End of the Sabbatical (?)

After several months of silence yours truly is back on The Concerned Church Musician web log.

To my readers, thank you for your patience as I have been ever so busy with work. In this modern American life I have had to work very hard to make up for lost time and try to pay off some bills. I still have a long ways to go and am hoping for a better paying job.

In the meantime, at this wonderful time of year, I am grateful for the traditional Christmas carols which ground me, comfort me, and inspire me. There is simply no match for their sincerity and eloquence. I think of carols such as "Angels We Have Heard on High," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," and "Once in Royal David's City."

In an article on contemporary worship in the latest magazine from the Fellowship of United Methodists (in Music and Worship Arts), the author extolled the virtues of using traditional carols at this time of year. Such advice did not completely surprise me, as what other kind of music would one use at this time of year?

As we reach out without dumbing down, as Marva Dawn advocates, let us remember the example of the great and timeless poetry of the Christmas carol, that wonderful category of Christian song.