My favourite
Christmas Carol is “The Little Drummer Boy.” My reasoning is fairly simple. I
first recall hearing this Carol sung by Bing Crosby on my parents 331/3 rpm
vinyl record player. Now when I hear that Carol I am transported back to my
childhood and surrounded by the feelings of security, excitement and
contentment. The message of this carol that I hear is that no matter how plain
our gift to Christ is, it is received with the same openness. To me it is the
giving and not the gift. --- John
Alan and I were in
the children's choir at our Lutheran church in Ottawa (so we must have been
about 6 and 8), and the only song I remember singing was “Go Tell It on the
Mountain.” We had a concert and all wore black vests with pipe
cleaner angel pins, and dad of course was video recording. So this carol
always reminds me of cold snowy childhood winters in Ottawa. --Elizabeth
*Are there carols that
transport you back to childhood?
*What emotions do
you experience when hearing these carols?
In formative years,
children are like sponges, taking in all that is around them. It is a time when
songs and stories capture one’s imagination, get wrapped up in memory, and are imprinted
in the psyche. What gets imprinted is important. Carols help people learn to
express emotions (even if they do not realize this is happening), the tunes and
words draw emotion out. The words of carols imprint ideas of hope, love, peace,
and joy, along with themes of community, relationship, wonder, prayer, and the
meaning of life. In a world where commodity rules the day, a viewpoint that there
is a different way is the gift of the carol.
*Have you
participated in a Christmas pageant or choir? What was your part, and did you
enjoy it?
*Reflecting on your experience
of pageants or choir, what have you carried with you?
When I think of “The
Little Drummer Boy,” I remember the year that Bob P. handcrafted a dozen or
so wooden drumsticks. The boys were given drumsticks, which they used on the
backs of the pews to drum their gift of praise, while the carol was played. The
girls were given gymnastic ribbons to dance down the aisles with their gift of
praise, while the congregation sang, “Angels, We Have Heard on High.” That
particular Christmas the congregation had lots of little people, non-readers. A
way was found for everyone to be included in the pageant. Everyone shared a
gift. Everyone participated in praising God.
*Do you offer
praise? How?
*If you are not a
singer, what other ways can you participate in caroling?
Because of our
experience of God – of Christmas- we have a gift to give. “Go Tell It on the
Mountain” reminds us that we are to “go tell.” This Advent, go and tell, offering
the gifts of hope, love, peace, and joy, whether by spinning vinyl, corralling
children in a Christmas pageant, reciting pageant lines boldly, or Christmas
caroling--- go and drum, go and tell.
God-with-us,
What gifts can I
bring you? Open my eyes to what I have to offer. Give me courage to give my
offering to you through spreading hope, love, peace, and joy in the world. To
you be the glory.
Amen.
Links to the carols:
Go Tell It on the
Mountain – https://youtu.be/G7QXTnoSdcI
Bing Crosby sings, Little
Drummer Boy - https://youtu.be/NrOZW0Soxus
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