O Christmas Tree with Angel Throng

 O Christmas Tree with Angel Throng.

Our Christmas Tree of 2022

with its ‘throng' of some 70 angels.

I guess many families have their ‘own’ traditions: we certainly have. Perhaps the most delightful is decorating the Christmas Tree with our own 'host of angels’ - after several years, a veritable throng! And it is this year's reappearance of our angelic band from their home in the loft that inspired this children’s song. You can listen to me singing it at (to be added shortly after Christmas: provisionally you could use the basic tune and rhythm of The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy)

What makes this collection special for us, is to think of where our angels come from, or from whom, or what they represent. Some are beautifully hand made, some come from friends, some recall a place that has been special to us, and some represent countries where there are injustices far worse than we have ever had to endure - though who knows, here in the UK we seem likely to have an even less-just time in the next few years.  Rather than brood on that, though, I invite you to enjoy this celebratory little carol which can quickly become a singalong!

O Christmas Tree with Angel Throng.

 

(Clap on the last three syllables of each line

 until last line then clap on last two syllables only)

 

 

O-O-O-O Christmas tree, with angel throng,

O Christmas tree, with angel throng,

O Christmas tree, with angel throng.

you honour Bethl’em’s angels.

 

Yo----ur angels sing out ‘Peace on Earth!’

Your angels sing out ‘Peace on Earth!’

Your angels sing out ‘Peace on Earth!’

Along with Bethl’em’s angels.

 

Yo----ur angels sing out ‘truth and love!’

Your angels sing out ‘truth and love!’

Your angels sing out ‘truth and love!,

Along with Bethl’em’s angels.

 

Yo----ur angels sing out ‘Mercy ‘n’ grace!’

Your angels sing out ‘Mercy ‘n’ grace!’

Your angels sing out ‘Mercy ‘n’ grace!’

Along with Bethl’em’s angels.

 

Yo----ur angels sing out ‘Come Lord come!’

Your angels sing out ‘Come Lord come!’

Your angels sing out ‘Come Lord come!’

Along with Bethl’em’s angels.

 

So O O O give your tree, an angel throng,

So give your tree, an angel throng,

So give your tree, an angel throng,

And hark to Bethl’em’s angels.

 

 

 

     

The Shepherd’s Message (I Remember, Oh How I Remember)

Picture credit craftville.com

As the shepherds return to the hills...

The Shepherds’ Message 

I remember, oh how I remember,

that night and the following day: 

the angels, the singing, the scurrying

and the sweet smell of clean bedding-hay.

A baby with parents bewildered

at our finding the byre where they’d lodged.

Such a very strange place for Messiah 

to be born, for the purpose of God.

 

When we left as the new day was breaking 

there were people who work at first light,

and we realised we should not keep secret 

the wonders we’d witnessed that night.

So we, who are skilful in silence, 

to detect sounds of lion, wolf or thief, 

found our tongues running wild with our message,

of a child bringing goodwill and peace.

 

By the time we got back to the hillside,

we'd been stopped any number of times,

for the story had travelled like wildfire, 

even faster than tales about crimes! 

For some it was just as the prophets

had foretold - of God coming to earth: 

to others a nonsense - but useful 

to gossip and boost their self-worth

 

It was strange how a group of mere shepherds,

 ‘outsiders’ in ordinary times,

became sought after, visited, talked-of,

for our witness of Yahweh’s sublime

way of breaking the news of Messiah 

throughout Bethlem's valleys and hills.

In no time it was voiced in Jerusalem,

stirring hearts, both for good and for ill.

 

Trevor Thorn © 2021 

Carol of The Good News

Picture credit

 faithofourfathersfaith.blogspot.com

I suspect there are many, who like me, delight in those moments when a familiar Bible passage gives rise to an unexpected train of thought. This happened just a few days ago when meeting an Advent invitation to our congregation (Made by my Ordained wife) to read the 24 chapters of Luke through the first 24 days of December. I had scarcely started when the words of Luke 2 17-18 gave me an idea …

¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 

 

This led to thoughts about oral story-telling and the thought-provoking idea that God’s plan meant the Shepherds, almost certainly outcasts from respectable society, were the first evangelists. So this carol celebrates the earliest dispersal of the news of Jesus’ birth throughout the locality of Bethlehem. 

 

The Carol of The Good News (Luke 2 17-18)

Can be sung to any 87.87 tune (suggested by author - LOVE DIVINE)

 

Gather round me all you people,

I’ve a wondrous tale to tell;

heard it from my trusted cousins,

told by shepherds round a well.

 

It was just a few days since, those

shepherds watching flocks by night

on the hills surrounding Bethl’em, 

Saw a startling, dazzling light. 

 

There were angels, calling, singing

urging them ‘Go into town,

where a new-born in a manger

is The promised Holy One’.

 

So, let’s tell this story widely,

prophecies attest its truth.

Come! Make every hill and valley

ring with joy at our glad news.

