Advent includes many wonderful opportunities - and yesterday was one of mine! I sing with a small group of friends. Both last year and this year we were invited to lead Christmas Carols for the PrimeTimers (over 60 group) at my church. Both years the organizers for the group have titled this event Cookies & Carols. Singing with this group is - as I refer to it - my candy!
The pianist, bass player, alto and I all went to college together at what is now Northwest University in Kirkland, WA (in the 1960's when we were in school it was Northwest College); and our guitar player is a brother-in-law to the bass player, and a dear friend to all of us. It is pure joy to get to sing together now - with all of us over 75 years of age! (Out of the group three of us were 78 in 2023.)
We also have had the joy of being joined by a lovely girl who is a high school Senior this year (who just happens to be the daughter of the Senior Pastor of the church.) She performs on the piano doing both our pre-service and post-service music, as well as performing one special piano piece at the beginning of our official program; and we had 4 violinists - a mother and her 2 young sons, and another very talented lady. Truly we have a lot of fun doing it, and the audience participation is an added joy.
Our teenage young woman started the program with a piano solo, followed by two songs on violin by the 2 young boys and their mother.
Our vocal musical selections included the following songs:
Jingle Bells
Let it Snow
White Christmas
(Both Let it Snow and White Christmas were written by Jewish men.)
(Transition between secular and sacred was an amazing piano solo by our very accomplished pianist for the group, then:)
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
Angels From The Realms of Glory
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
(Two beautiful duets by our 2 lady violinists, then:)
Joy To The World
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Away In A Manger
Silent Night (first verse sung with guitar accompaniment only)
(Then a lovely solo by our alto, titled KING OF GLORY,) followed by all of us joining her at the end with the chorus, Bow Down And Worship Him
(We ended with a worship segment, singing:)
O Come Let Us Adore Him; For He Alone Is Worthy; We'll Give You All The Glory
We Exalt Thee
Holy Lord, Most Holy Lord
He Is Exalted
Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus (Something About That Name)
Agnus Dei (with a violin solo intro then both piano and violin playing with the vocalists throughout the song.
A reprise of the chorus of O Come Let Us Adore Him
and, finally, WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
It was delightful!
The Lord was honored, hearts were lifted, and we got to be part of the joy of creating that atmosphere! A sweet day!
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