"
So, sing along with Wham (I know I will be) and then reach back further and in deeper to those ancient and new songs that praise the One who we meet in all our hopes and fears.
Here's a cheeky advert: If your around or near Dromara join us this Sunday (22nd) evening as we sing Christmas Carols at the candlelight service. This is a wonderful time to retune our hearts to the story that explains us, examines us and welcomes us in.
Comentários