A thick December sky settled low and damp in tree tops all over town, and the St. Olaf Col-lege Christmas Festival Sunday afternoon con-cert had not yet begun when a young girl, about eight or nine I suppose, came skipping down the sidewalk, undaunted by the melancholy weather around her. In spite of enough gloom and overcast skies to leave grown-ups shivering and retreating deeper into their sweaters and coats, the skipping child seemed to fi nd the world quite lovable. She was pleased to be alive in it. Christmas is like that girl; the world is like the weather.

I don’t have to remind you just how overcast and threatening the world can be. It has had enough pain-ful, frightening episodes in recent weeks and months to stifl e the hope of even stubborn optimists. Clouds of fear, suspicion and hatred feel thick and ominous as this year comes to an end. In his poem, “Fire and Ice,” Robert Frost suggests that the heat of desire is strong enough to destroy the world ...

But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffi ce.

In the midst of the world’s threatening chill a little girl skips down the sidewalk, her shining hair splashing on the collar of her red jacket, a smile lighting her face. It is Christmas.

Part of the enduring and endearing quality of Christ-mas music surely is its ability to deal honestly with the world’s overcast news and, at the same time, its “good

news of great joy.” When the Christmas Festival con-cert got underway that day, the singers began not with shouts of glee, but with these words from a contem-porary American hymn, “Unexpected and mysterious is the gentle word of grace.” Like the child skipping, it was just right. The melody was not full of sunshine and blue sky, it was music one might hear sighing through the bare branches of those trees caught in lay-ers of December gloom. But the words were words of hope and peace. The hymn continued, “If we falter in our courage and we doubt what we have known, God is faithful to console us as a mother tends her own.” The deep longing of the world and the profound hope-fulness of Christmas, expressed together in one hymn.

It is that way with so much Christmas music — melodies tender and gentle enough to touch a bruised and aching world, and words that help heal, words that skip along, dressed in red jackets on a grey day. A bit later in the concert the choir sang, “Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” Hopes and fears meet in the little town of Bethlehem, and in so much Christmas music.

There is plenty to fear as we head into a new year that looks ominously similar to the old one, but we at Sing For Joy do not want fear to be all you meet on the streets of your life. May the world’s fear, and your own, be met with the hope and peace of Christmas.

Peace be with you,

“The enduring and endearing quality of Christmas music is its ability to deal honestly with the world’s overcast news

and, at the same time, its ‘good news of great joy.’”

by Pastor Bruce Benson, host

Grand MusicGracious Word

Sing For Joy® is a production of St. Olaf College. JANUARY 2016 / YEAR C

JANUARY 3, 2016Second Sunday of Christmas (Year C)

(1R) Jeremiah 31:7–14 or Sirach 24:1–12(PS) Psalm 147:12–20 or Wisdom of Solomon 10:15–21(2R) Ephesians 1:3–14(G) John 1:(1–9), 10–18(E) Epiphany of Our Lord

O Come, All Ye Faithful (ADESTE FIDELES) – John F. Wade / John F. Wade, lyricist / John Rutter, arranger / Sir David Willcocks, arranger / John Hotchkis, arranger (G) Plymouth Choir, First-Plymouth Congregational Church: Lincoln, NE / Plymouth Brass, First-Plymouth Congregational Church: Lincoln, NE, ensemble / Tom Trenney (CD) Carols from First Plymouth / FIRST PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH / © 2014 First Plymouth Congregational Church fi rstplymouth.org

Gaudete: Now the Word Becomes the Flesh – Piae Cantiones / Anders Öhrwall, arranger (G) Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum: Omaha, NE / Almeda Berkey (CD) Gaudete / SDG RECORDS / SDGCD 91 © 1991 SDG Records

Peace, Peace – Gustaf Nordqvist / Norman Luboff, lyricist (E) The Choir of Trinity College: Cambridge, United Kingdom / Bethany Partridge, soprano / Stephen Layton (CD) Yulefest! / HYPERION / CDA68087 © 2015 Hyperion, Hyperion Records Limited hyperion-records.co.uk

Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day – English Traditional / English Traditional, lyricist / Sir David Willcocks, arranger (1R) The Cambridge Singers / John Rutter (CD) Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity / COLLEGIUM RECORDS / COLCD 106 © 1987 Collegium Records, Naxos of America, Inc. collegium.co.uk

Hodie: Ring Out, Ye Crystal Spheres – Ralph Vaughan Williams / John Milton, lyricist (G) Massed Choirs of St. Olaf College: Northfi eld, MN / The St. Olaf Orchestra / Anton Armstrong (CD) Rejoice, Give Thanks, and Sing / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-3404/05 © 2011 St. Olaf Records stolafrecords.com

JANUARY 10, 2016Baptism of our Lord — Lectionary 1 (Year C)

