Christmas Musical Mediation
December 2020
KEYBOARD DUET: Christmas Symphony (And There Were Shepherds) by J.S. Bach; Emily Lacina, piano; Peter Bates, organ
QUARTET: Only a Baby Came by Natalie Sleeth: Daphne Riddle, soprano; Desiree Flores, alto; Mark Waters, tenor; Marcus Carline, bass
They waited for a King with crown of gold, to save the world as was foretold, a Sovereign wise, a ruler bold; but only a baby came. They waited for a Prince to gain the throne, a Savior sent by God alone, a Lord with Kingdom ye unknown; but only a baby came. ‘Twas but a babe who came that night, the wonder to proclaim, with brightest star to shed its light and set the world aflame! They waited for a word of truth divine, a heavenly Dove, a sacred sign, a living branch from Jesse’s line; but only a baby came, only a babe to bear the shame, only a babe with love His name; only a lowly, Holy baby came.
SOLO: Lullaby by John Ness Beck
A child, a holy child, fast asleep beneath a winter sky, is warm at rest at his mother’s breast as she sings her lullaby. The lamb, the cattle too, are sleeping in a bed of hay, and all around there’s no other sound than lullaby, lulay. Lullaby, sleep well, my precious one; lullaby, my love, my only son; new life has now begun. So the story goes: Once upon a winter morn, a tiny boy bringing love and joy, the Prince of Peace was born.
SOLO: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Wilbur Held; Mark Waters, tenor
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king; peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.” Joyful, all you nations, rise; join the triumph of the skies; with angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem.” Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die, born to raise each child of earth, born to give us second birth. Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the sun of righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king, peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.” [Charles Wesley]
SOLO: Sing Noel by Allen Pote; Marcus Carline, bass
In a stable lies a baby in a manger bed of hay; sent from heaven, infant holy, who is born for us today. Sing noel, sing noel. God has come to earth. Sing noel, sing noel. Tell all the world of the wonderful news of his birth! See the mother with the Christ Child. How they shine in radiant light! Hear the angels singing sweetly as they carol through the night. Bring your gifts, bring honor and praise. Kneel before the blessed King. Bow in homage, your voices raise. With the angels join to sing! God has spoken through this baby, who is born in lowly stall. Let us worship and adore him, who has come to save us all. Sing noel!
ORGAN SOLO: Improvisation on “Away in a Manger” by Keith Chapman; Peter Bates, organ
SOLO: Fum, Fum, Fum Traditional Spanish/arr. by G. Winston Cassler; Daphne Riddle, soprano
On a frosty winter evening Fum, Fum, Fum! Shown a star all brightly beaming. Fum, Fum, Fum! For upon this wondrous night was born a Babe of kingly might to the Virgin Mary holy, in a manger mean and lowly. Fum, Fum, Fum! On this night of adoration, angels sing with jubilation, when the shepherds saws the star, they left their little flocks not very far, there to worship at the manger, this the tiny Godly stranger. Fum, Fum, Fum! Year, now more than twenty-hundred, filled with joys and woes unbounded, find us praising still this night, once filled with song and heavenly light, when the Son of God descended; thus, in love all men befriended. Fum, Fum, Fum!
KEYBOARD DUET: Good Christian Friends, Rejoice by Gilbert Martin; Emily Lacina, piano; Peter Bates, organ
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