CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST
December 17, 2006
25424 Aldine-Westfield, Spring, TX. 77373
www.geocities.com/adon77373/cypresswoodbulletin.htm
PRAYERS AND PETITIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING:
Our congregation Our nation, leaders and military
Various friends, relatives and co-workers Leon in the Army in Korea
SONGS OLD AND NEW
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people” (Luke 1:68).
Over the last six hundred years or so, sacred words have been added to secular tunes making many famous hymns now familiar to us. While controversial at first, few know that these favorites of ours came about this way. This has happened to Christmas songs as well. One of the most famous of course is What Child Is This? which was fitted to the tune of Greensleeves. Other songs can be matched to various tunes (1). Humor has made its way into a number of songs including The Twelve Days of Christmas (2).
One song that we hear each holiday season is The Twelve Days of Christmas and what my true love gave to me. While obscure in its beginnings, it probably related to the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6) in France. It is in the style of a number of songs of similar nature (3). Some have suggested that this song was a means by which a persecuted people could learn the Bible while the ruling authorities would only hear a typical style of song (4). Today many see this more as a commercial song of a secular culture. Every year someone is trying to figure out how much it costs to give a true love all these gifts. But someone has come along and made it more sacred, calling it The Real Twelve Days of Christmas. Here are the words:
On the first day of Christmas, Jesus gave to me salvation full and free.
On the second…everlasting life.
On the third….peace in my heart.
On the fourth…love for all men..
On the fifth…joy for my soul.
On the sixth…power from on high.
On the seventh…a body glorified.
On the eighth…a robe and a crown.
On the ninth…mansions above.
On the tenth…streets of pure gold.
On the eleventh…a thousand songs to sing.
On the twelfth…eternity that’s free.
I don’t know if this has been released in any form other than on the internet but it shows a way that a song can be used to teach important truths about God in Christ. There are three of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), love, joy and peace, but most of the song looks to eternity. It shows what can be done with a familiar song given new words and ideas.
Another popular song at this time of the year comes have Christmas; Auld Lang Syne. We sing it at the New Year because it talks about both the past and the present, of friendship and joy. Back in 1960, Bobby Darin sang the tune with different thoughts called Christmas Auld Lang Syne.
When mistletoe and tinsel glow
Paint a yuletide valentine
Back home I go to those I know
For a Christmas auld lang syne.
And as we gather ‘round the tree
Our voices all combine
In sweet accord to thank our Lord
For a Christmas auld lang syne.
When sleigh bells ring and choirs sing
And the children’s faces shine
With each new toy we share their joy
With a Christmas auld lang syne.
We sing his praise this day of days
And pray next year this time
We’ll all be near to share the cheer
Of a Christmas auld lang syne.
In sweet accord to thank our Lord
For a Christmas auld lang syne.
What I see in this song and in a number of recent holiday songs is a desire for relationship. And that is one aspect of what Jesus is about, bringing us into a renewed and redemptive relationship with God. The birth of Jesus is the beginning of the end of God’s plan to reunite His creation with Himself. There is a loneliness out there, a desire for more than just things. Yet people continue to look for things to find comfort. The paper at Thanksgiving had numerous ads about specials in various stores. The day after Thanksgiving is called “Black Friday” because it is where merchants find if they will make a profit. And people buy, often thinking with such gifts they can by friendship and love. What they miss is the music they hear but do not listen to while involved in the hustle and bustle of the season. Those songs point to where the answer is to relationships.
A gift can express love but it takes two humans effort to build a relationship. God is doing His part through His Son and His people. We need to make the effort to build our relationship with Him and others through His Son. Many of the carols point us to this, beginning with the removal of sin and the joy of salvation. So whether it is the rewriting of old songs, brand new songs, or the old classics, let’s make an effort to focus our attention to what is important for this time year. We might find it more valuable than maxed out credit cards and the frustrations of shopping.
George B. Mearns
(1) Amazing Grace can fit a number of tunes in our song book and even a number of secular tunes such as Ghost Riders in the Sky and the tune to Gilligan’s Island.
(2) Such take offs include The Twelve Days of Texas beginning with a possum in an oak tree and ending with twelve yellow roses or The Twelve Days of Fast Food beginning with my drive through gave to me a Big Bacon Classic with Cheese and ending with Twelve bags of Pepto.
(3) For example, Children, Go Where I Send Thee
(4) This is almost certainly an urban legend developed in the 1980s by a Catholic priest, though it is certainly interesting.