First of all, Merry Christmas to all of you! I am beyond thrilled to dive into some of my all-time favorite Christmas carols, especially when I get to sing them with my favorite duet partner.

I firmly stand by the belief that God doesn't let anything go to waste - not our pain, not our scars, not even our stumbles. This truth resonates deep within me. Christmas, a time that should be filled with joy, can often stir up feelings of sadness or stress for many. It's a season where loneliness, financial strain, and life's challenges can cast a shadow. I believe this stems from a collective forgetfulness of the true reason for this festive season: the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Melinda and I have always emphasized the significance of celebrating Christmas as the day Jesus entered the world. We instilled this value in our children and crafted numerous family traditions around this core belief. In 2004, we embarked on a musical journey by recording the Jernigan Family Christmas album, a testament to our devotion. I aimed to blend traditional Christmas carols with my own compositions, pouring our hearts into every note.

Among the gems on this album is a medley featuring three beloved carols: "O, Come All Ye Faithful," "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," and "O, Little Town of Bethlehem." And who better to harmonize with than my lifelong singing partner, my wife Melinda? Her voice is pure magic to my ears, and the unity we share while singing fills me with boundless joy. But before we serenade you with this medley, let's take a quick trip down memory lane to explore the rich history of each timeless song.

The hymn "O Come All Ye Faithful" (Adeste Fideles) has seen its authorship attributed to various figures over time, from St. Bonaventure in the 13th century to King John IV of Portugal in the 17th. However, the prevalent belief points to the text originating from Cistercian monks, with different provinces of this order in Germany, Portugal, or Spain receiving credit at different periods.

In contemporary hymnals, the credit for the text often goes to John Francis Wade, whose name is linked to the earliest printed versions. Wade, an English Catholic residing in France as an exile, earned a living by copying musical manuscripts found in libraries. His exquisite calligraphy likely prompted clients to request his signature on the copies he produced. In 1751, he compiled his manuscript copies into a printed work titled Cantus Diversi pro Dominicis et Festis per annum (Songs for Sundays and Holidays Through the Year), marking the first printed source for Adeste Fideles.

On the other hand, the iconic hymn "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" traces back to Charles Wesley, who penned it as a "Hymn for Christmas-Day" included in the 1739 collection Hymns and Sacred Poems by John Wesley. The initial stanza heralds the birth of Jesus, with Wesley's original composition commencing with the line "Hark how all the Welkin (heaven) rings." It was the adaptation by George Whitefield in his 1754 Collection of Hymns for Social Worship that transformed it into the familiar "Hark! the Herald Angels sing." Another alteration occurred in the 1782 publication of the Tate and Brady New Version of the Psalms of David, where Whitefield's version with the repeated line "Hark! the Herald Angels sing/ Glory to the newborn king" at the end of each stanza emerged, shaping the rendition we commonly hear today.

Wrapping up our festive hymn journey, we arrive at the enchanting tale behind "O Little Town of Bethlehem." Crafted from an 1868 text penned by Phillips Brooks, this carol has captured hearts on both sides of the Atlantic, albeit set to different melodies. In the United States, it dances to the tune christened "St. Louis" by Brooks' creative partner, Lewis Redner. Meanwhile, across the pond in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ireland, it finds harmony with "Forest Green," a melody unearthed by Ralph Vaughan Williams and introduced in the 1906 English Hymnal.

The lyrical beauty of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" unfolded from the mind of Phillips Brooks (1835–1893), an Episcopal priest who served as the rector of Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia before leading Trinity Church in Boston. His inspiration for the carol struck during a visit to the Bethlehem village within the Sanjak of Jerusalem in 1865. Three years after this profound encounter, he penned the poem for his congregation, with his talented organist Lewis Redner (1831–1908) weaving in the music.

And now, for a delightful anecdote straight from the pen of organist Lewis Redner himself. Prepare to be inspired by his words as he sheds light on the creative spark behind this cherished carol.

“As Christmas of 1868 approached, Mr. Brooks told me that he had written a simple little carol for the Christmas Sunday-school service, and he asked me to write the tune to it. The simple music was written in great haste and under great pressure. We were to practice it on the following Sunday. Mr. Brooks came to me on Friday, and said, "Redner, have you ground out that music yet to 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'?" I replied, "No", but that he should have it by Sunday. On the Saturday night previous my brain was all confused about the tune. I thought more about my Sunday-school lesson than I did about the music. But I was roused from sleep late in the night hearing an angel-strain whispering in my ear, and seizing a piece of music paper I jotted down the treble of the tune as we now have it, and on Sunday morning before going to church I filled in the harmony. Neither Mr. Brooks nor I ever thought the carol or the music to it would live beyond that Christmas of 1868.”

That is amazing to me that the writers of this beloved Carol never thought it would live beyond that Christmas of 1868. Simply amazing.

I love sharing the stories behind songs and hymns. It's like getting to hear them come to life. And I hope you have enjoyed the little glimpse behind the scenes of these beloved Christmas carols and that they would help enhance your times of personal worship in the coming holidays.

Why don't we take some time now and sing these three beautiful carols and take our minds off of the cares of this world and fix our eyes upon the reason for the season, Jesus Christ. You will find the link to hear the medley below.

Have a most blessed Christmas in spite of your circumstances. Jesus is God With Us in the midst of those circumstances. If you ask me, that makes for a very merry Christmas. Now go and be who Father says you are.

Dennis Jernigan

To hear The Dennis Jernigan Podcast version of today’s blog and to sing along, go to https://www.patreon.com/posts/carol-medley-118102280

Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/11/27/19/51/religion-3842228_1280.jpg