I struggle with leading them more from the aspect that people just go through the motions with these songs – not that they aren’t worshipful in their own right. However, I also agree that there is something comforting and needed that they bring to our congregations – and to those that visit just at Christmas time.

Our church doesn’t follow many traditions – like most contemporary churches, it seems – but Christmas is one that we try to keep mostly intact. We have an advent service (the Sunday night before Christmas) and the kids do something during that service as well. We start mixing in carols the first Sunday in December – 1 or 2 a week.

We have found that by mixing the carols in with “regular” worship songs and speaking out some of the lyrics before singing them, people tend to pay a little bit more attention to what is being taught through the songs. It helps, but I still feel that there is a large disconnect once the song starts with a lot of people. It’s almost too comfortable.

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Louise Knights last blog post..leading ladies

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

or

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

As far as them being story songs, is not our faith, as compared to almost every other, a historical faith thus it contains a story that should be preached AND sung. In this day of doing so many “how-to” sermons, should we at least not do “story” one time per year in our musical worship? Otherwise, people do not gain the redemptive history narrative of God’s activity through Christ. At the least, it diminishes their understanding that the activity of God in Christ is central to our faith. Jesus was not just a guru with some great help tips (save your marriage, be successful, get a blessed bank account). For crying out loud folks, it is the INCARNATION. Let’s sing of it and not relegate Carols to Christmas Eve only.

http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=3733

Louise Knights last blog post..Java JBay Service – 2008-12-07

I’d even take this one step further: When people who work 9 to 5 weekday jobs are finally off over the holidays and decide to check out Christian television, would you want them to see a good representation of what happens regularly on those shows — some interviews, news clips, testimonies — or a holiday special?

When someone walks into a Christian bookstore for the first time at Christmas, would it be best for them to see books that speak to their deep felt needs, books on prayer, advice on parenting, classic biographies, etc.; or racks of Christmas books that are packed up and stored the week after? Great worship music CDs, or displays of Christmas songs?

I think it’s important to be true to what it is we do best, and (pardon the term) showcase that when visitors drop by at special times and seasons; though not to the complete neglect of the season itself.

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Freds last blog post..Christmas Carols – To Sing or Not to Sing

Jason Durhams last blog post..YES, NO, WAIT A WHILE!

Drew – Rod Stewart, eek.

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I prefer to never again hear Rod Stewart sing ANY CHristmas song, but my Church secretary has set her will against me. And that’s ok.

HOWEVER, how could we not take joy in pointing out the richness hiding in songs many of our folks already know. I know a lot of musicians are carrying baggage on this one, but I encourage you to step back and look at these songs for their text and singability. They score very high. Why would we not take the time to teach the value of Watts and Wesley’s songs? Take the time to arrange them in a way that serves your congregation, but don’t miss the opportunity to lat songs like “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” O Little Town” (not as purely sentimental as you might think), “Joy to the World,” “Hark, the Herald Angels,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” and the original verses of “What Child is This.”

I have found a lot of joy in helping our folks “discover what they already know” in these songs. They become walking treatises on Christmas. The idea of resigning these songs to be sung by others blows my minds. These are the songs we ought to be singing to one another alongside new songs and fresh arrangements. Sometimes, a song can be both sentimental and profound. This is especially true at Christmas.

Refusing to sing Christmas carols in favor of a “worship song” is to totally miss the point.

Without the birth of Christ, there would BE no worship unless we are Jewish.

WAY too many Christians, in an effort to be “non-commercial” or “non-Santa Clausie”, have totally abandoned the huge celebration that Christmas is. THIS IS OUR CELEBRATION!!! Let’s reclaim it. Let’s celebrate it. Let’s enjoy it. Don’t let ANYONE make you ashamed of the birth of your Saviour. Don’t let anyone tell you that December 25 is not important. Sure, it’s not the actual day, but it’s the day we CELEBRATE. Don’t make it just another day. Allow it to spur you (and every other Christian) to crank it up a notch for Christ.

We’ve downplayed Christmas enough, folks. I’m really tired of Christians being anti-Christmas. I’m not worried about retailers saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”; I’m just really fed up with Christians NOT saying “Christ is born!!!”

It’s about Christ. It’s not about a worship experience. It’s not even about the music. It’s about Christ.

Sing ‘em. Sing ‘em joyfully. Don’t sing ‘em because you’re forced. Sing ‘em because you love the Saviour that they are about. Sing ‘em in worship. You’ve sung Mighty to Save 10 times this year already (just a guess). Sing Joy to the World because JOY HAS COME, and His name is Christ.

Worship the Saviour with songs about Him. It’s not a token gesture when it’s really done from the heart, and it’s obvious. If YOU, as the worship leader, are bored with Christmas songs, trust me – the congregation will know that about two seconds in.

If the birth of the Saviour doesn’t give you a kick in the seat of the worship pants, get on your knees with the Bible and beg God to remind you of the power of the moment when that little baby was born. To remind you that ALL OF HEAVEN – and quite probably all of hell – was watching as Mary was in labor. That prophecies of hundreds of years before were fulfilled in such detail that men are still amazed thousands of years later. To help you remember that GOD HIMSELF entered the womb of a simple woman and became the baby that was born to die. To be reminded that Jesus Christ did this because He wanted to. He ASKED to come to earth. “Father, I’ll go.” That birth was the moment of truth. No birth has changed the course of mankind so drastically. No other birth was for MY redemption. This is the only birth in history – or in the future – where the baby was completely in charge of everything. Pray for these truths to eat at your heart. Pray for them to burn there, because, until it burns there, the Christmas songs will seem to only be a nod to the traditionalists. But they are so much more.

I challenge you, and anyone else, to wrestle with this until Christmas becomes a moment of worship like no other.

Fred, you asked for thoughts – these are mine. God bless ya, bro. I love your heart for Him.

Don’t let Satan whip you on this.

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