Comments on: Friday Q&A - What Christmas Carols Do You Sing?

By: Leanne

Leanne — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:02:41 +0000

I like the German carol Sing, O Sing this Blessed Morn. Especially verse 4 which says, “God has come that man may rise, lifted by Him to the skies. Christ, is Son of Man that we, sons of God in Him may be.”

By: Alan Wilson

Alan Wilson — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 06:29:39 +0000

Bob - I know you have a great appreciation for Keith Getty. His New Irish Hymns 3 collection is on the theme of Incarnation and has some wonderful new Christmas music - some of it written along with Stuart Townend.

By: Whit Roberts

Whit Roberts — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 15:24:08 +0000

That is a great article as it provides a look into the mind of a worship pastor wise by God’s Grace over the years. Thereby, it helps us worship God more passionately and more doctrinally. My 2 most favorite hymns are, by mere coincidence, Christmas hymns: “Salvation unto Us Has Come” and “Joy Has Dawned”. I learned the latter yesterday when my good friend Ken, who is Pr. Bob’s assistant, led worship yesterday.

“Salvation…” is a Lutheran Christmas hymn with an uncommon tune. It can be sung throughout the year but it was originally written as a Christmas hymn. I orginally encountered it in the Christmas Cantata and a Organ Chorale Prelude of the same name by one of my favorite Christian musicians J.S. Bach. Then I found it as a hymn in the Lutheran Hymnal. It does not mentally paint graindose pictures of the manger, the shepherds, Jesus as a baby, or the wisemen. The entire hymn is VERY substantive and in 10 verses (shortened to 4 or 5 verses in some Lutheran hymnals) tells the Gospel straightforwardly. A few months ago, I began recommending it to Ken for use in CLC’s worship as Pr. Bob sees fit.

Two URL’s on the Lutheran hymn:
http://www.blc.edu/comm/gargy/gargy1/ELH.Hymn.info.STU.html (the hymn in the original German & the history from the “Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal)
http://www.lutheran-hymnal.com/lyrics/tlh377.htm (the hymn in English from “The Lutheran Hymnal”)
http://www.lutheran-hymnal.com/online/tlh-377.mid (the tune, which would need rearranging)

The other hymn “Joy Has Dawned” reminds me of how “Salvation…” starts. It is not as substantive, but it is still substantive and Gospel-centered for it explains why Christ came and nicely foreshadows the Cross. I think the only sentimental picture it paints is Christ as a baby or in the manger.

By: Bryan Peters

Bryan Peters — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 07:41:17 +0000

I greatly appreciate your ministry and have been recently discovering the treasure trove of theologically rich worship music from Sovereign Grace Ministries. It is refreshing to read about worship from such a perspective of reverence for the importance of worship in the church and the necessity of worshipping in spirit and in truth.

By: Barry

Barry — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 15:22:06 +0000

Hi, Bob. I just recently discovered your blog and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve been familiar with your ministry since I bought my first Glad album some time in the late 70s (still have it)!

Our church is celebrating Advent this year (first time ever) so I’ve thought a lot lately about Advent hymns. A song that I really like is “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”–any thoughts about that one?

If it’s of any interest to you, I just today came across a site with lyrics to hundreds (maybe more) of Christmas songs, a history of carols, and lots more by following the links at the top. As with anything else on the internet, I’m sure some discernment is in order, but most of the site seems merely informational.

Here’s the

By: Ray

Ray — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 13:58:04 +0000

I love From The Squalor as well…

By: Lindele

Lindele — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 13:00:10 +0000

Coty Pinckney’s website, expository.org, has a list of “Unusual Christmas Carols and Hymns” under the “Worship Resources” link. These are usually lesser known, theologically rich songs. He also lists several collections of carols.
Thanks, Bob, for writing this blog. I really look forward to it every day.