(1R) Isaiah 43:1–7(PS) Psalm 29(2R) Acts 8:14–17(G) Luke 3:15–17, 21–22

The Baptism of Christ – John Weaver (G) Choir of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church: New York, NY / John Weaver (CD) The Music of John Weaver / JAV RECORDINGS / JAV 157 © 2005 JAV Recordings pipe-organ-recordings.com

Baptism of Christ – Peter Hallock (G) Saint Mark’s Cathedral Choir: Seattle, WA / J. Melvin Butler (CD) How Brightly Shines the Morning Star: Music for Epiphany / GOTHIC / G-49258 © 2007 Gothic, Gothic Records, Inc. gothicrecords.com

When Jesus Went to Jordan’s Stream (CHRIST UNSER HERR ZUM JORDAN KAM) – Geystliche Gesangk Buchleyn / Martin Luther, lyricist / Lucas Osiander, arranger (G) Saint Mark’s Cathedral Choir: Seattle, WA / J. Melvin Butler (CD) How Brightly Shines the Morning Star: Music for Epiphany /

GOTHIC / G-49258 © 2007 Gothic, Gothic Records, Inc. gothicrecords.com

Tribus miraculis – Luca Marenzio (G) The Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral: London, United Kingdom / John Scott (CD) Epiphany at St. Paul’s / HYPERION / CDA67269 © 2002 Hyperion, Hyperion Records Limited hyperion-records.co.uk

Down to the River to Pray – American Folk Tune / American Folk Hymn, lyricist (G) First Baptist Church Choir: White House, TN (CD) O Brother, Where Art Thou? / LOST HIGHWAY / 088 170-069-2 DG02 © 2000 Lost Highway umusic.com

Here’s A Pretty Little Baby – African American Spiritual / André Thomas, arranger (G) The St. Olaf Choir: Northfi eld, MN / Anton Armstrong (CD) Dawn of Redeeming Grace / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-2198 © 1997 St. Olaf Records stolafrecords.com

“In spite of the world’s ugly violence, grace will not be undone.”

-Pastor Bruce Benson

JANUARY 17, 2016 Second Sunday after Epiphany — Lectionary 2 (Year C)

(1R) Isaiah 62:1–5(PS) Psalm 36:5–10(2R) 1 Corinthians 12:1–11(G) John 2:1–11(CU) Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Christ is Alive! (TRURO) – Psalmodia Evangelica / Brian Wren, lyricist / John Ferguson, arranger (CU) Massed Choirs of St. Olaf College: Northfi eld, MN / The St. Olaf Orchestra / Steven Amundson (CD) For God So Loves the World / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-2939/40 © 2006 St. Olaf Records stolafrecords.com

Deck Thyself my Soul with Gladness (SCHMÜCKE DICH) – Johann Crüger / Johann Franck, lyricist / Catherine Winkworth, translator (1R) The Choir of the Collegiate Church of St. Mary: Warwick, England / Christopher Betts (CD) The Complete New English Hymnal: Volume 6 / PRIORY RECORDS, LTD. / PRCD 716 © 2002 Priory Records, Ltd. priory.org.uk

A New Creation: Set Me as a Seal – René Clausen (1R, G) The Kansas City Chorale: Kansas City, MO / Charles Bruffy (CD) Life and Breath: Choral Works by René Clausen / CHANDOS / CHSA5105 © 2012 Chandos chandos.net

Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (ST. EDMUND) – Charles Steggall / Christopher Wordsworth, lyricist / Richard Marlow, arranger (G) The Choir of Trinity College: Cambridge, United Kingdom / Andrew Lamb, accompanist / Richard Marlow (CD) Descants from Trinity / CONIFER CLASSICS / 75605 51281 2 © 1996 Conifer Classics

Laudate Dominum – Marcel Dupré (PS, 2R) The Choir of Westminster Cathedral / James O’Donnell (CD) Vierne, Widor, Dupré: Masses and Motets / HYPERION / CDA66898 © 1997 Hyperion, Hyperion Records Limited hyperion-records.co.uk

January 24, 2016Third Sunday after Epiphany — Lectionary 3 (Year C)

(1R) Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10(PS) Psalm 19(2R) 1 Corinthians 12:12–31a(G) Luke 4:14–21

The Apostles: Prologue, Op. 49 – Edward Elgar (G) Massed Choirs of St. Olaf College: Northfi eld, MN / The St. Olaf Orchestra, ensemble / Robert Scholz (CD) Ris’n With Healing in His Wings / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-2564 © 2002 St. Olaf Records stolafrecords.com

The Church’s One Foundation (AURELIA) – Samuel Sebastian Wesley / Samuel J. Stone, lyricist / William Baerg, arranger (PS) The Riverton Singers / Reg Kliewer, accompanist / William Baerg (CD) These Our Hymns / RIVERTON PRODUCTIONS / RP1200CD © Riverton Productions

