Music of the Christmas Season - 2nd post

December 5



Composed by John Rutter
John Rutter directing the Cambridge Singers


Angels' Carol

Have you heard the sounds of the angel voices
ringing out so sweetly, ringing out so clear?
Have you seen the star shining out so brightly
as a sign from God that Christ the Lord is here?
Have you heard the news that they bring from heaven
to the humble shepherds who have waited long?
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels sing their joyful song.

He is come in peace in the winter's stillness,
like a snowfall in the gentle night.
He is come in joy, like the sun at morning,
filling all the world with radiance and with light.
He is come in love as the child of Mary.
In a simple stable we have seen his birth.
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels singing 'Peace on earth.'

He will bring new light to a world in darkness,
like a bright star shining in the skies above.
He will bring new hope to the waiting nations.
When he comes to reign in purity and love.
Let the earth rejoice at the Saviour's coming.
Let the heavens answer with the joyful morn,
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels singing, 'Christ is born.'
Hear the angels singing, 'Christ is born.'



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Just for a moment imagine that you are with friends sitting on a hillside watching the stars in the sky, with maybe a few clouds floating across the heavens.
Prehaps some of you have laid back and are resting your eyes.
All is calm. Then suddenly without warning there is a bright light, you try to shield your eyes. That's enough to frighten you but that is not all. There is also a loud sound and it takes you a moment to realize someone is talking. "Don't be afraid, Jesus is born" he says. Don't be afraid - is he kidding? Jesus is born - what did he say? "You will find him...." Where? You hear more voices and it sounds like their praising God. And then they were gone.

What do you do next? Do you consult with your friends - maybe you imagined it. On tv you heard them talk about group hallucinations. Could it be you just dreamed it? Floodlights, boom boxes? Or would you be certain that you did see and hear angels? Would you have the faith to follow their instructions and go to the place of the Lord's birth?

At first I thought, "Of course I would go. After all those were angels, God's angels." Then I wondered if, after the angels left, would I start to doubt what I thought I had seen and heard. Would I say, "Hey God, would you send them again - just to be sure?"

Luke in the second chapter writes, "So they hurried off and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger...When they had seen him, they spread the word...The shepherds returned, glorifying and prasing God, for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

Gloria in excelsis Deo. A Savior has been born.





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Thank you, Jill, of Untie the Ribbons, for introducing me to this song.




Linking with Charlotte's and Ginger's Spiritual Sundays,



and Natasha's Sunday Song.






picture credit:
1. theo-geek.blogspot.com
2. www.fanpop.com


Music of the Christmas Season - 1st post