Category: Christmas

Christmas Books, Where Jesus Slept, a Review

11/15/2016

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming!

Over the next few weeks I plan to bring some Christmas books your way. Hopefully you will enjoy them as much as we do. Connecting with different aspects of our lives here in Ontario. :)

Do you know what we celebrate at Christmas? For those of faith in the bible, Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus.Growing up my parents made a distinct effort to help us see the difference between celebrating the birth of Christ, and the act of having presents. They never went overboard in the gift-giving department, and I try to follow that same pattern in our home now. We open presents on Christmas Eve, which makes for a nice meal together and a great evening, this leaves Christmas Day for Church services and a quiet day remembering that without the Lord coming to earth there would be nothing worth celebrating.

Today I bring you a lovely book called "Where Jesus Slept".

Simple repetitive verse make up this book, each page adding another line to the story of where Jesus slept.

Not only that, the illustrations by Katy Hudson are stellar.

When you put it all together, you have a sweet Christmas book for your younger children. Geared for ages 4-8.

All told, Norma Lewis and Katy Hudson put together a great, 32 page book to introduce your young ones to the true meaning of Christmas. The celebration of the promise that God made for us.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Format: jacketed hardcover
Trim size: 10x10
Page count: 32
Retail price: $16.99
Reading age: 4-7

Affiliate links for your ease of locating product. Sales will benefit my blog.

Amazon.ca : Where Jesus Slept Amazon.com : Where Jesus Slept

Hymn Study: Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

12/28/2015

    [7] Lift up your heads, O gates!
       And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
       that the King of glory may come in.
(Psalm 24:7 ESV)

Starting a New Feature I think this week. I had a lot of fun looking up hymns last week in preparation for Christmas and wanted to continue with that. :) Talking about one hymn (or possibly more if so inclined) each week from our sermon on Sunday.

This week, being that that blogging through the alphabet group is doing the letter "H" I chose to do Lift Up your Heads, Ye mighty gates.     I for .. it's an interesting hymn. :)

Based on Psalm 24 this advent hymn was written by Georg Weissel in 1642, it was translated by Catherine Winkworth. Weissel generally wrote hymns focused on the Christian Year.   This hymn is sung to several tunes among them Turbo and Macht Hoch die Tür,   Originally six verses, nowadays only four are generally found in hymnals.    This hymn was written during the 30 years war in Europe.

“Lift up your heads” first appeared in posthumously in 1642 in Preussische Festlieder in five stanzas of eight lines each in an 88.88.88.66 meter. The famous British translator of German hymns, Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878), rendered the hymn into English in five, eight-line stanzas as well for her Lyra Germanica (1855). The version that appears in hymnals today usually reduces the hymn to four, four line stanzas in Long Meter (source).

Just as David called for his people to open up the gates of their hearts to God, Georg Weissel calls for and imagines what a place would be like where the people worshipped God with their whole heart.

Lyrics:
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
behold, the King of glory waits;
the King of kings is drawing near;
the Savior of the world is here!

A Helper just He comes to thee,
His chariot is humility,
His kingly crown is holiness,
His scepter, pity in distress.

O blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the Ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
To whom this King in triumph comes!

Fling wide the portals of your heart;
make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heaven's employ,
adorned with prayer and love and joy.

Redeemer, come, with us abide;
our hearts to thee we open wide;
let us thy inner presence feel;
thy grace and love in us reveal.

Thy Holy Spirit lead us on
until our glorious goal is won;
eternal praise, eternal fame
be offered, Savior, to thy name!

Hymns and Carols of Christmas has two different versions. One and Two.

Sources
HymnSite.
Hymnary.
CyberHymnal.
Discipleship Ministries.
First Presbyterian Church.
Lectionary

Homeschooling Resources:
printable advent lapbook.
In a foreign language, but good for ideas: Make an advent calendar.

Linking up with Blogging through the Alphabet.

Christmas Song: Ere Zij God

12/26/2015

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good pleasure in men."

