I have a pile of new Christmas music on my office shelf. It is 98 degrees outside and the humidity makes it feel 104. Somehow this isn't very conducive to "hearing angels on high". However, one thing you need to know about me is that when it comes to Christmas, I am still such a "kid". Right next to my computer screen I have a small pewter Nativity scene and on a shelf to my left side I have another larger, more traditional manger scene. On another shelf is my Santa mug and on one wall is a small watercolor of Santa with the phrase, "I Still Believe". Next to it are two Terry Redlin Christmas prints titled "Heading Home" and "The Sharing Season". So there, I'm out of the closet. I am a 356-day-of-the-year-Christmas-celebrator. I can hear the Bud commercial now, "Hey 356-day-of-the-year-Christmas-celebrator man..."
So why am I working through the pile of Christmas music now? As of today, July 25th, Christmas is only 153 days from now. Since we do a couple of Christmas concerts and programs earlier than Christmas Day in December, we need to begin rehearsals and preparations in early September. I must admit that even though "the weather outside is frightful" (hot and humid) and there is no "fire is so delightful" inside, I love this process. I am still intrigued by the Christmas story. I love re-reading the various accounts in the New Testament and trying to put myself into the story, to fill in the blanks that the Gospel writers do not cover. Christ coming to earth was indeed the greatest gift to us, and somehow again this year, I want to make sure that whatever we do to share the story, people who have never received this greatest gift, come into contact with Christ. So, another CD goes into my player and here we go..."Son of God, purest Light, Lord on high is here tonight..."
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