Christmas Has Come To Calvary

I love turning the calendar and finding that it is December. Privately I have been listening to Christmas music since late September but now it is socially acceptable to share that Christmas music with everyone! The next four weeks at Calvary will feature music that celebrates the incarnation of Christ. In first chapter of the Gospel of John we see this:

     And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

This is the true meaning of Christmas and is why we celebrate with great zeal.

On Sunday morning, we will be utilizing a more contemporary style to express our Christmas praise. We will be singing our own arrangement of Joy To The World which makes a joyful declaration of the coming of Christ. We will also sing our own arrangement of Go Tell It On The Mountain. This song is a call to take the message to Christmas to everyone. Next we will sing Casting Crown's arrangement of I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day.  This is a modern setting of the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem. Here is the text of the original poem by Longfellow.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I though how, as the day had come
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
"There is no peace on earth" I said
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

We will close the service with Travis Cottrell's Jesus Saves. This has become a favorite at Calvary over the last few years.

On Sunday night, we will gather will a full orchestra to sing Christmas Carols the way you remember them from childhood. Here is the line-up of songs for Sunday night.

     Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
     O Little Town Of Bethlehem
     Angels From The Realms Of Glory
     Joy To The World
     Hark The Herald Angels Sing
     Angels We Have Heard On High
     Silent Night
     Good Christian Men Rejoice

There will be more great Christmas songs in the coming weeks.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor Trent