My hubby and I actually had a conversation about this verse a couple days ago. This actual translation of the text is different then the meaning given in most translation. See here. "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." The problem word is εὐδοκίας (eudokias). It can mean everything from "whom his favour rests" or "of his good pleasure"... which is why different translations seem to mean something slightly different, depending on the meaning taken. :)

Glory to God!
Glory to God in the highest,
in the highest, in the highest!
Peace be on earth, peace be on earth,
to the people whom God delights in.
Glory to God in the highest!
Glory to God in the highest!
Peace be on earth, peace be on earth,
peace be on earth, peace be on earth,
to the people, to the people whom God delights in,
to the people whom God delights in,
whom God delights in.
Glory to God!
Glory to God in the highest,
in the highest, in the highest!
Peace be on earth, peace be on earth,
to the people whom God delights in.
Amen. Amen.

Ere zij God,
ere zij God, in de hoge,
in de hoge, in de hoge!
Vrede op aarde, vrede op aarde,

in de mensen een welbehagen.

Ere zij God in de hoge,
ere zij God in de hoge.
Vrede op aarde, vrede op aarde,

vrede op aarde, vrede op aarde,

in de mensen, in de mensen een welbehagen,
in de mensen een welbehagen,

een welbehagen.
Ere zij God,
ere zij God in de hoge,
in de hoge, in de hoge!
Vrede op aarde, vrede op aarde,

in de mensen een welbehagen.

Amen. Amen.

Growing up in a Dutch based church I grew to know this hymn by heart. Sung EVERY Sunday throughout the Christmas season through to the New Year and beyond. It was belted out in Dutch by everyone I knew.      We weren't given the option of singing it in English. In the church I am currently part of, this song remains as a stalwart part of the Christmas Season BUT here I have the option of singing it in English...and since I'm raising a child who speaks English... I sing along with him in English.. even though I know the Dutch version of it full well.   :)

Lyricist Bikkers Isaac introduced us to this one in his hymnal of 1857. It is a much beloved hymn in the Netherlands and Germany (Ehre sei Gott).   The hymn itself was written by F.A. Schultz, about which little is known, other than he was a composer during his college years.

It was rather difficult to find the English version, this seemed the best of the three I could find. :)   They do the Dutch first, then the English. :)

Sources:
Lyrics in Dutch. Lyrics in English.
Wiki.
Hymnary.
Mockery or????

Christmas Song; Mary's Boy Child

12/23/2015

Luke 2:7 - And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Lyrics:

Long time ago in Bethlehem
So the Holy Bible say
Mary's Boy Child, Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas Day

Refrain:
Hark now, hear the angels say
New king born today
And man will live forever more,
Because of Christmas Day

While shepherds watched their flocks by night
They saw a bright new shining star
And heard a choir from heaven sing
The music came from afar

Refrain

Now Joseph and his wife Mary
Came to Bethlehem that night
They found no place to bear her Child
Not a single room was in sight
By and by they found a little nook
In a stable all forlorn
And in a manger cold and dark
Mary's little Boy Child was born

Final Refrain:
Trumpets sound and angels sing
Listen to what they say
That man will live forevermore
Because of Christmas Day

Written in 1956 by Jester Hairston, Jestor was a negro composer dedicated to persevering the Negro spirituals. The song tells the familiar Christmas story in a melody reminiscent of the music Hairston wanted the world to remember; the Negro Spiritual.

It was the first song by a black male to reach #1 on the song charts in the UK.

I've included an extra video as this one just made me want to dance around singing. :)

Sources:
ShareFaith.
Wigglepedia.
SongFacts.
Examiner.
Wiki.
MetroLyrics.

Crafts/Resources.
13 Nativity Sets to Make.
Christmas Crafts for Children, bible themed.
Christmas Lapbooks.

Christmas Song: Hark The Herald Angels Sing

12/22/2015

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:13-14)

Lyrics:
Hark! The herald angels sing, or Hark, how all the welkin rings,
Glory to the newborn King; or Glory to the King of kings
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Refrain
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

Refrain

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace! or Hail the heav'n born Prince of Peace
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Refrain

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Refrain
This verse is largely forgotten
Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

Refrain

I have never sung that last verse of this hymn.. have you?

