The Sounds of Christmas

By Roslyn Catracchia, Director of Worship

We’ve just finished the second Sunday of Advent. And if you’re not feeling a little lift in your step yet, and if you haven’t noticed your smile lingering a little longer these days, maybe it’s time to listen to some Christmas music!

I’ve never thought of myself as a DJ, but since this past Rooted session, I started doing something with my Rooted group that I had never done before – ending each meeting with a worship video of a song that I felt went with the message of the day. And today I want to do the same for you!

There’s something so special about Christmas music. One interesting thing is that we all have different tastes, so what I love might not be what you love. But I’m going to share the first song on my yearly Christmas Favorites playlist. It’s called “Appalachian Carol.” And if you click on this link below, you can listen to it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3VsB-BaGx4

Some of you may recognize it, if you’ve come to our Christmas services over the past years because I try to sneak it in each year as part of the pre-service music. I never ever get tired of it. Just like I never get tired of Silent Night, even though I must have sung it thousands of times in my life.

William Faulkner once wrote something like this (sorry if I got the wording wrong!):

“I would say that music is the easiest means in which to express, but since words are my talent, I must try to express clumsily in words what the pure music would have done better.”

Leo Tolstoy wrote, “Music is the shorthand of emotion.”

Billy Joel once said, “I think music in itself is healing.”

I agree with all three of them. If you enjoy Appalachian Carol, I encourage you to get the entire album called “Majestic Christmas” by Our Daily Bread. It’s instrumental music that is meant to enhance your quiet moments with God. For me it certainly does, and I hope that it fills your heart and brings that lift in your step or smile to your face!

DJ Roz signing out!

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of music. Please tune our hearts to sing Your praise and to lift our eyes toward Bethlehem. Amen.