Christmas in July

Several years back when I directed a small church choir, we had a party each year to introduce the special Christmas music for the coming season. We called the event "Christmas in July." You may think that's really planning ahead, but we needed that much time to learn the music. Besides we hadn't gotten together as a group since June, and wouldn't again until September.

When the music was reintroduced in the fall, it was not totally unfamiliar and was greeted enthusiastically. This also gave the soloists time to learn their solos. (Don't you hate it when the soloist is the last to learn their part and you knew it two weeks ago?)

One year we learned a few selections from the Messiah, a totally new experience for some, and one year we dared to think we could pull off "Amahl and the Night Visitors." Yes, we had a wonderful boy soprano! Christmas in July was a time of stretching and imagining with no looming deadlines. We also invited people who didn't usually sing in the choir, and as a result, some decided they could.

In the hot days of summer it's fun to do something cool and unexpected like celebrating Jesus' birth together in song.
Merry Christmas,
Paulita

OK, I'm back on track! We are now about the furtherest from Christmas we can be. Here is the central valley of California the temperatures are hot, flowers are in bloom, the trees are fully clothed, and picnics are the order of the day. No snow, no bare branches, no cold, foggy days and no Christmas trees. What I need are some angel reminders to put me in the mood for Christmas.

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echo back their their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be,
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come adore, on bended knee,
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Yes, that's what I need to inspire my earthly song. In my mind's eye I come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing. I come on bended knee and adore Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.

As I begin the last half of the year 2008, I still have more carols to share, more gifts to buy,
and more stories and scriptures to add to our inspiration and enthusiam of celebrating Christmas. Will we get it all done so we can enjoy the reason for the season in December?
Yep, we will.
Merry Christmas,
Paulita

Make a Connection

After Christmas do you take time to write thank-you notes to the people who gave you gifts? Some people do and some don't. Some people train their kids to write thank-you notes. I always appreciate those little notes, usually short and to the point, but more and more creative as the child gets older.

When I was a child I was required to write thank-you notes only to those who sent gifts and were not present to be thanked personally.

Today I was reading the story of Jesus healing the ten men who had leprosy. All believed Jesus could heal them. All did exactly as Jesus told them and hurried off to the priest so he could declare them healed. But one man stopped on his way and ran back to Jesus. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him. Out of this act of gratitude that man began a relationship with Jesus that the others missed.

A relationship with Jesus - that was the whole point. When I receive a thank-you note or I write one, a connection begins - that, too, is the point. We are called to connect - connect with God and with people.

This year as you purchase, wrap, mail, and receive gifts, make a connection - begin a relationship. Check to see if you have an attitude of gratitude. Or are you just as hassled this year as last?

Thank You, God, for the Christmas gift You sent, Your only Son, to be my Redeemer and Lord.
Paulita

The First Noel for the month of May

Story carols are the most fun to sing because some of them just go on and on and on. Take the English carol, "The First Noel," for instance. In my hymnal it has six verses each followed by the refrain, "Noel, noel! Noel, noel! Born is the King of Israel!" Even little children can join in the refrain after the first couple of times.

Actually the first five verses in this carol tell the story. The sixth verse gives us a chance to respond to what we've sung (or read, as the case may be).

Here is the story:

The first noel the angel did say

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

They loooked up and saw a star

Shining in the east, beyond them far;

And to the earth it gave great light,

And so it continued both day and night.

And by the light of that same star,

Three wise men came from country far;

To seek for a king was their intent,

And to follow the star wherever it went.

This star drew nigh to the northwest,

Over Bethlehem it took its rest;

And there it did both stop and stay,

Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Then entered in those wise men three,

Full reverently upon their knee,

And offered there, in His presence,

Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Then let us all with one accord

Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,

That hath made heaven and earth of naught,

And with His blood mankind hath bought.

Noel, noel! Noel, noel!

Born is the King of Israel!

Merry Christmas,

Paulita

I Like Trumpets

May is fleeting fast. It always does as things like school, concerts and special programs, end of the year recitals, etc. all seem to happen in May. BUT Christmas endures on my CD's.

I've been listening to some Baroque Christmas music and it occurred to me that a couple of the selections should have been used to announce Jesus' birth. Oh, I know they hadn't been written yet, but wouldn't it have been awesome if the angels had decended from heaven with the baby Jesus in their arms to the brass accompaniment of Purcell's "Tumpet Tune and Air," and laid him in a soft bed in a magnificent palace?

God didn't choose that plan. Instead he gave an ordinary young Jewish couple a baby whom they laid in a manger behind an inn in Bethlehem because there wasn't a room available to them.

One other selection on my Baroque Christmas CD is Handel's "Tochter Zion." It is a short trumpet fanfare (actually part of "Judas Maccabeus" by George Freidrich Handel). It is in my hymnal under the title, "Thine is the Glory" and is located in the Easter section. The words speak of Jesus as the risen, conquering Son. So it occurred to me that perhaps when Jesus comes back to rule over earth, the trumpets will play this song. Scripture does say, "The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." (I Corinthians 15:52)

While we wait, Merry Christmas,
Paulita

Precious Gifts

My, how time flies. This month is almost half over and already more than a third of the year has passed. Only 225 days left until Christmas!

I was actually reminded of Christmas when I received a Mother's Day flyer from a charitable organization we support. It showed gifts I could purchase in honor of my (or someone else's mother) which would benefit a child or family in a third world country. I could buy a goat for $75. I could feed a mother and her children for $50. I could purchase two chickens for $25. (Imagine!) I could provide hope for exploited girls for $35, or enroll a girl in school for $35.

All are worthy gifts to give in someone's honor. All of these, since it was Mother's Day, had to do mainly with females. I personally liked the two chickens, a source of fresh eggs and the ability to increase a family's income for only $25. I love chickens!

Anyway this reminded me that I receive a similar flyer every year about a month or so before Christmas. It has been my habit to pass the flyer around to our granddaughters (We haven't included our grandson, but we will this year.) and let them choose something for $15 or less (There are a lot of items to choose from). Last year two of them put their gift money together and provided help for exploited girls. The other chose an animal gift because she is very interested in animals (ROP animal husbandry class at high school). Each child gets a thank you card from the organization acknowledging her gift.

Often I feel that this is my most rewarding gift giving.
Merry Christmas,
Paulita

April Christmas presents

No, I really didn't forget to buy a Christmas present for April, I just had to wait until May 1st to have the money. You know how that goes. Well, I bought three presents. Our church had a 50th anniversary a week ago and one of the momentos of the occasion was the creation of a church cookbook. They are the best kind! So I bought four (one for me). Since our church is from a Swedish background, we included a few Swedish recipes. There was also a whole menu for a Swedish smorgasbord usually served at Christmas. I intend to attend a Christmas smorgasbord this November at a nearby church, or if I get brave, I'll try to make some of the dishes.
Merry Christmas,
Paulita