General Chat

This is one I sing every year with my rainbows and brownies after they have made their Christingles. It’s to the tune of Give Me Oil In My Lamp so they pick it up quickly

The Christingle begins with an orange,
telling us of the world god made.
For creation is full of his glory;
all around we see his love displayed.

Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!
Sing Christingle, it’s the light of Christ.
Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!
Sing Christingle, light of Christ

Every year we give thanks for the seasons,
and the fruits of the earth to share.
The Christingle is here to remind us
That the love of god is everywhere.

Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!....

God of love we give thanks now for Jesus;
we remember his birth again.
But the red ribbon round the Christingle
tells the story of his cross and pain.

Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!....

To complete the Christingle:
a candle, shining out in the darkest night.
Jesus promised to lead us and guide us;
come and celebrate the worlds true light.

Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!....

Glad you enjoyed it Piers, a very Happy Christmas to you and yours :-)

A really lovely version Rose :-).

I've posted this before but listening again, another version of 'O Holy Night' ( after 'Silent Night' my favourite). Even if you don't believe in religion, I think it is worth watching for the harmonies :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJgJVF7pSBQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdbXU3oZ4h4

Oh Holy Night - The Crosby Family.

What an amazing talented family - seem really genuine and nice too :-)

Nudge for Christmas :-)

Dear All

Hello

This thread has so many happy contributions, so deserves a gentle nudge.

Take gentle care
Love
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZUZ_twxVwY

Silent Night...Elvis Presley

Shepherds Pipe Carol

Going through the hills on a night all starry
on the way to Bethlehem,
far away I heard a shepherd boy piping
on the way to Bethlehem.

Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
"Dance and sing for joy that Christ the newborn King
is come to bring us peace on Earth,
and he's lying cradled there at Bethlehem."

"Tell me, shepherd boy piping tunes so merrily
on the way to Bethlehem,
who will hear your tunes on these hills so lonely
on the way to Bethlehem?"

"None may hear my pipes on these hills so lonely
on the way to Bethlehem;
but a King will hear me play sweet lullabies
when I get to Bethlehem."

Angels in the sky came down from on high,
hovered o'er the manger where the babe was lying
cradled in the arms of his mother Mary,
sleeping now at Bethlehem

"Where is this new King, shepherd boy piping merrily,
is he there at Bethlehem?"
I will find him soon by the star shining brightly
in the sky o'er Bethlehem."

"May I come with you, shepherd boy piping merrily,
come with you to Bethlehem?
Pay my homage too at the new King's cradle,
is it far to Bethlehem?"

Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
"Dance and sing for joy that Christ the infant King
is born this night in lowly stable yonder,
born for you at Bethlehem."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09hp7cj
Hope of Freedom
Sunday Worship
The Revd Hugh Palmer preaches in this second in Radio 4's Advent series 'Longing for Hope' from All Souls Church Langham Place

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09h0bkb
On the First Sunday of Advent, the Rev. Roy Jenkins reflects on finding Hope in the Wilderness. The live service from Albany Road Baptist Church, Cardiff, led by the Rev. Susan Stevenson, includes the hymns Hark the Glad Sound (Bristol); O Come, O Come Immanuel; All My Hope on God is Founded (Michael) and The Truth Sent from Above (R. Vaughan Williams). The Cardiff Ardwyn Singers, under the musical direction of David Michael Leggett, are accompanied by David Geoffrey Thomas. Producer: Karen Walker.

A Spaceman Came Travelling"

A spaceman came travelling on his ship from afar,
'Twas light years of time since his mission did start,
And over a village he halted his craft,
And it hung in the sky like a star, just like a star...

He followed a light and came down to a shed,
Where a mother and child were lying there on a bed,
A bright light of silver shone round his head,
And he had the face of an angel, and they were afraid...

Then the stranger spoke, he said "Do not fear,
I come from a planet a long way from here,
And I bring a message for mankind to hear,"
And suddenly the sweetest music filled the air...

And it went La La...
Peace and goodwill to all men, and love for the child...

This lovely music went trembling through the ground,
And many were wakened on hearing that sound,
And travellers on the road, the village they found,
By the light of that ship in the sky, which shone all round...

And just before dawn at the paling of the sky,
The stranger returned and said "Now I must fly,
When two thousand years of your time has gone by,
This song will begin once again, to a baby's cry..."

And it went La La ... This song will begin once again
To a baby's cry...
And it goes La La... Peace and goodwill to all men, and
Love for the child...
Oh the whole world is waiting, waiting to hear the song again,
There are thousands standing on the edge of the world,
And a star is moving somewhere, the time is nearly here,
This song will begin once again, to a baby's cry...

It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time
But say a prayer, pray for the other ones
Oh at Christmas time, it's hard, but when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring
Are the clanging chimes of doom
Well, tonight, thank God it's them instead of you
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
Here's to you, raise a glass for everyone
Here's to them underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
Feed the world
Feed the world
Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time
And feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time
And feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time
And feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time

"Silent night" is my favourite, but so many versions are spoiled ( for me) by 'warbling women ' lol however this one is very clear and I wish beyond wishing I could ever have hit notes like this :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK3_Kr2nLtA

Or for the original, I like this too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqUw4PgvytU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhcZ6b2FSsk

so cool.

