CHRISTMAS IS REAL

(A new Christmas hymn/song by Andrew Pratt, with music by Michael Lehr -
rather stronger than the title would suggest!)

 Listen to the MIDI file whilst browsing the music?
 (MIDI player for Internet Explorer and Netscape,
 try select for other browsers)

This is another new set of lyrics from Andrew (Christmas 2006)

Andrew originally suggested the hymn tune “Epiphany Song” for this (normally used for the hymn “Brightest and best of the sons of the morning”). I thought that that was not appropriate - far too upbeat. I suggested something in a folk style, which could be sung either congregationally or (more probably) as a solo on behalf of the congregation. He agreed, and this is where we have got to.

The main MIDI (above) is acommpanied (possibly too much), but an unaccompanied pure vocal line MIDI can be accessed here.

Download the sheet music and related midi files in “zipped” format(20kb)?

(

Words (by Andrew Pratt)

Christmas is real when the cost that we measure
reaches the manger and touches the skies,
shop fronts give way to divine revelation,
God is among us and selfishness dies.

Christmas is real when the gifts that are given
mirror the love of this God upon earth,
God who is known in self-giving and loving
crowning our poverty, coming to birth.

Christmas still echoed when screams of the children,
slaughtered by Herod inflamed people's fear.
Christmas remains when the trees and the tinsel
make way for news that we'd rather not hear.

Christmas is real when we enter the squalor
mirrored in Bethlehem so long ago;
off'ring the love that was seen in the Godhead,
total self-giving, not baubles and show.

© 2006 Lyrics: Andrew Pratt

Reflection Home Page

Back to List of Music