As you might know if you've stuck around here for a few years (and shame to the THREE unfollowers in the last 2 days- that's not in the Christmas spirit!), I always write a Christmas song for the kids at school. It is my plan after 10 years to have a complete nativity set of songs. To try and keep it interesting, I've tried to write each one in a different style and match somehow, a song that the children have loved at school.
Last year, they loved a song in which we sang two overlapping Christmas songs, one of which was sung to the song of 'Oh My dear Augustin' and I wanted to create a song this year that would do that- it would have two parts to it that could be sung simultaneously to produce harmony.
I wanted a song that would introduce all the people and characters in the Christmas story that would come at the very start of the nativity.
Back two thousand years ago, it all began/
Life was hard and Israel waited in pain.
Romans they ruled the world, when would the tide turn?
Waiting for someone whom their hopes would discern.
Come! Come! Join in our story!
Sing! Sing! Share in our joy!
Don't worry who you are there's room for all!
The message is hope and love and letting all difference fall.
Mary and a Carpenter start off our news.
Angels sent from God above shared their views.
Innkeepers, cattle sheds, all played their part.
Also was Caesar whose Census was the start.
Come! Come! Join in our story!
Sing! Sing! Share in our joy!
Don't worry who you are there's room for all!
The message is hope and love and letting all difference fall.
Wise men from the Eastern lands, bright shining stars.
Then there was an angry king, murderous at heart.
Next lowly shepherds scared by angels in the sky.
And finally a baby, did he come from on high?
Come! Come! Join in our story!
Sing! Sing! Share in our joy!
Don't worry who you are there's room for all!
The message is hope and love and letting all difference fall.
Back two thousand years ago, it all began/
Life was hard and Israel waited in pain.
Romans they ruled the world, when would the tide turn?
Waiting for someone whom their hopes would discern.
Come!
Sing!
Join
our
Song.
(Lyrics and music by me, (c) KAG 2015)
It was interesting as I was planning to blog about this today and then when I got to church this morning, it was the DIY Nativity. Anyone who wanted to take part was called to come up and grab a costume and join in.
![]()
We started with an empty nativity set. One by one, the teenager reading called a character up, starting from Mary and some angels. After someone was added, he'd act as if that was it until the Youth worker would cough loudly and say that something was still missing. I ended up as a shepherd(ess) (I always want to be a sheep...). Did some comedy acting and bahing which I think slightly freaked out the teenager I was acting with (get into the role my dear!) .
We finally got to the end with the wise men there. Something was still missing.
A Star wars outfit,advent calendar, box of quality street, ballet dancer,Father Christmas and Mrs Christmas and various other Christmas items were added.
Finally, we realised that what was missing was baby Jesus.
The point was, all the other stuff is great but if we are missing the Baby Jesus from it, it's missing the centre, the light, the hope. The candle remains unlit.
![]()
My song and this impromptu play try to show there is a role for everyone in Christmas. We are all welcome to join in the story in our way, there's always room for us all. But I don't want to forget Jesus.
xxx
Last year, they loved a song in which we sang two overlapping Christmas songs, one of which was sung to the song of 'Oh My dear Augustin' and I wanted to create a song this year that would do that- it would have two parts to it that could be sung simultaneously to produce harmony.
I wanted a song that would introduce all the people and characters in the Christmas story that would come at the very start of the nativity.
Back two thousand years ago, it all began/
Life was hard and Israel waited in pain.
Romans they ruled the world, when would the tide turn?
Waiting for someone whom their hopes would discern.
Come! Come! Join in our story!
Sing! Sing! Share in our joy!
Don't worry who you are there's room for all!
The message is hope and love and letting all difference fall.
Mary and a Carpenter start off our news.
Angels sent from God above shared their views.
Innkeepers, cattle sheds, all played their part.
Also was Caesar whose Census was the start.
Come! Come! Join in our story!
Sing! Sing! Share in our joy!
Don't worry who you are there's room for all!
The message is hope and love and letting all difference fall.
Wise men from the Eastern lands, bright shining stars.
Then there was an angry king, murderous at heart.
Next lowly shepherds scared by angels in the sky.
And finally a baby, did he come from on high?
Come! Come! Join in our story!
Sing! Sing! Share in our joy!
Don't worry who you are there's room for all!
The message is hope and love and letting all difference fall.
Back two thousand years ago, it all began/
Life was hard and Israel waited in pain.
Romans they ruled the world, when would the tide turn?
Waiting for someone whom their hopes would discern.
Come!
Sing!
Join
our
Song.
(Lyrics and music by me, (c) KAG 2015)
It was interesting as I was planning to blog about this today and then when I got to church this morning, it was the DIY Nativity. Anyone who wanted to take part was called to come up and grab a costume and join in.
We started with an empty nativity set. One by one, the teenager reading called a character up, starting from Mary and some angels. After someone was added, he'd act as if that was it until the Youth worker would cough loudly and say that something was still missing. I ended up as a shepherd(ess) (I always want to be a sheep...). Did some comedy acting and bahing which I think slightly freaked out the teenager I was acting with (get into the role my dear!) .
We finally got to the end with the wise men there. Something was still missing.
A Star wars outfit,advent calendar, box of quality street, ballet dancer,Father Christmas and Mrs Christmas and various other Christmas items were added.
Finally, we realised that what was missing was baby Jesus.
The point was, all the other stuff is great but if we are missing the Baby Jesus from it, it's missing the centre, the light, the hope. The candle remains unlit.
My song and this impromptu play try to show there is a role for everyone in Christmas. We are all welcome to join in the story in our way, there's always room for us all. But I don't want to forget Jesus.
xxx