For as long as I can remember this French carol has been my favorite.
"He is born, the divine child"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4cyWxevyAY

Two carols popular in England often sung in France too are "Silent Night" and "Hark the Herald". There is no such thing as a Festival of lessons and carols mores the pity.

In France the big important get together and meal is on Christmas Day. At the end of Christmas mass the congregation and choir will sing (usually just the first verse) of) this carol before going home to open prezzies and the Christmas feast. Nothing much happens on Christmas day itself.

The French is very basic. Anybody who has a CSE will manage it ok. It is a carol for children not meant to be difficult.

Chorus:
Il est ne, le divin Enfant,
Jouez, hautbois, resonnez, musettes;
Il est ne, le divin Enfant;
Chantons tous son avenement!

1. Depuis plus de quatre mille ans,
Nous le promettaient les Prophetes;
Depuis plus de quatre mille ans,
Nous attendions cet heureux temps. Chorus

2. Ah! qu'il est beau, qu'il est charmant,
Que ses graces sont parfaites!
Ah! qu'il est beau, qu'il est charmant,
Qu'il est doux le divin Enfant! Chorus

3. Une etable est son logement,
Un peu de paille, sa couchette,
Une etable est son logement,
Pour un Dieu, quel abaissement! Chorus

4. O Jesus! O Roi tout puissant!
Tout petit enfant que vous etes,
O Jesus! O Roi tout puissant!
Regnez sur nous entierement! Chorus

A little nudge :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJgJVF7pSBQ


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URfVSTh0gXI

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/18/what-is-the-epiphany-and-when-in-2017-is-it-here-are-10-facts-ab/

Here are 10 facts about the history and meaning of Three Kings Day. Pope Francis will celebrate the feast day with a Holy Mass in St Peter's Basilica.

What is the Epiphany?

Epiphany, or the 12th day of Christmas, falls on January 6 and marks the official end to the festive season for many Christians.

Today, Pope Francis held the Vatican's annual Holy Mass for the Epiphany in St Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The ancient Christian feast day is significant as a celebration of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, as well as a more general celebration of his birth. The six Sundays which follow Epiphany are known as the time of manifestation.

The Twelfth Night (Epiphany) also marks a visit to the baby Jesus by The Magi, (the three Kings, or Wise Men). The word 'Epiphany' comes from Greek and means 'manifestation'. It celebrates 'the revelation of God in his Son as human in Jesus Christ'.

In the West, Christians began celebrating the Epiphany in the 4th century, associating it with the visit of the Wise Men to Jesus.

According to the Gospel of Matthew, the three kings found baby Jesus by following a star across the desert to Bethlehem.

The three kings - named Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar - followed the star of Bethlehem to meet the baby Jesus. According to Matthew 2:11, they offered symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The gifts were symbolic of the importance of Jesus' birth, the gold representing his royal standing; frankincense his divine birth; and myrrh his mortality.

During the medieval period, Christmas was celebrated for the 12 days from Christmas Eve on December 24, until the Epiphany. Even up until the 19th century, January 6 was as big a celebration as Christmas Day.

When is the Epiphany celebrated?

For many Protestant churches, the season of Epiphany extends from January 6 until Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. The last Sunday of the Epiphany is celebrated as Transfiguration Sunday.

Others, including the Catholic church, observe Epiphany as a single day. Some Catholic dioceses in the US mark the Epiphany feast on the Sunday after January 6.

Orthodox Christians, however, celebrate the holiday on January 19 each year.

Across the world, the day's festivities vary. In the Spanish speaking world Epiphany is known as Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings' Day). In Mexico, for instance, crowds gather to taste the Rosca de Reyes - Kings' bread. In other countries, a Jesus figurine is hidden in the bread.

Ten facts about the Feast of the Epiphany

The three Kings (Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar) represented Europe, Arabia and Africa respectively.
Hundreds of years ago, roast lamb was traditionally served at Epiphany in honour of Christ and the three Kings' visit.
Whoever finds the small statue of a baby Jesus hidden inside their slice of the Rosca de reyes throws a party on Candlemas in February.
In some European countries, children leave their shoes out the night before to be filled with gifts, while others leave straw for the three Kings' horses.
According to Greek Orthodox Church's traditions, a priest will bless the waters by throwing a cross into it as worshippers try to retrieve it.
In Bulgaria too, Eastern Orthodox priests throw a cross in the sea and the men dive in - competing to get to it first.
In Venice a traditional regatta that started as a joke in the late 1970s has been incorporated in the celebrations of Epiphany Day.
In Prague, there is a traditional Three Kings swim to commemorate Epiphany Day at the Vltava River.
In New York, El Museo del Barrio has celebrated and promoted the Three Kings' Day tradition with an annual parade for more than three decades. Thousands take part in the procession featuring camels, colorful puppets and floats.
The day's activities involve singing holiday carols called aguinaldos.

Thank you, Elizabeth. Happy Xmas and new year.


Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2dNKv48WJQ

Dear Joyous

Hello

Have a peaceful and contented Christmas.


Take very gentle care
With very best wishes to you and your family
Love Elizabeth, EOS
xx