Episode 26: Christmas 2025
For Christmas Day, instead of a new reflection, I want to read you something I wrote ten years ago. It’s a story about waiting—about how long God’s promises can feel, and how thin hope can wear.
Episode 25: Advent of Carols 25 - Joy to the World
A Christmas carol that starts like a cannon blast, “Joy to the World” releases all the build-up from Advent into an overwhelming chorus of joy.
Listen to the Carol
- BYU Combined Choirs and BYU Philharmonic - Joy to the World
- Mariah Carey - Joy to the World
- Soundiva Classical Choir - Joy to the World (a cappella)
- Mannheim Steamroller - Joy to the World (instrumental)
More Notes
Episode 24: Advent of Carols 24 - It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
A song that brings Advent anticipation into the present day, “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” refuses to rush us to Christmas morning.
Listen to the Carol
More Notes
Episode 23: Advent of Carols 23 - God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
The second Christmas carol to make us care about punctuation, “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen” is not about cheerful festivity but about eternal freedom from fear.
Listen to the Carol
- London Symphony Orchestra - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
- Barenaked Ladies - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings
- Mannheim Steamroller - God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (instrumental)
More Notes
Episode 22: Advent of Carols 22 - Go Tell It On the Mountain
“Go Tell It On the Mountain” brings the Great Commission right into the manger scene.
Listen to the Carol
- Dolly Parton - Go Tell It On the Mountain (verses 1 & 2)
- Francesca Battistelli - Go Tell It On the Mountain (verse 1 & 3)
More Notes
Episode 21: Advent of Carols 21 - Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Do You Hear What I Hear?
Two Christmas songs for children that make us ask how we respond to Christmas: “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (yes, really) and “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
Listen to the Songs
More Notes
Episode 20: Advent of Carols 20 - O Come, All Ye Faithful
A carol that, rather than telling the Christmas story, invites us into it, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” is an Advent pilgrimage.
Listen to the Carol
- King’s College Choir - O Come, All Ye Faithful
- Luciano Pavarotti - Adeste, Fideles
- Harpa Dei - Adeste, Fideles
More Notes
Episode 19: Advent of Carols 19 - We Three Kings
An Epiphany carol that gets two-thirds of its own title wrong, “We Three Kings” is nonetheless a mainstay of Christmas music and invites us to explore where our own ideas of Christmas come from.
Listen to the Carol
More Notes
Episode 18: Advent of Carols 18 - The First Noel
“The First Noël” speed-runs two different gospels, adds some confused astronomy, cultural imperialism, and some how finishes with Revelation, Creation, and the cross, all in one breath.
Listen to the Carol
More Notes
Episode 17: Advent of Carols 17 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
A Christmas carol that forces us to care about punctuation, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” tells us the story of all of history, gives a summary of the incarnation, summarizes an intense theology lesson, and presents the entire gospel all in one.
Listen to the Carol
More Notes
Episode 16: Advent of Carols 16 - Good Christian Friends, Rejoice! / He Is Born / Sing We Now of Christmas
Three Christmas carols about singing Christmas carols: “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice!”, “He Is Born”, and “Sing We Now of Christmas”.
Listen to the Songs
- Dominican Friars - Good Christian Men, Rejoice!
- King’s College Choir - In Dulci Jubilo (Pearsall)
- Lexi Walker - Il Est Né le Divin Enfant
- USC Thornton Chamber Singers - He Is Born
- The Prestonwood Choir & Singers & The London Symphonica - Sing We Now of Christmas
- New Irish Choir and Orchestra - Sing We Now of Christmas
More Notes
Episode 15: Advent of Carols 15 - Angels We Have Heard On High / Angels From the Realms of Glory
A Christmas carol double-header starring angels… many, many angels: “Angels We Have Heard On High” and “Angels From the Realms of Glory”.
Listen to the Songs
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Episode 14: Advent of Carols 14 - All I Want For Christmas Is You / Last Christmas / Santa Baby
Three pop Christmas classics—Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” and Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby”—become a surprisingly clear window into three Christmas postures: longing, heartbreak, and greed.
Listen to the Songs
More Notes
Episode 13: Advent of Carols 13 - What Child Is This?
A hymn that asks big questions and then helpfully answers them right in the text, “What Child Is This?” declares that this child is indeed Christ the King, even if it is set to Greensleeves.
Listen to the Carol
More Notes
Episode 12: Advent of Carols 12 - O Holy Night
A straightforward poem that turned into a French revolutionary anthem, “O Holy Night” is one of the greatest vocal showcases of Advent and also a rich, biblical, bold hymn.
Listen to the Carol
- King’s College Choir - O Holy Night (all verses)
- Chris Tomlin with CeCe Williams - O Holy Night (verses 1 and 3 only)
- Mariah Carey - O Holy Night (verse 1 only)
More Notes
Episode 11: Advent of Carols 11 - Silent Night
We visit “Silent Night”, the candlelit hymn usually reserved for Christmas Eve, and sit with its quiet picture of Bethlehem’s night—stars, shepherds, and the holy child—letting it invite us right into the story.
Listen to the Carol
Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Silent Night
More Notes
Episode 10: Advent of Carols 10 - Away In A Manger / Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
We turn to two almost-lullabies—“Away in a Manger” and “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”—simple cradle songs whose easy words and gentle melodies draw us into the humble, lowly nearness of God in a manger.
Listen to the Carol
More Notes
Episode 9: Advent of Carols 9 - O Little Town of Bethlehem
The Christmas carol version of Micah 5:2, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” puts us in the fields with the shepherds to see the movement of God not just in history but in us.
Listen to the Carol
- Elvis Presley - O Little Town of Bethlehem
- Elvis Presley & Karen Fairchild/Kimberly Schlapman - O Little Town of Bethlehem
More Notes
Episode 8: Advent of Carols 8 - Mary, Did You Know?
Originally written for a single church’s Christmas play, “Mary, Did You Know?” is one of the most-covered modern Christmas songs and one of the most deeply Scriptural.
Listen to the Carol
Pentatonix - Mary, Did You Know?
More Notes
Episode 7: Advent of Carols 7 - Hallelujah and Happy XMas (War Is Over)
Not every Christmas song is Christian—or even very Christmas. Today we look at two popular December tunes that don’t fit the season: Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and “Happy XMas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.