By Ann Marie Eckert

I met a woman this summer who told me that she pulls out her Christmas CD's every year in July. She loves Christmas music and doesn't want to miss the joy that the music brings her. I thought she was a little crazy at the time. I just dug out my own Christmas music collection. I will spend the next few weeks singing with Bing Crosby, Julie Andrews, the Muppets, and lots of other current performers who have added their own twist to Christmas classics. Each familiar song reminds me of something—a person dear to me, an event in my life, a Christmas liturgy, etc. Maybe she was right to start earlier! Christmas music helps to ground me in the season of Advent—because I focus continuously on the birth of our Savior.

Some songs like Angels We Have Heard on High and Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella remind me of my high school choir years. I still take a certain pride in knowing the words and melodies to these songs. I remember singing at the choral concerts and lots of nursing homes. I am glad that these songs are a part of my life.

Other songs remind me of people and Christmas traditions. For years my family cut down our own Christmas tree on the property of an old family friend. I have such wonderful memories of tramping through the woods and snow, finding the perfect tree, struggling with the saw, and finally gathering with people I saw but once a year. We would circle around a piano and sing the songs that everyone knew: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, Silent Night, and lots of others.

I love the new "classics" like Mary, Did You Know? They center me in the most recent past—time spent with my nieces, family, and friends.

But the song I love the best is O Holy Night. In both words and music it centers Christmas exactly where it should be—on the birth of a Savior. I love the fact that it talks about the "soul rejoicing" and the "thrill of hope." What a great way to describe the feeling I get each year when I enter the Church on Christmas Eve. There is a joy to that celebration that is muted, and holy, and real. Most days I am only too aware that "long lay the world in sin and error pining," but each Christmas we get to celebrate again the birth of a Savior who will teach us again how to bring joy and peace to this "weary world."

"O Holy Night," and Luke's rendition of the Birth of Jesus (most often heard in my memory in the voice of Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas) are my most celebrated parts of the Christmas season.

"The angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid: for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)

I hope that you have good memories of Christmas' past. I hope you will take the time to relive those memories through cherished music, or shared stories, or visits with family and friends. Jesus comes to us again in a few short weeks. Let us prepare the way!

We pray...
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

Related Article:
The Shepherds and the Angels: Luke 2:8-20

Spirit Compass reflections are developed in partnership
with the Center for Ministry Development.