Among the best-loved Christmas carols today is O Come, All Ye Faithful. The original author, John Francis Wade, penned the opening line in Latin: “Adeste Fidelis, Laeti triumphantes,” which means something like “Be present, faithful, happy, triumphant ones.” A century later, an Anglican cleric, Frederick Oakeley translated it into English as “Ye Faithful, Approach Ye,”
Hugh Martin wrote “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” for Judy Garland to sing in the 1944 film Meet Me in St Louis. It wasn’t a happy time. The fate of the world hung in the balance: World War II raged in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Millions were dying in Nazi death camps.
Haul out the holly Put up the tree before my spirit falls again Fill up the stocking I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now For we need a little Christmas, right this very minute… American composer and lyricist Jerry Herman passed away three years ago this month, leaving behind many memorable
About fifteen years ago, my vision began to change. After having perfect “20/20” vision (or better) all my life, I discovered ‘my arms started getting shorter’ – I had to hold books a little further away for the print to come into focus. After a couple of years, I would put a book on the
Phil Congdon, NBBC, December 4, 2018 Christmas is a season anchored in history. The coming of Christ was first foretold the day Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3.15), at the dawn of creation, and through signs and revelation progressively came into focus throughout the Old Testament. The New Testament chronicled
Phil Congdon, NBBC, January 10, 2018 Joseph – A Love Story
Phil Congdon, NBBC, December 17, 2017 121717 Mary’s Christmas Song
