Cowboy Church #256 - Christmas Eve Service

 Hello my friends and merry Christmas Eve and welcome to a special Christmas Eve service of Cowboy Church. 

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with a medley of Remember Whose Birthday It Is and Happy Birthday Gentle Savior. Though there is nothing wrong with Christmas movies, family, Santa Claus or any of the other traditions that have become a major part of Christmas, this holiday is still first and foremost a celebration of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. 

This is followed by Johnny Cash with Joy to the World. This hymn started off as a poem by Issaac Watts in 1719. He never intended this to be either a song or associated with Christmas. It in fact would not become a song until a century later when a Boston music teacher, Lowell Mason would discover it and put it to music. Over time it would become more and more associated with Christmas until it would become one of the most famous Christmas carols.

Next is Martha Mears and The Sons of the Pioneers with a 1944 radio performance of Jingle Bells. James Lord Pierpont wrote this song in 1857. Despite being known as a Christmas song today, it was originally written with a different holiday in mind. Under its original title, One Horse Open Sleigh this song was written to be used in a Thanksgiving service at a Church where Pierpont was the organist. The song was so well received that it played again at the Church on Christmas day. For a song written to be performed at a Church, the original lyrics were racier than one would think and would be changed so that children's church choirs can perform the song. 

Afterwards is Grandpa Jones with his 1969 recording of The Christmas Guest. I hope that this year, the Lord will be the Christmas guest for each of you and that you greet him the same way Conrad does. 

Then comes Ralph Stanley with Christmas Praise. 

For a special Christmas Eve treat, this post includes Gene Autry with three of the classic Christmas songs, he made popular, Here Comes Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. 

That will be followed by Ray Price with Hark the Herald Angels Sing. This hymn was written by Charles Wesley. Wesley stated that what he hoped to achieve through his hymns was to teach sound doctrine to the poor an illiterate, who may not be able to read the Bible for themselves. His brother John Wesley, who was a famous theologian and one of the founders of Methodism, stated that Charles' hymnal was the best book on Theology there was out there. Charles wrote the words to this hymn as he heard the church bells ringing on his way to church on Christmas Day. He intended this to be a poem that would be read in Church on Christmas Day. This poem first appeared in print in 1739 in Hymns and Sacred Poems. In 1753 George Whitefield, put these words to the music we know today. Whitefield also added the term “newborn king.” 


 This is followed by one of my Christmas favorites, Waylon Jennings' version of Away in a Manger. Waylon's voice fits this hymn so perfectly and there is no other version of this song that quite matches the power of this one. Away in a Manger has also been called Luther’s Cradle Hymn. The reason for this is that it was once believed to be written for Martin Luther, who would have sung it to his children. This proved to be false. It was in fact written for a collection that was meant to celebrate Luther's 400th anniversary. Some think that this rumor was started to help sell the song. It is unknow who actually wrote this hymn. Of course, with Christmas carols it is impossible to count or keep track of how many singers sang these classic songs. Despite this I can tell you with complete certainty, no one sings Away in a Manger better than Waylon Jennings.

Today's musical selection ends with The Charlie Daniels Band with Mississippi Christmas Eve from his 1990 Christmas album, Christmas Time Down South. 

Now for a special Christmas Eve message from Billy Graham.

Now for an appropriate Christmas episode of Roy Rogers' radio show. 

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:1-20

Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Merry Christmas and happy trails to you until we meet again.