A Christmas Carol

Quotes and Reflections

A while ago, someone contributed a piece here about music or singing in a choir; I pondered whether I might submit my own attempt at a song one day. Here is that song and its story.

Back in 1992, at the suggestion of a composer friend, I wrote the carol below. The following year, he had set the words to music and led our village choir to sing it during the candlelit village carol service. This year, surprised at how long ago I’d written them, I sent the lyrics to our village newsletter for the December edition. (An acquaintance stopped me in the street the other day to say how much she liked them – that was a treat!)

There are many common themes in the carols of different Christian churches. I’d wanted to get some New Church ideas of what Christmas is about out into my part of the world, so anyone with an open heart might recognize whatever truth I managed to encompass in the words. It needed to be fairly short. It needed to touch on some of those common themes, but in a new way. I wanted to sow little seeds of New Church thought without being obvious about it. And I wanted it to feel positive. So with that in mind, do you think I accomplished what I’d hoped to?

At Christmas, at Christmas do we really know
Why the celebrations give us such a glow?
Can we sense the angels joining earth to heaven?
Have we understood yet why this gift was given?
Let us learn a lesson from that tiny boy – innocence and wonder open us to joy.

At Christmas, at Christmas God came to the world.
Quietly, in darkness, wonderment unfurled.
Lowly manger baby, Jesus – gift of gold –
Brought his love to guide us safely to his fold.
Let us learn a lesson from that tiny boy – innocence and wonder open us to joy.

At Christmas, at Christmas life can start anew
If we change the pattern seen in what we do.
Show good will, and cherish those we come to know.
Nurture love for others – heaven’s peace will grow.
Let us learn a lesson from that tiny boy – innocence and wonder open us to joy.

About Dale Morris

Dale grew up in Bryn Athyn. She moved to England as a young bride with her British husband. They raised their four children in the Cotswold village where they’ve lived for over 40 years. Dale fulfilled her childhood ambition to be a wife and mother, and when she finally discovered what else she wanted to be ‘when she grew up’, she spent ten years as a freelance proofreader. In retirement, she enjoys being a grandma, being involved in her community, and helping the church in the UK.

4 thoughts on “A Christmas Carol”

  2. How lovely, Dale. Your lyrics bring the wonder of the birth of the little baby, Jesus, as God our Saviour, to hearts and minds. This miracle means more to me the older I get, which is why I am so gratified to hear the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Great I AM, coming into the world in the song, “Mary, Did You Know?” Somehow a profound understanding of the miracle of the Word made Flesh is being powerfully acknowledged through song. Thanks for sharing your lyrics. I’d love to hear the music as well.

  3. Yay, Dale! Way to go!! 🙂 I love it when New Church folk get out there and sew the seeds of universal truths, in little ways that will hopefully grab *someone’s* attention. -Has your village choir’s performance been recorded, at all?? Is it on Youtube somewhere, that you could share with us a link??

    I applaud and thank you for doing this. Little bit by little bit…. It makes a difference! xx

    1. Thank you Jenn, your supportive words make me feel I DID accomplish what I’d hoped, even though you’re already familiar with New Church ideas. Unfortunately, the performance was not recorded, so is not on YouTube – the people there just had to ‘be in the moment’. It was special.
      I’m not technically savvy enough to know how to post the music – but feel free, anyone, to write another melody!

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