Archive | 12/6/2009

Hymn of the Week: Angels We Have Heard on HIgh

Dec6

Lyrics: Traditional French carol, Les Anges dans nos campagnes. Translated to English by James Chadwick, 1862.

Music: GLORIA arranged by Edward Shippen Barnes.

Theme: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Angels we have heard on high……………..or…………….Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains……………………………..Singing sweetly through the night
And the mountains in reply………………………………….And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains…………………………………Echoing their brave delight.
CHORUS:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?……………..or………………..Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?……………………………Why these songs of happy cheer?
What the gladsome tidings be…………………………………What great brightness did you see?
Which inspire your heavenly song? …………………What glad tidings did you hear?

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

See Him in a manger laid
Whom the angels praise above;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While we raise our hearts in love.

RBC Ministries: “Back in the Middle Ages in the hills of southern France, shepherds tending their flocks had a custom on Christmas Eve of calling to one another, each from his own hilltop, singing “Glo—ria in excelsis Deo, Glo—ria in excelsis Deo!” Just as angels had made that announcement to shepherds in the fields around Bethlehem two thousand years ago, so a thousand years ago these French shepherds announced again the birth of Christ to one another on Christmas Eve.”

True Believer: “I picture tough, grizzled shepherds with their hearts melting under the light and song of praise. Think of how they reacted. They aren’t giving a newspaper account … think of how you’d react when you run and tell your friends, ‘I just saw angels, and they were singing! It was so powerful, it seemed like the mountains were singing back when it echoed!’”

Top 10 Versions of Angels We Have Heard on High by Christian & Gospel Artists

Giving to the Troops at Christmas

Dec6

Check out this website: Books for Soldiers. You can send books and other materials to U.S. soldiers around the world by signing up at this website and following the instructions.

Operation Paperback is another organization that gives you an address to which you can send a box of books for soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Notes of thanks or holiday greetings for soldiers can be posted at this Department of Defense website.

AnySoldier.com gives addresses for soldier contacts requesting care packages. You can sign up to get one or more addresses and then send the care package with specific stuff that the soldiers have requested.

At HomefrontHugs USA you can adopt a service person for a six month committment and agree to “send 2 packages a month- they can be small…accompanied by 2 cards or letters.”

You can also sponsor a care package through the USO for $25.00.

The American Red Cross sponsors Holiday Mail for Heroes, but cards must be postmarked by tomorrow, December 7, 2009. Send cards to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Any of these would be a great Christmas project, and even if the package or card doesn’t get there until after Christmas, don’t you think it will be greatly appreciated?

Photo: U.S. Army Pfc. Harry Lewis reads a book between missions at a patrol base in As Sadah, Iraq, April 8, 2007. Lewis is from 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment (Airborne Recon), 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. JoAnn S. Makinano) (Released)