Sing praises to our heav'nly Lord
That hath made heav'n and earth of naught
And with His blood mankind hath bought
Noel!
My junior year of high school we sang The First Nowell arranged by Mack Wilberg and it had a third verse which I'd never seen before anywhere. I didn't think much of it.
Later that Christmas season our Chamber Choir (Legacy) sang at the Church Administration Building, which we had been invited to a few months earlier and had been eagerly anticipating the opportunity. Of course we were all hoping to see Apostles and President Hinckley but most of the morning was Mormon celebrity free. Then we began to sing this song which I always loved. Between the second and third verses there is a musical interlude which our choir director Mr. Anderson played beautifully and as the chords swelled the mood in the room completely changed. The prophet was there. We didn't see him, but we knew he was there.
In fact, we couldn't even see him until the end of the song. He stayed in the doorway while we sang. I noticed him out of the corner of my eye but refused to look over for fear of crying. It was then that I listened to these words for the first time. I realized that the first two verses were lovely, but this third verse, for me, is what cements them in importance and beauty.
Ever since then this has become my favorite Christmas carol, but I always feel unfinished without this verse. But I ponder on its words often. And this Christmas, with this amazing holiday falling on a Sunday, I have thought about them even more. I am realizing that I wish Christmas was on Sunday every year. I have forgotten about the worship component attached. I am realizing that remembering Christ and worshiping Him are not always the same. Perhaps I'll pretend every Christmas is Sunday from now on.
But I'll still include MoTab. :)
Merry Christmas.
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