Notes on the Notes – December 18, 2024 – Blue Christmas

Blue Christmas

Service Music: 

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”

Our opening music is the familiar advent hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” arranged by Eugenie R. Rocherolle and recorded in 2020 with Laura Steidl at the piano.

“Where is He, Immanuel”

“Where is He, the One who comes to save?
Where is He, O Israel?
Ages pass, the world awaits His birth.
Where is He, Immanuel?

Counsellor, who comforts all who mourn,
Bringing captive souls release,
Where is He, the Child of Bethlehem?
Where is He, the Prince of Peace?

On that day, every valley is exalted!
Through the desert, the flowers bloom and grow.
Praise ring and resound through all creation.
Every hill, every mountain are made low.

Prophets say He comes to teach and heal.
Lame will walk, the blind will see.
On that day, the promise is revealed
From a branch of Jesse’s tree.

Where is He, the One who comes to save?
Where is He, O Israel?
Ages pass, the world awaits His birth.
Where is He, Immanuel?
Where is He, Immanuel?”

With reference to the prophecy of Isaiah, this anthem was written by Trilby Carter Jordan and David Angerman in 2011.  The name Immanuel, or Emmanuel, means “God with us.”  The anthem expresses our longing for God to be with us and the joy we will feel when he comes.  This recording was made by The Harmony Singers in 2022.

“Come, Come Emmanuel” (MV #11)

“Come, come Emmanuel. Come, Emmanuel.
Come, come Emmanuel. Come, Emmanuel.”

This gentle chant will be used as we enter into the scripture readings/candle lighting portion of the service.  It was written by James J. Chepponis in 1995 and recorded by the Worship Choir in 2024.

“How Deep the Peace” (MV #95)

“How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose wrongs are forgiven.
How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose hearts are healed.”

This short response is based on Psalm 32 and is an assurance of God’s love for us. It was written by Linnea Good in 2004. It will be sung following our scripture reflections this evening.  It was recorded by The Praise Singers in 2020.

“In the Quiet Curve of Evening” (VU #278)

“In the quiet curve of evening, in the sinking of the days,
In the silky void of darkness, you are there.
In the lapses of my breathing, in the space between my ways,
In the crater carved by sadness, you are there.
You are there, you are there, you are there.

In the rests between the phrases, in the cracks between the stars,
In the gaps between the meaning, you are there.
In the melting down of endings, in the cooling of the sun,
In the solstice of the winter, you are there.
You are there, you are there, you are there.

In the mystery of my hungers, in the silence of my rooms,
In the cloud of my unknowing, you are there.
In the empty cave of grieving, in the desert of my dreams,
In the tunnel of my sorrow, you are there.
You are there, you are there, you are there.”

This gentle, reflective hymn was written by Julie Howard in 1993.  The words remind us that even at our lowest, God is with us.  Tonight it will be sung by Laura Steidl (2024).

“Silent Night”  

“Silent night!  Holy night! 
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night!  Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight:
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly host sing Hallelujah,
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.

Silent night!  Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.”

The music for “Silent Night” (German: “Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht”) was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndoft bei Salzburg, Austria.  It has been translated into about 140 languages.  Tonight we will be hearing an arrangement by Ron Klusmeier, recorded on Christmas Eve 2022 during worship at Windsor Park United Church.

“Hope Shines as the Solitary Star” (MV #220)

Tonight’s postlude was composed by Janet Bauman Tisandier and recorded in 2021 with Myrna Hagues at the piano.