And All That Jazz

Jazz is one of the art forms I don't get so much. I don't feel it like I should. But I get lots of other kinds of art, and a lot of them have been ones that have touched me and that I want to keep as I remember the feelings of Christmas this year.  Christmas comes with so many things, and I think it is because we as humans have myriads of ways to feel and remember.  Here are some of the things that have been speaking to me and helping me feel and remember Christmas this year:

VISUAL ART:

The Christ Child video, which is just real and beautiful, and Julie Vivas' illustrations in her nativity book.  Again, I like how she makes Joseph and Mary real and lovely in their realness.

And this ornament, by one of my favorite Kansas artists, Meg Knappenberger, is so pretty I bought it to be our ornament this year. The state motto for Kansas is "Ad Astra Per Apera", which in Latin means, "To the stars through adversity." I used to think that was wordy and lame for a state motto until my friend Alex really made me think about it.  It's actually wonderful.  It's actually why we are here on earth, and a succinct summary of the plan of salvation. I love it especially as a Christmas ornament, because Christ is the way through.  He is how we are going to make it.

POETRY:
This poem, by one of Eliza's law professors, Justin Collings, has stuck with me since I read it last year and I want to keep it.

NATIVITY

Wake, ye shepherds, swift, arise!
Hark, ye sages, learned, wise;
Shout, ye heralds of the skies!
Come to Bethlehem.

Haste, ye faithful, near and far!
Mark yon brilliant, newborn star!
Heaven hurls her gates ajar
Over Bethlehem.

Angels in their sacred choir--
Eyes aflame and tongues afire--
Greet the nations' sweet Desire,
Born in Bethlehem.

No room there--the inns filled, all;
No resplendent monarch's hall,
Only this crude cattle stall
In lonely Bethlehem.

Tiny in this manger laid--
Hands that very worlds have made;
Hands that stars have rich arrayed--
Grasp a mother's thumb.

Wrapped within this makeshift bed--
Feet, that as the prophets said--
Feet to crush the serpent's head,
Nestle in the straw.

Hail the Virgin, meek and mild!
Hail her sovereign, sacred Child--
Holy, harmless, undefiled--
True man, yet very God!

SONG: Two songs that our ward choir sang made me cry every time.  The first because it is an invitation to Christ to come to us.  In Revelations, we read that he is knocking at the door, and it is up to us to let us in. I love how the verses reflect three ways and times he can come to us.  The second song I loved because the line, "beautiful child who dispels all our darkness" just speaks to me. That is why we come to Christ, to overcome the darkness and bad in the world and in us.

Come, Lord Jesus (Ensign)

Music from the Ensign

1. Come, Lord Jesus, to the manger;
May we see thy tender face?
Great Creator, here a stranger,
Infant in this humble place.
Darkness scatter, morning swell;
Come, dear Lord Immanuel.
Come, Lord Jesus, to the manger;
Come, Lord Jesus, come!

2. Come, Lord Jesus, to the wounded,
Broken heart and bended knee.
Worthy Lamb, thy love unbounded,
Bid our souls to rest in Thee.
Come in glory to the earth;
Come to us to rule and reign.
Ready us to kneel and greet thee;
Come, Lord Jesus, come!

3. Come, Lord Jesus, great Redeemer,
Light of morning from the East.
We will be Thy children ever;
Dry our tears, all weeping cease!
Come in glory to the earth;
Come to us to rule and reign.
Ready us to kneel and greet thee;
Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Text:  David Zabriskie

Music:  David Zabriskie

Artist:  Zabriskie

Album:  Music Published in the Church Magazines: Ensign

Born Is the Light of the World (Accompaniment Track)

Sally DeFord

Beautiful child all aglow in the candlelight
See how he sleeps in a poor manger bed
Beautiful child! How the heavens adorn him
Starlight of silver
And halo of gold 'round his head

Gloria! Gloria!
Angels on high are singing all, "Gloria!"
Let earth in reply sing "Gloria!
Gloria in excelsis deo!"
In the dark of the night
Born is the Light of the world

Beautiful child in the arms of his mother
Come see how his radiance shines in her face
Beautiful child who dispels all our darkness
Bright in his glory
Alight with the Father's own grace

Gloria! Gloria!
Angels on high are singing all, "Gloria!"
Let earth in reply sing "Gloria!
Gloria in excelsis deo!"
In the dark of the night
Born is the Light of the world

Gloria! Gloria!
Angels on high are singing all, "Gloria!"
Let earth in reply sing "Gloria!
Gloria in excelsis deo!"
In the dark of the night
Born is the Light of the world.
Born is the Light of the world