Written by Charles Wesley in 1739. The original tune was a slow solemn one and the hymn was not particularly popular. Whitefield changed the first line from how the welkin rings, to hark the herald angels sing. This was a better understood expression. The tune we sing this hymn to today, came from Felix Mendelssohn who wrote music to help celebrate the 400 yr anniversary of the Gutenberg press. A section of that music was adopted for Hark the Herald Angel's Sing. This upbeat tune has made Hark the Herald Angels Sing the popular Christmas song that it is today.

Originally this hymn was 10 verses of four lines each, but this was changed to verses with 8 lines. Wesley wasn't happy with the changes Whitefield made, and Mendelsohn didn't want his tune used for religious music. but none the less.. a much loved Christmas hymn was created. :)

Sources:
CBN.
Wiki
ShareFaith.
Christianity today.
A moment in History.

Resources:
Woodland Prairie Christmas Unit Study.
Powerline Productions: Colonial Christmas.

Connecting with Blogging through the Alphabet this week. :)

Christmas Song: The Race That Long in Darkness Pined

12/21/2015

My sweet hubby, hearing me lament that I didn't know what song to do tonight, suggested this rather obscure song. It will be something unusual he said. :) Apparently we'll be singing it in church on Sunday. :)

Lyrics:
The race that long in darkness pined,
Have seen a glorious light;
The people dwell in day, who dwelt
In death’s surrounding night.

To hail Thy rise, Thou better Sun,
The gathering nations come,
Joyous as when the reapers bear
The harvest treasures home.

For Thou our burden hast removed,
And quelled the oppressor’s sway,
Quick as the slaughtered squadrons fell
In Midian’s evil day.

To us a Child of Hope is born,
To us a Son is given,
Him shall the tribes of earth obey,
Him all the hosts of heaven.

His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
Forevermore adored,
The Wonderful, the Counselor,
The great and mighty Lord.

His power increasing still shall spread,
His reign no end shall know:
Justice shall guard His throne above,
And peace abound below.

I find it absolutely fascinating the sheer number of tunes some songs can be sung too. If you check out this site you can see some of the tunes this song can be sung to. Makes me very curious about which tune we'll be singing it to on Sunday. :)

Written in 1781 by John Morrison who was a parish priest back in the late 1700's.

Beyond that I can find NOTHING more about this hymn. :) I did find this one post though where the author pointed out the beauty of the verses and how they have been used in other hymns. Kinda neat that eh? :)

Christmas Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem

12/20/2015

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
    from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
    when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
    to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
    to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace.

Micah 5:2-5a

Lyrics:

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

Where children pure and happy
pray to the blessèd Child,
Where misery cries out to Thee,
Son of the mother mild; or Son of the undefiled
Where charity stands watching
and faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
and Christmas comes once more.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

I am so used to the four verses of O Little Town of Bethlehem when I found an extra verse on Cyber Hymnal it took me a bit to sing that verse silently to myself, figuring out where the breaks were. Silly how little things can throw a person off. eh? :)

Philip Brooks is the author of this hymn.

In 1865, Brooks traveled to the Holy Lands. On December 24th he made his way on horseback from Jerusalem to Bethlehem where he attended a five-hour Christmas musical praise celebration at the Church of the Nativity -- just a short distance from the hillside where the shepherds heard the very first Christmas song.

At Christmastime three years later, recalling that magical night in Bethlehem, Phillip wrote a song for the children's choir of his church. His organist put melody to his words and on Christmas Eve, 1868, O Little Town of Bethlehem was sung for the very first time (source).

Controversy over the fourth verse led to it being dropped from this children's hymn, even after some changes in wording were made.

Americans tend to sing this hymn to the tune of St. Louis while British folks sing it to the tune of Forest Green.

Resources:
Cyber Hymnal.
ShareFaith.
Discipleship MinHistries.
Hymns and Carols of Christmas.
The Telegraph.
Wiki.

Teach your students more
DIY homeschoolers.
Happy Homeschool.

