Songs of Christmas

Christmas is still a few days away but many are already sick of the piped Christmas music that assails us at department stores, shops, food courts, lifts and just about everywhere.  Of course, this is partly due to the endless repetition of  songs of snow, reindeer, jolly  Santa and  holiday cheer.  Sugary sweet songs whose cheerful sentiments have no power to really bring joy to the world and because of that become irritating and empty when repeated ad nauseam.

But the songs that celebrate the birth of Christ remain meaningful if the heart has received the joyous message that the angels told the shepherds in the field all those years ago; “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”" (Luke 2:10-11).

For those reasons, those old classics like “Joy to the World”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, “Silent Night” and “O Holy Night”, I believe will continue to be cherished by those whose hearts have really been touched by the miracle of Christmas.  However, it is also good to hear some newer and different but meaningful songs for this celebratory season.

This first song is an old Southern spiritual but enlivened by a more recent interpretation by Bruce Cockburn.

This second one is truly a song of worship (by Casting Crowns) reminding us that Christmas is about God’s gift of Christ to us and not about exchanging presents and over indulgence.

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