The holiday season is upon us. Christmas trees and twinkling lights line the streets, and holiday themed food items line the shelves at every grocery store. As the world around us dives head first into the season of lights and festive music, the church proclaims a different season. A liturgical season. A season of watching, waiting, reflection, and preparation.
We know it’s hard to wait for the favorite, familiar hymns of Christmastide, as Hal Drumheller reflects on here:
Growing up, nothing took as long as Christmas. Only two things seemed to speed Christmas up: the lighting of the Advent Candles – when will we ever light that white one? – and singing Christmas songs. I never missed an Advent Sunday growing up. I just loved singing the classic Christmas songs. Being named Harold, I smiled when singing “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” I loved the different rhythms of “We, Three Kings.” I can’t sing a full octave so “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” was one I could croak out without my voice cracking.