All of the mystery, the awe, and the palpable excitement of that night are imaginatively captured in a Christmas mosaic that combines fragments of the familiar with Pepper Choplin’s always-unique perspective in word and music. “Night of the Father’s Love” skillfully guides the listener through the Christmas story, as though hearing it again for the first time.
Three narrators interject with familiar scripture passages and personal reflections, while an intriguing array of musical styles beautifully express the essence of Christmas: the gift of the Father’s love.
The Cantata will be presented by Pender’s Adult Choir and orchestra on December 16, 2012 at the 8:15 and 11:00 Services.
Each Christmas is a journey! We make it from wherever we are to the manger. Mary and Joseph journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem on the First Christmas. What will our journey be like? Are there helps along the way? How do we really prepare to receive the King? Let’s see how we might journey together so that this Christmas we find the true reason for the season – the child Jesus!
Dec. 2 – Mary of Nazareth: Journey of Faith – Luke 1:26-38
Christmas is about miracles, love, giving, family, friends, presents. But the first Christmas didn’t have any of these but a miracle and love. For Mary Christmas was a surprise that required of her a lot of FAITH. How many of us would believe an angel? How could we even know what an angel is and looks like? And the message, a virgin will birth a baby? Now that does take FAITH! Let’s learn from Mary about how FAITH is needed and helps to bring about a holy Christmas for each of us.
Dec. 9 – Joseph of Bethlehem: Journey of Trust – Matt. 1:18-24
The Night Before Christmas says that the dreams were of “sugarplums that danced in their heads.” Don’t know about you but during the rush of Christmas my dreams are more nightmares and not sugarplums. For Joseph I think it was the same. Mary pregnant and it wasn’t his! His life over and dreams crushed! Now he is told “Don’t be afraid!” Trust is the word that Joseph had to learn so that there would be a Christmas. I wonder do we TRUST that Christmas is love, peace and hope? Do we put our trust in the one who does the Impossible at Christmas? Let’s see how we can Trust Christmas!
Dec. 16 – A Christmas Cantata “Night of the Father’s Love” will be sung at both of the traditional services! Come and enjoy this morning of music as we hear the Christmas story told through music! There will be a 50 voice choir, an orchestra and music you will not want to miss!
Dec. 23 – From Nazareth to Bethlehem – Journey to a Manger – Luke 2:1-7
You can’t have Christmas without Bethlehem’s manger. For in it we find the reason for the season-the Christ child! As you have moved from store to store, house to house, party to party have you come to a manger yet? It took Mary and Joseph a long time to make that 90 mile trek, how long will it take us? Let’s talk about where to find Jesus this Christmas. Without him we have nothing but X-mas!
Dec. 30 – Pastor Kevin is preaching
Jan. 6 – Still on the Journey – Matt. 2:1-18
Once Christmas is over is that the end? Or does the journey of Christmas continue as we seek the Christ child all year round? What ways can we seek Him? What will we do when we find Him? WE are ALL still journeying. Let’s begin at the Lord’s table on the first Sunday in a New Year!
Christmas caroling accompaniments are available for free download from http://www.gbod.org. Save to disk or drive, take the “piano” with you.
From that link:
These piano accompaniments of familiar hymns are provided as free downloads as a joint project of The General Board of Discipleship and United Methodist Communications. They are intended to provide accompaniments for congregational singing for those churches which, for whatever reason, are unable to provide accompaniment for singing. You may find that you can also use them for choir, solo, or Sunday School use, Christmas caroling, or singing at any group setting. All accompaniments are provided without copyright. You may use them for any purpose without charge or having to seek permission.
In almost all cases, we have provided accompaniments from The United Methodist Hymnal (1989), with an introduction and multiple stanzas in the key provided in the hymnal. Occasionally an alternate harmonization is included. Watch for new hymns to be added in the future.
Also most of the Methodist Hymnal is available as sheet music (I guess that term is now defunct!) for the iPad. The app plays each hymn, as well.
Come listen to Pender’s Handbell Choir ring new and old Christmas Music in downtown Fairfax City on December 1st at 5:00 pm.
Join the City of Fairfax for the annual Festival of Lights and Carols on Saturday, December 1, 2012. Be sure to get your reservations for ‘Lunch with Santa’. Enjoy a cup of hot cider and warm up by the yule log as you join in caroling with the Fairfax Jubil-aires and The Joy Ringers beginning at 5 pm in Kitty Pozer Garden followed by the lighting of our Christmas Tree.
“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is a Christmas carol based on the 1863 poem “Christmas Bells” by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The song tells of the narrator’s despair, upon hearing Christmas bells, that “hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men”. The carol concludes with the bells carrying renewed hope for peace among mankind.
This version is done by Casting Crowns. I chose it because the Pender choir sang this on Christmas Eve with past-Associate Pastor Dan Elmore singing the solo…and I fell in love with this version.
As seen on 2008 TBN Christmas special. “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day” is available on Casting Crowns’ Christmas album, Peace On Earth.
More traditionally, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s version:
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”
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