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Showing posts with label carols. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carols. Show all posts

Saturday, 22 December 2018

O Holy Night



O Holy Night
original linocut Christmas card
by Teresa Newham



Some Christmas Carols remind us of times past, perhaps a favourite from childhood.  Others affect us more as we get older.  O Holy Night is one of those, for me.  I don't remember where exactly I first heard it, but we now sing it often at Christmas with the church choir, and it moves me deeply.  It takes me back to all those starlit nights I remember from my youth, looking up into the sky in wonder. That sense of wonder is what I've tried to convey in this year's Christmas card:



It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth. 
Long lay the world in sin and error pining. 
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. 
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, 
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. 
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! 
O night divine, the night when Christ was born; 
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine! 
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!   



There's a powerful message which builds throughout the song, so please do click on the lyrics to hear the choir of Kings College Cambridge sing the full version!


Wishing you all peace and joy this Christmas, and a blessed and Happy New Year.






Wednesday, 23 December 2015

How many Kings?

the adoration of the Magi
hand-pulled linocut Christmas card
© Teresa Newham


On this year's Christmas card I've chosen to depict the Three Kings - or Wise Men - or Magi, as they are often known.  Their story strictly speaking belongs to Epiphany (6th January), as Matthew's Gospel (the only Gospel in which they appear) does not state exactly when they made their journey - some commentators date their visit as late as two years after Jesus' birth.  

Originally I was going to call this little linocut The Three Kings.  This verse from The First Nowell gives a clue as to why I didn't :


The Three Kings also happens to be the name of one of my favourite pieces of Christmas music - a hybrid of two other pieces, Three Persian Kings from Lands Afar and  How Brightly Beams the Morning Star (click on the lyrics to listen to it).  It captures beautifully our response to the joy of our Saviour's birth:


May you and your loved ones have peace and joy this Christmas, and every blessing for the New Year.