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVÖGELEIN) – German Traditional / James Montgomery, lyricist (G) The Schola Cantorum of St. Peter the Apostle: Chicago, IL / Deward R. Rahm, accompanist / J. Michael Thompson (CD) Music for the November Feasts / THE LITURGICAL PRESS / 7896-3 © 1995 The Liturgical Press litpress.org

Cantique de Jean Racine – Gabriel Fauré / Gabriel Fauré, lyricist (1R, G) The Choir of All Saints’ Episcopal Church: Beverly Hills, CA / Dale Adelmann (CD) Be Still, My Soul / GOTHIC / G 49251 © 2006 Gothic, Gothic Records, Inc. gothicrecords.com

The Creation: The Heavens Are Telling, H XXI:2 – Franz Joseph Haydn / Robert Shaw, arranger / Alice Parker, translator / Robert Shaw, translator (PS) Atlanta Symphony Chamber Chorus: Atlanta, GA / Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, ensemble / Robert Shaw (CD) The Creation / TELARC / CD-80298-A © 1992 Telarc, Concord Music Group telarc.com

January 31, 2016Fourth Sunday after Epiphany — Lectionary 4 (Year C)

(1R) Jeremiah 1:4–10(PS) Psalm 71:1–6(2R) 1 Corinthians 13:1–13(G) Luke 4:21–30

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (HYFRYDOL) – Rowland Hugh Prichard / Charles Wesley, lyricist / John Ferguson, arranger Massed Choirs of St. Olaf College: Northfi eld, MN / The St. Olaf Orchestra / Steven Amundson (CD) The World Renewed With Love Divine / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-3549/50 © 2014 St. Olaf Records stolafrecords.com

Ubi Caritas – Paul Mealor (2R) The Cambridge Singers / John Rutter (CD) This is the Day: Music on Royal Occasions / COLLEGIUM RECORDS / COLCD 136 © 2012 Collegium Records, Naxos of America, Inc. collegium.co.uk

Not For Tongues of Heaven’s Angels – Roy Hopp / Timothy Dudley Smith, lyricist (2R) Calvin College Alumni Choir: Grand Rapids, MI / Kenneth Bos, accompanist / Charles K. Smith

(CD) He Has The Power / CALVIN COLLEGE / CD 1 © 1992 Calvin College calvin.edu

The Call – John Paynter / George Herbert, lyricist (1R) The Choir of All Saints’ Episcopal Church: Beverly Hills, CA / Thomas Foster (CD) Easter Hymns, Carols, & Anthems / GOTHIC / G 49097 © 1997 Gothic, Gothic Records, Inc. gothicrecords.com

He Comes to Us as one Unknown (REPTON) – C. Hubert H. Parry / Timothy Dudley Smith, lyricist / John Ferguson, arranger (G) Massed Choirs of St. Olaf College: Northfi eld, MN / The St. Olaf Orchestra / Steven Amundson (CD) A Wondrous Gift is Given / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-3465/6 © 2012 St. Olaf Records stolafrecords.com

Go Where I Send Thee! – African American Spiritual / Paul Caldwell, arranger / Sean Ivory, arranger Nidaros Cathedral Jentekor: Trondheim, Norway / Anita Brevik (CD) Christmas in Norway with the St. Olaf Choir / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-3501 © 2013 St. Olaf Records stolafrecords.com

NEWS

Listeners near Twin Falls, Idaho: You can now tune in to Sing For Joy on KDKI 103.9 FM

Sundays at 11:30am and 5:00pm

LISTENERS’ CORNER

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JANUARY 2016 / YEAR C

Thank you for your gifts!

In Memory Of:Mary Helen Daley Andruzzi

C. Kingsley Brown (husband)Dorcas Dorow

Helen Skifter GrafMr. & Mrs. Robert Haugan

Howard Jamesonmy parents, Lester & Martha Keller

Hedwig S. KlinefelterJennifer Koenig

our mothersDean Ostlie, class of 1953

Elizabeth C. PellegriniIrmgard Pipkorn

Ely RollRalph K. Wiedenhoeft

Jane Zayatz

In Honor Of:my childrenmy family

Christine CroftsAlumni: Caroline Clune Wilker and Anthony Clune

Sing For JoySt. Olaf College1520 St. Olaf AvenueNorthfi eld, mn 55057

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Website: singforjoy.org Email: singforjoy@stolaf.eduPhone: 507-786-2600

Sing For Joy staff:

W. Bruce Benson Host

John Ferguson Music Adviser

Jeffrey O’Donnell Producer and Music Director

Joshua Wyatt Associate Producer

Carolyn Pierson Communications Coordinator

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