Carols From Beyond America

There  has been much conversation lately about the meaning of some songs that have become associated with the Christmas season.  That is, they are songs generally sung during the Thanksgiving and New Year's  holidays then not heard again for another 12 months.

Without assessing a viewpoint on a particular song, we agree it is good to frequently examine what we sing and what we say . Scripture reminds us to do so, especially teachings , spirits and ourselves.  Re-examination not only yields growth, it also deepens discoveries that yield fruit.  Those who lead music for Christian worship are regularly challenged to test the lyrics of newer songs for theological accuracy as well as singability.

 At the same time, we must often revisit beloved "traditional" songs to make certain we know what we're saying, and not just singing songs because "it's my favorite" without grasping the intent of the author or the rationale behind the song.  This is, perhaps, a reason for some of the conversations about holiday outside of church circles today.

Over a decade ago, KIT Ministries took such a journey, looking afresh at the lyrics and origins of songs associated with Christmas, and discovered fascinating and cathartic messages.  Exploring the Christmas songs -- notably the carols --  enables a careful listener to actually hear the gospel message of Christ:  from birth to death to resurrection to second Christmas yet-to-come.  This discovery enabled us to create a one-act play, "Carol Story," that consists solely of the lyrics of Christmas carols spoken as dialogue.

"Carol Story" has grown beyond our expectations and is now a requested holiday season presentation.  So much  so, we received a request for a companion piece for Easter.  While our "Carol Story" schedule for this year is filled, the stories associated with the songs are on-going.   So, in this space and in our social media outlets, we'll share some of the stories behind the 61 songs that are adapted for the scripts of "Carol Story" and "Carol Story: The Easter Edition."

LEARN MORE:  The Songs of Carol Story

LEARN MORE:  See "Carol Story" live

Feel free to look at the entire play list, then follow us for the daily video postings of some arrangements along with brief anecdotes.  We trust that through these two methods, the songs of Christmas that you sing with joy or just hear as background white noise while out and about, will have a deeper impact, a kingdom impact, to allow you to hear the Christ of Christmas at times you're least expecting.  Like, everyday.

​LEARN MORE:  The Carol Story and Carol Story Easter Edition Playlist

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From the Other Side of the Pond

Many of the songs we associate as Christmas songs, or as Christmas carols, originated in other nations.  As often occurs today, new songs were created by adapting fresh lyrics to standard tunes.  The process made the new tune singable more quickly.  Two well-known none Christmas examples are "America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)," whose tune is the British national anthem, "God Save The Queen;" and, the U.S. national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." That patriotic poem Francis Scott Key wrote during the War of 1812 was paired with a popular drinking song hailed in American pubs as if to thumb their noses at the British. 

The prelude to "Carol Story" demonstrates examples of this technique with brief samples of popular Christmas songs whose origins were folk songs on foreign shores.  One from England, one from France, one for Ukraine.

As a bonus, we  wish you a Merry Christmas in the spirit of Christmas today -- joy in His name -- not as the song was originally intended: as a sarcastic response from the poor to the rich, but a heartfelt sign for you to learn and share when the time is appropriate.

Greensleeves (England)

Shchedryk (Ukraine)

Minuit Christiens (France)

We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Signed)