Stories behind the Carols - Sunday Dec. 23, 2007

Merry Christmas from the Garners -

You've got to check out our elf song here

www.elfyourself.com/?id=1511856864

"Shout to the North"
Click here to read about Martin Smith http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Smith_(songwriter)
Click here to worship along with Delirious:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BUe_8I4j54
Click here to worship along with Charlie Hall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBuakvHqE9E&mode=related&search=

"Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee"
The music for this hymn is by Ludwig van Beethoven . Taken from the fourth and final movement of his Ninth Symphony (completed in 1824), for four solo voices, chorus, and orchestra.
You can sing several different texts to this great hymn. We'll sing two Christmas verses this Sunday -

"Joyful, Joyful, we adore You,

God of glory, Lord of light;

Angels lifting praise before You

sing thoughout this holy night

In a manger lies a Baby,

child of Mary, son of God.

Voices joined in joyful chorus

praise you for Your gift of love."

All Your works declare Your glory;

All creation, joins to sing

Praise resounds as earth rejoices

in the birth of Christ, the King.

Shepherds kneel before the infant.

Trumpets sound and anthems raise

As with joy our hearts are lifted,

joined in wonder, love and praise"

*these verses were adapted by Linda Lee Johnson
Click here for Leonard Bernsteins' rendition of "Ode to Joy"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZJ1Tgf4JL8
Click here to listen to a hammered dulcimar
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VGhhxzP364
Click here to hear it on a clawhammer Banjo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPsnX4HWTCg
click here to hear it played on chimes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=h54Zn47OZ0g
Click here for a German choir - absolutely beautiful
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMGKPajKs08

"Hallelujah Chorus"
The worship choir will sing a newer arrangement of the "Hallelujah Chorus" by Handel, click here for more reading on the song and the oratorio "The Messiah"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_%28Handel%29#The_.22Hallelujah_Chorus.22
Click here for an article on whether you should stand when the song is sung or not - makes for interesting reading
www.lafolia.com/archive/skyley/skyley200412messiah.html
another article with several views on this
www.festival-singers.org.nz/haleluia.htm

Click here for the Robert Shaw version
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFXTJQY2SY4
Here is a fun youtube video that actually has the music where you can follow along
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnHksDFHTQI
Here is an interesting arrangement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=phhqYXTA5dA
Here is the arrangement that the choir will be singing Sunday with Anthony Berger playing the piano
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGG_Of0ccYM

"It came upon a midnight clear"
Click here to read more about this carol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Came_Upon_the_Midnight_Clear
Click here to listen to Josh Groban
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DottUe8PSk8
Click here for a great acapella arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuBI9mkWY
here is an arrangement from Perry Como that starts with Happy Holidays:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NnnmnY_TGo

"Here I am to Worship"
We're adding the lyrics from "Away in a Manger" to this song for the second vers:
Click here to listen to the story behind the song by Tim Hughes.www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-196-HereIAmtoWorship-Hughes.mp3
Click here to worship along with Darlene Zschech in Australia leading the song.www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2d10n1Cpcc&mode=related&search=
Click here to read more about the composer Tim Hugheswww.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/worship/1227531/

"Hark the Herald, Angels Sing"
Click here to read more about his carol by Charles Wesley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hark!_The_Herald_Angels_Sing
Click here to hear Jewell sing the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUqtKJ13eH4
Click here for the Mariah Carey arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWQzmb3xjn8
Click here for an acapella arrangement from the Duke's Co-ed Acapella choir
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLZlWmpDMTY

"Angels we have heard on High"
Click here to read more about this French carol:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_We_Have_Heard_on_High
Click here for a guitar arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBGAPYHx9gs
Click here for the Westminster choir arrangment:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2hsQS79YS8
Click here if you want to see a guy play the song on a big piece of Brocolli
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GabHGlGm14

Sermon Sunday is titled "Those who held our Lord"
Simeon Luke 2: 25-35

Offertory Sunday is Jennifer Reynolds singing "One Child"
click here to preview the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND9uOzw-TZg