Songs of Good Cheer! Christmas is Here

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Just like the ones we used to know!”

At least as I am writing this (a bit ahead of schedule), snow has covered the ground, and a bitterly cold wind blows in the moment that you open a door.  I know that the snow will probably melt by the time you all are reading this, but it feels just a little bit more Christmassy with a layer of white covering the ground. It is difficult to deny that Michigan winters are not what they used to be.  No longer are our yards covered in snowpack that has been there for over a month.  No, things have been warmer and fewer and fewer snowstorms come our way.
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Despite all of these changes, the songs that we sing this time of year do not seem to change.  If I was to take a guess, when you read that first line, you hear the lulling voice of Bing Crosby singing those words.  Okay, okay… many of you may have heard Michael Bublé’s version of that song playing in your head instead.  My point still stands: we may re-record old Christmas songs and set them to slightly different backing tracks, but few new Christmas song have been written in recent years.  According to this TIMES article, many of our holiday favorites were written in the 1800’s or in the 1940’s but there are exceptions.

My theory?  When it is cold and blustery, these songs act like warm blankets for our ears.  They bring a sense of comfort that some things don’t change: you can hum the tune while you are working without thinking about it too much.  The words come easily, at least for the 1st verse and the chorus.

To add into the comfort, fun, and good cheer of this holiday season, we are hosting our second Caroling in the Neighborhood fellowship event on December 20th at 7 p.m.  You are invited to meet other carolers at the South Entrance of the building dressed in warm clothing. Maps and song sheet will be provided.  Once the group has assembled, the carolers will then begin their stroll around the neighborhood sharing their songs and Christmas Spirit.  Friends and guests are welcomed! We expect to carol for about 1 hour, weather permitting.

Blessings,
Pastor Chris