Joy To The World - A Different Take

 Get this arrangement here.

A New Christmas Record That You Should Get

Aaron Ivey and the gang at Austin Stone church just released a new Christmas record and it's really strong. You can click over here and give it a sampling. Many of you will enjoy using these arrangements in the future for Christmas singing.

New Christmas Record from Sojourn Music

This was just released today.  Get your copy here for a great price.

Learning from About Sunday Morning from SNL

Interesting article here from Mike Cosper at The Gospel Coalition blog.

Selecting Songs For Christmas

Greg Brewton:

1. Avoid songs that over sentimentalize the season such as songs that focus on the “most wonderful time of the year.”  Are we in love with the season or with Christ?
2. Avoid songs that are strictly secular in their association.  Some churches choose to do several of these type songs at the beginning of their musicals at Christmas to either “entertain” or “attract non-believers.”  I believe these type songs have no place in a worship service especially when it is intended to be evangelistic.  What’s evangelistic about singing secular songs?  I think sometimes we can be so entertainment focused that we are in danger of entertaining them to hell.  Point your people to Christ.
3.  Choose songs that correctly describe the Christmas story according to Scripture.  Many of our songs really do not portray the story very well.  Look for songs that are clear in communicating the story.
4.  Choose songs that tell the whole Gospel Story- Jesus birth, his ministry, his death on a cross and his resurrection.  The problem with many Christmas songs is that they leave Jesus in the manger.  Christians and non-Christians need to hear the whole Gospel at Christmas.  Look for songs that go beyond the manger.  He came to be our Savior.
5.  Choose Christmas songs that your congregation can sing.  Many songs of this season (old and new) are difficult to sing in a congregational setting.  Consider the key of the song and the rhythmic structure.

Read the rest.  

What Will You Sing Tonight?

Christmas music has some of the best theology that you could ever sing.  Sometimes I am stopped in my tracks and moved with emotion when contemplating the realities that we sing about in our Christmas music.

Walt Mueller shares his favorite lines from different Christmas songs.  I couldn't agree more with his favorites:

"...He will give to all the faithful His own self for heavenly food."
- Let All Mortal Flesh

"...come to earth to taste our sadness, He whose glories knew no end."
- Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

"...the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight."
- O Little Town of Bethlehem

"...pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel."
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing

And my favorite. . .
"...He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found."
- Joy To The World

Pomplamoose - O Come All Ye Faithful

Wow, this is a cool arrangement.



(HT: Steve McCoy)

Ten Of My Favorite Christmas Songs

1. All Is Well - Michael W. Smith

One of the best all around Christmas records that I own and this is my favorite song from it. I don't listen to much MWS anymore, but this record that came out in the 80's has some great enduring music on it.

2. Let All Mortal Flesh - Fernando Ortega

Hauntingly beautiful music and text that draw our hearts deeper into the reality of the incarnation.

3. Christmastime Is Here (Instrumental) - Vince Guaraldi Trio

Nostalgia all around on this one. Doesn't get much better than Charlie Brown Christmas and this tune is perhaps the most well known for a reason.

4. Rise & Fall - Daniel Renstrom

Great rock tune that puts the prophecy that "many will rise and fall" on account of Jesus to music. Great hook.

5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Bill Evans

Legendary jazz piano great has an interesting spin on this tune.

6. That Was the Worst Christmas Ever! - Sufjan Stevens

I had to throw a bone out there for all the hipsters. Melancholy, but beautiful, he nails it with this tune.

7. God Rest Ye Merry , Gentlemen - Kevin Max

Few people have the vocal chops of Kevin and the dark arrangement from the piano on this tune brings out musical colors that I deeply resonate with. I could listen this to this track over and over.

8. I Pray On Christmas - Harry Connick Jr.

Fun, groovy, and very singable. Classic Harry Connick.

9. Welcome To Our World - Chris Rice

Simple melody and some of the best text on the incarnation out there.

10. Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration - Stevie Wonder and Take 6

This piece from Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration has some of the best Stevie Wonder vocals I have ever heard. Most of you probably have never heard this tune. If you dig Stevie, buy it. You won't be sorry. So powerful.

Free Christmas Music

Denny Burk:

iTunes has 20 Christmas songs available for free download. It’s an eclectic mix including Amy Grant, Weezer, Sarah McLachlan, Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, and Stephen Colbert. To download from the iTunes store, click here.

The Silent Stars

My friend Alli Rogers just released a new Christmas record that I would commend to you. It's called, The Silent Stars. She is a very thoughtful and winsome young women. You'll dig her style. It's a bit in the vein of Sara Groves with a raw, yet beautiful voice and stark musical production. Check it out.

New Christmas Songs

Bob Kauflin recommends some Christmas songs that you may not have heard of yet.

Another Plug For A Great Christmas Record

I posted about this a few days back, but since I have been listening to it more lately, I wanted to give another plug for Daniel Renstrom's new Christmas record. It's really good. Great arrangements of classics and a few new songs that are really good as well. He has a great voice and the text for the originals I found to be quite moving.

Check it out here.

Steve McCoy reviewed this CD recently on his blog.

Looking for more Christmas music this time of year? Check out some more here.

New Christmas Record - Daniel Renstrom

I just downloaded this new record from Daniel Renstrom. I am finding it rather enjoyable. I think you might too. Some good new songs for Christmas and some reinventions of old ones. Check it out here.

One Of My Favorite Moments From Our Christmas Eve Service

Caitelen Schneeberger on vocals. Me on piano. The text is very powerful:

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood;
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

At His feet the six wingèd seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High!

Thanks to Fernando Ortega for drawing attention to this song and giving inspiration on the arrangement. You can get his version here on AmazonMP3 or at .

O Holy Night

Tonight for our Christmas Eve service we are doing the song O Holy Night. In our rehearsals leading up tonight I have been very moved by the power of the text and the music.

Recently I was made aware of another version that I found equally as moving.

Gather the family, make some hot chocolate, sit by the tree and bask in the glory of this rendition.

Merry Christmas.


(HT: A. Piper)

Glory Be

One of the coolest Christmas songs I have heard in awhile: Glory Be by Sojourn.

Based on the coolness of this song you might want to get the whole record.

Here on AmazonMP3 or

New Christmas Albums You Might Want To Consider

I know it might be a bit early to start alerting you to this stuff, but oh well...

AmazonMP3 or



AmazonMP3 or