 

December 2021.

More carols, Christmas songs and activities for All Age services can be found HERE

Something new amidst the traditional Christmas music?

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS AND LINKS TO ALL THE CONTEMPORARY CAROLS PUBLISHED ON THIS BLOG SINCE ITS START

AN ANGEL TOLD SHEPHERDS WITH GREAT, GREAT JOY (CAROL) (Click here)
A simple-to- learn children's carol which tells of the birth of Jesus and the Salvation story. This is simple enough to teach in a service and the suggested activity which can involve small or large numbers of children - and the grown-ups with them!

AT BETHLEHEM IN BORROWED CATTLE STALL (CAROL) (Click here):
 A carol based on the beautiful French folksong Plaisir D'Amour with a fanfare chorus based on the magnificent  Isaiah prophecy "Wonderful, Counsellor... “

BEFORE THE CREATION, THE WORD WAS WITH GOD (HYMN) (Click Here)
A sung version of The Christmas Gospel (John 1. 1 - 15). Sing it  to the tune 'To God be The Glory’

BE STILL, SMALL EARTH (CAROL) (Click Here),
also known as 'A Carol of the Cosmos' as it celebrates the cosmic disturbances that marked the birth of Jesus. This is written to be sung to the hymn tune from Finlandia (Please observe the copyright note printed with this carol).

GO TO NAZARETH MY GREAT MESSENGER (CAROL) Click Here Imagines God instructing His Angels from The Annunciation to the warning to Joseph to flee with his new family to Egypt. Lively dance-style tune.

OVER PLAINS OF ARABIA ONE CRYSTAL NIGHT (STAR OF JUBILEE) Click Here. Story of the Star sung to the Shaker Tune used for Sidney Carter’s 'Lord of the Dance’

PRAISE THE CREATOR GOD Click Here
Hills of The North Rejoice reframed to start with creation and build to the crescendo of Advent.

STABLE TALK (This Manger’s Well Made) - Click HERE
A  carol that gives Joseph a ‘voice’ in the stable as he imagines the future for his new-born son

STARS AND PLANETS SING YOUR GLORY  (HYMN) (Click here).
This hymn of praise, (can be sung ‘Lux Eoi’ (preferred tune) or to the Beethoven tune used for 'Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee’ or another 8.8.8.8 tune) is suitable as a Christmas hymn but can also be used at other times to celebrate Christ as the Lord of the entire cosmos.

STAR OF HIGH HEAVEN by John B Hobbs (Click Here)

Children’s Carol for the Epiphany to the Low German Folk tune ‘Dat Du min leefste best’.

VIVID WINTER'S MORN (CAROL) (Click here)
This carol is intended to be played and sung in rock style

Whilst this post consists of all the contemporary Carols published on this blog, there are also children’s Christmas activities on this blog which you can access by clicking HERE

Christmas Carols on this blog

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS AND LINKS TO ALL THE CONTEMPORARY CAROLS PUBLISHED ON THIS BLOG SINCE ITS START

AN ANGEL TOLD SHEPHERDS WITH GREAT, GREAT JOY (CAROL) (Click here)
A simple-to-learn children's carol which tells of the birth of Jesus and the Salvation story

AT BETHLEHEM IN BORROWED CATTLE STALL (CAROL) (Click here):
 A carol based on the beautiful French folksong Plaisir D'Amour with a fanfare chorus based on the magnificent  Isaiah prophecy "Wonderful, Counsellor... “

BEFORE THE CREATION, THE WORD WAS WITH GOD (HYMN) (Click Here)
A sung version of The Christmas Gospel (John 1. 1 - 15). Sing it  to the tune 'To God be The Glory’

BE STILL, SMALL EARTH (CAROL) (Click Here),
also known as 'A Carol of the Cosmos' as it celebrates the cosmic disturbances that marked the birth of Jesus. This is written to be sung to the hymn tune from Finlandia (Please observe the copyright note printed with this carol).

GO TO NAZARETH MY GREAT MESSENGER (CAROL) Click Here Imagines God instructing His Angels from The Annunciation to the warning to Joseph to flee with his new family to Egypt. Lively dance-style tune.

OVER PLAINS OF ARABIA ONE CRYSTAL NIGHT (STAR OF JUBILEE) Click Here. Story of the Star sung to the Shaker Tune used for Sidney Carter’s 'Lord of the Dance’

PRAISE THE CREATOR GOD Click Here
Hills of The North Rejoice reframed to start with creation and build to the crescendo of Advent.

STABLE TALK (This Manger’s Well Made) - Click HERE
A new carol that gives Joseph a ‘voice’ in the stable as he imagines the future for his new-born son

STARS AND PLANETS SING YOUR GLORY  (HYMN) (Click here).
This hymn of praise, (can be sung ‘Lux Eoi’ (preferred tune) or to the Beethoven tune used for 'Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee’ or another 8.8.8.8 tune) is suitable as a Christmas hymn but can also be used at other times to celebrate Christ as the Lord of the entire cosmos.

