This program was a beautiful mixture of both the secular and sacred sides of Christmas. The program was begun with a medley of secular Christmas music; the only song mentioned was "White Christmas". Since this is the anniversary year of the movie, I could think of no better video clip than Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney!! I remember when the movie would be aired around the holiday. Mother and Daddy would have Grandma and Grandpa at our house so they could see it. They did not have a TV and WOULD NOT have one. They had their radio and love to read. Grandmother so enjoy the movie and especially the music.
It was no surprise to find that Grandma had "Twas the Night Before Christmas" read by a Mrs. L.B. Eubank. Grandma read that poem to me so many times, that I could a one time easily recite it as she read it to me. I was sadden to see that when I was looking to the poem on the net; all the sites I checked had become politically correct in the refusal to say "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.", and use "Happy Christmas to all. . .". How sad!! Anyway if you do not have it memorized, or need to check your memory as I would, click here.
Then Grandmother "switched gears" and began the beautiful sacred side of this program. She started it with "Mrs. Rice and Mrs. Snoddy playing a piano duet of "O Holy Night". Liberace was a favorite of Grandmother's; so when I found this clip, I thought it was perfect!
Next, Grandma had a "Prophecy Solo" sung by Mrs. Snoddy, "Unto Us A Child is Born" from Handel's Messiah. At a very early age I learned to appreciate and love classical music. The Messiah was a favorite of mine, because it was a favorite of Grandmother's. Not in a prideful way, but I so wished she could have lived to see me sing in the "Messiah" when I was college. That will always be a favorite memory of those days!
Of course no Christmas program would complete without the reading of the Scriptures. Mrs. J.E. Jones read Luke 2:1-20. (One of my favorite memories of this particular Scripture was when Kathryn was in 2nd grade and she had to memorize it. I so cherish the memories of helping her learn God's Word and hearing her little voice recite what she had learned that day in school at the supper table!) After Mrs.Jones reading of the Scripture, the club women sang "Silent Night". The first clip I am posting is "Stile Nacht" or "Silent Night" spoken in German. The reason for this is that Grandmother's parents were a young German couple who came to America for a better life. When Grandma's oldest sister, Amelia, was having trouble in school; because she did not understand the American language very well, Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma vowed to only speak German when the children were not around. The idea was a great idea. Their legacy was five children all who loved the Lord and did very well.
Mannheim Steamroller's recording of "Silent Night" has to be one of the most beautiful renditions of the song. I hope you will enjoy it!! It almost takes me back to the old upright piano of Grandmother's and listening to her play and knowing all was right in my world.
Please continue reading the next bog. Thanks!
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