Lifespring! Why Christmas Show

 

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The blessed day has arrived! Jesus, the Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords, God with us, is today born in the town of Bethlehem!

Links:

Gabe Taviano, of the God’s Mac Podcast read the scripture today.

Mario Ajero played “Away In A Manger.”

The Swingle Singers sang “The Christmas Song.”

The Swingle Singers
“Christmas Song” (mp3)
from “Unwrapped”
(The Sound Corporation)

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Christmas is many things to many people, beyond the main reason for the season, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, which we’ve spent several episodes talking about, and which tomorrow’s show will certainly be focused upon.

For much of the world, Christmas is a common touchstone for us, the one day of the year that we all look forward to and cherish. It’s the date on the calendar that is consistent. Different nations have different national holidays, and there are 365 different days of the year that birthdays are celebrated, but Christmas is the same for us all. December 25th is a day where we stop, gather the family around, and bask in the joy and hope and the love. Over the years, we build up memories of this special day. We might remember our first bicycle, our first train set, first puppy, our prettiest christmas tree, the list could go on forever. And then there are the bittersweet memories.

So, with all the hustle and busy-ness that you may still be in the midst of with those last minute shopping trips, or as you’re preparing for the Christmas meal that you’ll share tomorrow with your family, let’s listen to some memories from a few Lifespring! Why Christmas listeners…

Links:

Jeff Roney

Gabe Taviano

Jersey Todd

Karmyn Tyler

Music on today’s show:

Michael Allen Harrison
“Dance Of The Snow Fairy” (mp3)
from “Enchanted Christmas”
(MAH Records)

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Tennessee Ernie Ford
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Medley” (mp3)
from “Family Christmas”
(IMI)

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Today we’ll be finding out about the presents that Jesus received as a baby and the people that gave them to him, the wise men or magi. Their story is told in the Book of Matthew, chapter 2.

Today’s Music
Tommy Harden
“We Three Kings” (mp3)
from “Peace On Earth”
(IMI)

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Our carol today is “What Child Is This.”

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

What words of triumph and joy! Despite the melancholic melody, this song is a song of celebration of the birth of the King of kings.

After we hear about the background of this beautiful song, we’ll hear an artist that I’m pleased to say that I personally introduced to podcasting. I found Cat Jahnke’s music at garageband.com early in 2007, loved it, emailed her, told her about podcasting, and she responded by posting several of her songs at the Podsafe Music Network for podcasters to use on their shows. Now she’s got this new CD of Christmas music, and I just love it. I think you’ll enjoy her rendition of our carol today.

Today’s Artists

Vocal rendition: Cat Jahnke “What Child Is This”

Joemy Wilson
“What Child Is This?” (mp3)
from “Gifts - Traditional Christmas Carols”
(Dargason Music)

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Thanks!

A tip of the hat to HomeSchoolBlogAwards.com. They recently listed Lifespring! HymnStories on their Tuesday Tour of great websites for homeschoolers. Being a former homeschooling dad, I think this is very cool. Thanks Rhonda!
“What Child Is This?”
William Chatterton Dix

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

 

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The shepherds are the first to hear that Jesus has been born in Bethlehem. The message is delivered by angels, a whole host of them!

Special thanks to Ed Ovett, of the “Ed’s Mixed Bag” podcast for reading today’s scripture.

The music is Doug Boldt’s “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing with Angels We Have Heard On High“.

This is your last call to send a recording of your favorite Christmas memory. Email to: lifespringwhychristmas (at) gmail (d ot) com

 

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The origins of this plaintive carol date to medieval times. In the 800s, a series of Latin hymns were sung each day during Christmas Vespers from December 17 to 23. To hear how John Mason Neale came to write this hymn, and how it is related to the Latin hymns, listen to the show.

Karmyn Tyler sang a very special, exclusive rendition of this hymn for this show. Thank you Karmyn!
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Lyrics translated by John M. Neale
Music: Thomas Helmore
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Refrain

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

Refrain

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Refrain

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

Refrain

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.

Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Refrain

Today’s Artists

Doug Boldt…”O Come, O Come, Emmanuel with What Child Is This?”

Karmyn Tyler, with her exclusive “Lifespring! Why Christmas Show” rendition of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

Thank you, Karmyn!

Karmyn Tyler
Photography: Michael D’Ambrosia

 

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Today, James and Steve talk about how Mary and Joseph, her betrothed, found out that she would bear a son, even though she had never been with a man, and that this son would be the Savior of the world!

 

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Today, we’re going to hear the story behind the beautiful Christmas carol, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.”

Written in 1849 by Edmund Hamilton Sears, a Unitarian minister, this was the second of two “twin” carols. (Listen to the show for more.)

Lyrics

“It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!”
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

O ye beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.

“Calm On The Listening Ear”

Calm on the listening ear of night
Come heaven’s melodious strains,
Where wild Judea stretches far
Her silver mantled plains.
Celestial choirs from courts above
Shed sacred glories there,
And angels, with their sparkling lyres,
Make music on the air.

Artists On This Show

London Fox Players & Tim Mather
“It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” (mp3)
from “20 Peaceful Christmas Favorites”
(Classic Fox Records)

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Benjamin

 

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Welcome To The Show

If you’re a regular Lifespring! listener or heard the “Lifespring! Advent Calendar” last year, welcome back! If this is your first time listening to the “Lifespring! Why Christmas Show”, welcome to you, too!

The “Lifespring! Why Christmas Show” is a joint project between the Lifespring! Media family and the whychristmas?com website.

Episode One

In this first installment of the show for 2007, James and Steve talk about Advent, and why Christmas is celebrated on December 25th.

Be A Part Of The Show!

How would you like to be a part of the Lifespring Why Christmas Show this season? James and I would love to have you join us.

Just record your favorite Christmas memory, around 2 or 3 minutes, and send it to us at LifespringWhyChristmas ( a t) gmail (d0 t) com.

Or you can even phone your favorite Christmas memory in, toll free in the US, at (877)433-9091. We really want to hear your story!

 

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Ahh, Christmas. Christmas? Christmas.

Seems like a lot of people are trying to replace the word Christmas with the word Holiday.

Well, I’m here to say that I’m happy to celebrate Christmas, and I invite you to, as well.

Join in the fun as my co host James Cooper, from WhyChristmas.com, and I, take a look at Christmas and some of the customs, traditions and reasons for Christmas, on the Lifespring! Why Christmas Show.

Want to be part of the fun? We would love to have you on the show. If you have a favorite Christmas memory, record an mp3 and send it to me at LifespringWhyChristmas (a t) gmail (d.ot) com. Make it about 2 minutes long, make it family safe, and it just might end up on the show. You can be part of the Christmas tradition!

Come check out the show at LifespringWhyChristmas.com.

Merry Christmas!