STAR OF HIGH HEAVEN by John B Hobbs (Click Here)

Children’s Carol for the Epiphany to the Low German Folk tune ‘Dat Du min leefste best’.

VIVID WINTER'S MORN (CAROL) (Click here)
This carol is intended to be played and sung in rock style

Whilst this post consists of all the contemporary Carols published on this blog, there are also children’s Christmas activities on this blog which you can access by clicking HERE

Advent: Waiting, Stillness, Silence

Quell my impatience, Lord,

as we enter this time of waiting.

Captivate my soul, so I yearn

to conquer the spirit of the age

which ever strives for the next,

and the next, and the next.

Still me, so I can empty my mind

of the siren voices

that would have me travel with them

this way and that.           

To exotic destinations;

to imagined riches;

to perfections of the body;

to extremes of luxury;

to enticements of novelty.

Then, in the silence, Come.

Steal beautifully into my waiting

and suffuse my whole being

with the calm of Your presence,

so I may contemplate

the glory of your coming

as a child, as a servant King,

as Redeemer of the world.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Other Advent items, together with 12 contemporary carols can be found HERE

CANCER 2: Shock, Puzzlement and Prayer 2/ Gossamer Spectrum

Written in a week in which early treatment made me realise that cancer treatment needs considerable patience – and I suspect is going to be a preparation for series of several similar waiting times as I move into a Chemotherapy regime.

If you have read the post 'Cancer 1', you will have seen there was one late shock as the respiratory doctor bowed out, handing us over to the oncology/haematology team. He admitted he had thought that he was going to be telling us I ‘only had weeks’ when he had believed I had lung cancer: but with it being a lymphoma, there is a good chance of ultimate recovery (although it would usually be referred to as ‘in remission’), both reminders of our mortality and vulnerability. Interestingly, Pam had already intuited that the respiratory doctor had been thinking along those very bleak lines, whereas I had been naively thinking in terms of a few years. So, in this, a sharp reminder of just how hard this sort of path is for a spouse or a partner who truly cares for their ‘other-half’.

Now, over to the oncology clinic and a minor shock of a different kind. The clinic was awash with people of all adult ages and stages: young women with scarves on their heads, elderly folk looking battered and scared, middle aged people with multiple tattoos and rings (Oh dear! I really do need to take a check on my prejudices! I’m going to be sharing facilities with many of this group for some long weeks ahead); Addenbrookes Hospital treat 4000 new cases every year! But in all of this we realise again just how fortunate we are to be so close to such a well resourced hospital and also realize how often this disease visits much younger people: people who have to balance their treatment with demanding jobs and people with children to tend to and cope with the children’s fears as well as their own. A prayer-in-every-chair, it seemed to me.

Thankfully this week of waiting is not one of complete inaction. In order to get me as well prepared for the chemotherapy as possible, I was put straight on to a daily dose of steroids and in just a few days that has brought relief from the presenting symptoms of acute coughing and low energy. Two mile walks have suddenly become practicable (delightful to walk by the river again) and my appetite has improved significantly: the wonders of modern medicine! More to be thankful for.

But the other part of this week is the not knowing. I guess most of us find that one of the hardest times of life. When will the chemo start? Friday or next week? How to plan this weekend; how will I react to the chemo? How necessary might the emergency card I’ve been given be – am I really likely to succumb to a sepsis? How will my appetite ebb and flow, if it does? Problems for Pam and me to share and another pause to reflect on what a lonely road this must be for single people to tread.

Then there is the literature – a folder full of several books mainly from cancer charities and SO-O-O much information to try and take in. How difficult for the not-particularly articulate? And hiding in amongst all that, a recommendation to take up or revive a hobby to give purpose to the possibly gruelling way ahead. This for me, not difficult: I will continue to pen as many verses as I can – and that, I will enjoy unless my brain is so addled, which I understand happens to some chemo patients. Another unknown.

So one of the lessons has to be to live each day for itself and rejoice in those that are good. One night, the steroids (I assume) woke me suddenly in the early hours. An opportunity to edit a seasonal poem I jotted in the previous week and once again in thanksgiving mode, I end this journal-style entry with it. We immensely valued the prayers – thank you again to so very many of you.

Gossamer Spectrum

Sun emerging from an autumn mist

slants across fine gossamer weavings

that bedeck the window pane.

The angle of the shafts of the sun

and the seat from which I gaze

Is accidentally perfect;

for each near-parallel thread

glistens with

an exquisitely fine spectrum.

A Spider’s overnight endeavours

delicately revealing the complexity

of our star’s life-giving, visible rays,

and I give thanks.

It is not my intention these journal-style entries should become frequent bulletins: I will try to record only the more significant times – and in between simply share some of my more ‘normal-style’ poetry with its usual 1 to 3 week frequency.

You can read the start of this journey (Cancer 1) HERE and the third part (Cancer 3) HERE