Today, 12/20/16, is the 24th day of Advent! I hope you will enjoy going caroling with us in this delightful Christmas village of yesteryear!
Open the Window today and what do you see? Ah! Yes! We are going caroling! There is nothing I can think of that evokes more pleasant Christmas memories than going caroling with our church friends and family ~ and don't you just love this vintage caroling book? I discovered a real treasure trove of these old familiar caroling booklets in the bench of the organ that came from my parent's home. Some of them go back to my childhood and beyond...
Those of you who grew up with me will recognize the advertisement on the back of this caroling book...from the Bank of Tavares...which used to be the only bank in our little town back in the day...the kind of bank where everyone knew you by name...and the tellers and bankers went to church with you and their kids were your friends and school-mates. Ah! yes...such memories!
Sing along with me as we ride along in our "one-horse open sleigh!"
I hope you are enjoying this caroling experience as much as I am! It's a shame that more people don't actually go out caroling anymore, from door to door, house to house...and get invited in by the grateful people to have a cup of hot cocoa and some Christmas cookies, or some Christmas wassail and fruitcake...as our little group warms up by the fire while visiting with the people and having such a merry time together...
And then it seems that we always close our little concert with:
"Silent Night, Holy Night,
All is calm, all is bright,
'Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace..."
followed by a joyful chorus of:
as we gaily dance out the door and onto our next place to start all over again!
What a wonderful way to continue to prepare our hearts for the Advent of the KING!
"Rejoice! Rejoice!
Immanuel
shall come to thee,
O Israel!"
"There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon HIM,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of
the fear of the LORD.
His delight is in the fear of the LORD,
and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,
Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
But with RIGHTEOUSNESS He shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
He shall strike the earth with
the rod of His mouth,
and with the breath of His lips
He shall slay the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the
belt of His loins,
and FAITHFULNESS the
belt of His waist."
Isaiah 11:1-5
"And in that day there shall be
a Root of Jesse,
Who shall stand as a banner to the people;
For the Gentiles shall seek Him,
And His resting place shall be
glorious."
Isaiah 11:10
I hope this little caroling adventure has brightened your day! Perhaps it will inspire you to actually go out and do some caroling for real! I am sure there are people around you or in the local nursing homes, hospitals or retirement homes who would love to hear some Christmas carols. So gather up some of your friends and go out and cheer someone up today!
Merry Christmas!
These vintage Christmas carol booklets and illustrations are lovely, and by "vintage" I mean when I was growing up LOL. I am giving away 2 copies of my Christmas book, hardcover and pretty, at my blog http://terragarden.blogspot.com and my co-author is giving away a copy at our book's very own blog at http://scrapbookofchristmasfirsts.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThat blog has hundreds of posts with Christmas ideas, recipes, gift making, etc.
Thank you Terra! I will check out your Christmas book! Can't wait to see. Yes, I am quite "vintage" myself! But those were such happy days! So thankful to have had such a childhood.
DeleteMerry Christmas to you and yours! "God bless us one and all!"
Hi Pam! What a lovely vintage caroling book! I do remember going out singing in the cold with my sisters. We were such hams! And my daughter had several Christmas parties as a pre-teen, and caroling was always a part of them. It's so much fun, and it's always enjoyed by the people in the houses we would visit.
ReplyDeleteSpreading the love and joy of the season that way might be frowned on more these days because of 'political correctness'. Don't want to inflict our faith on others, that kind of thing. But I sure never saw any of that in my day. I hope that's not true.
Thank you for reminding me of those fun times!
Ceil
Yes, it is a shame that "political correctness" has led to a lack of joy in the season for many. But I am one that likes to let the light of Jesus shine wherever I am, in one way or another. I am not an "in your face" kind of person, but hopefully an "in your heart" kind...that shares love and then lets Jesus do the rest. There is so much need for this kind of hope and joy today. So many lonely and sad people out there who need to be reminded that Jesus came for them too. Thank you for your thoughts and insights. It is a good reminder to us to be faithful no matter what!
DeleteHi Pam! I also enjoyed looking at your vintage caroling books--I think I may have at least one in my piano bench. Even though, I haven't been caroling in years, I have fond memories--never know what type of weather will await you when caroling in Iowa! :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Kim
Some people go caroling in the nursing homes and assisted living facilities, or even in a hospital if permitted. That way you don't have to be out in the weather while caroling! And the folks in those locations are always delighted by such a wonderful gesture!
DeleteBeautiful post Pamela. Brought back memories of my childhood coming out of church Christmas Eve after Midnight Mass and caroling all the way home with my siblings and parents. Thank you for sharing. Have a day of blessings my friend.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad this invoked some happy memories for you. We often did this with our church groups and it was always such a fun experience...and the people we sang to were always so appreciative. I miss doing that!
DeleteWe routinely went caroling when I was growing up and I took my children, too, when they were young. It's such a fun thing to do; not time now to squeeze it in before Christmas, but I'll hang onto that thought for next year.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Pamela!
Yes, I think it is something that needs to be revisited. There are so many elderly folk/shut ins and lonely people in their homes who would love to hear some carolers. I miss doing it and wish we'd thought of it sooner too! Maybe next year!
DeleteThanks for sharing this again, Pam. Caroling was so much fun, even in cold and snowy weather. I've also gone caroling at nursing homes/assisted living places. Due to a variety of factors I haven't gone caroling in years.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!