Christmas Song: Away in The Manger

12/19/2015

Luke 2:7 (ESV)
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Lyrics:

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed,
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing,
The baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus,
Look down from the sky,
And stay by my side,
Until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever,
And love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven
To live with Thee there

I Did you know there are two tunes for Away in the Manger?   Cradle song (above) and Mueller (below).   Cradle Song is by far the most popular version, though I have to admit to a fondness for the higher version. :) Even with my "bleh" singing voice. :)

Well that was a surprise, went looking for the author of Away in the Manger and discovered there is controversy over this.     Most people think it was Martin Luther, and yet others say "I dunno" and others say John T. McFarland wrote it.   Go figure. :)   I was just surprised.

Originally it only had two verses and then a third was added later on. First known as a poem in a play in 1895. It was part of a celebration of Luther's birth.   It was called Luther's Cradle Hymn.. but Luther didn't write it.   It appeared after his death.

The third verse was added in 1892. And it appears for a while there were four verses to this familiar hymn.    (source)    Generally though, Away in the Manger has settled to the three verses we know today (though I have to admit to being taught in college a fourth verse that used John 3:16).

I have to admit to teaching my son a change to verse two.   Where it says "no crying he makes" we sing "some crying he makes". Crying is not a sinful thing, it's a way for babies to communicate with others.

Resources:
CyberHymnal.
Wiki.
Hymnary.
Hymns and Carols of Christmas.

Tracing Pages and Copywork.
Amy's Wanderings.
Noella Designs.

Christmas song: LIttle Drummer Boy

12/19/2015

I was first introduced to "the Little Drummer Boy" as a child. I totally fell in love with this movie. It touched me in a way unexpected and I still love watching it. This boy with nothing to offer with a need so great that he gave of himself. The theology I know today is horrid...Jesus demands nothing of us but our acceptance of the gift he gives us. BUT none the less... like the movie...adore the song. One of my favourites. :)

Lyrics

Come they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see
Pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the kIng
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum

So to honor Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
When we come

Little baby
Pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too
Pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give our King
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum

Shall I play for you
Pa rum pum pum pum
On my drum

Mary nodded
Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum

Then He smiled at me
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum

And look what I found! Boney M and the Little Drummer Boy!!! Isn't that cool! yes I know.. my hubby shakes his head at me.. but that CD that I have is one of my most favourite Christmas CD's. :)

So what's the story behind this song?
It was written by Katherine K. Davis in 1941. So it's is the youngest of all the songs we have studied so far.

There are different versions of the story of Katherine Kennicott Davis’s creation of the Little Drummer Boy. One version of the story says that Katherine freely translated a Czech carol called The Carol of the Drum, in 1941.

Another version of the story has it that she arranged the Little Drummer Boy with Harry Simone, Jack Halloran, and Henry Onorati and another version of the story says that she wrote the song herself while “trying to take a nap.” (source)

It was originally called "The Carol of the Drum" and has become one of the most popular Christmas songs today, being recorded by a great many artists.

Resources:
Songfacts.
History of Christmas Carols.
MusicEd.
Katherine K. Davis.

Unit study for little Drummer boy. Come with printables.
Make your own drum.

Christmas Song: Go Tell it on the Mountain

12/17/2015

Lyrics:
Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain,
Our Jesus Christ is born.

When I was a seeker
I sought both night and day,
I asked the Lord to help me,
And he showed me the way.

Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain,
Our Jesus Christ is born.

He made me a watchman
Upon a city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.

Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain,
Our Jesus Christ is born.

Did you know that this hymn was known to be sung by African Slaves as far back as 1865? When I learned that I was surprised. This song was included in the 1907 book Folk Songs of the American Negro. This book was compiled by John Wesley Work, Jr. No one knows who wrote this Christmas song, all we know is it's been passed down orally through the African American community.

Putting together the book was not an easy task for Work as all these songs are not written down, but are passed down through oral tradition.

This song grew in popularity in the mid-20th century, when jazz, blues and early rock’n roll became popular. The simplicity and style of this song fit in well with these music styles.

Resources:
ShareFaith.
Gaither.
My Song in the Night.
Wiki.
Sermon Central.

Some books to help you with your hymn Studies.
Then Sings My Soul: 150 of the World's Greatest Hymn Stories by Robert Morgan
How Firm a Foundation in Scripture and Song by John D. Morris
101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck