This page is provided so that you can hear the tunes of items which we use in church. Mostly they are written by the vicar. Please note that they are copyright - we are very happy to give permission to you to use them, but we would like to hear about it. Please include any use on your Christian Copyright Licence returns.
Down this page:
- the words,
- the story,
- the sheet music,
- media player.
Christmas is ...
Christmas is ...
Christmas is a time of year
people seem to give,
love and care a little more
find new zest and live.
This is from the heart of God
born in Jesus Christ:
every single person should
know this gift, for it is good.
Christmas is a time for all
folks to realize
that this baby, born so small
is a huge surprise.
Who has loved the world like God
sending Jesus Christ?
Those who trust in him are sure
life is theirs for evermore.
Christmas tells me of that gift
nothing can replace -
he who died for me will lift
me to see God's face.
Won't you join me? Come to God!
Trust in Jesus Christ!
Look again beneath the tree:
find the gift that sets you free.
Words and tune copyright © John Hartley 2005.
based on some words of Crystal Bamford.
Story behind the song
Crystal Bamford, a member of Christian Songwriting Organisation, posted up a Christmas greeting message to the other members, as follows ...
Christmas is a time of year people seem to give, care and love a little more. It is the heart of God through which we do these things, it is a time to remember the birth of Jesus and to have a heart like Christ. It is also a time when every single person in the world should know they have all received a gift more precious than anything this world would or could ever offer. For after all "God sent his only son so whoever shall believe in him shall have everlasting life". Christmas reminds me of that amazing gift nothing could ever replace. The gift God gave us, a gift of everlasting life. So even if you have nothing under the tree this Christmas look again, perhaps you'll find the greatest gift of all. :)
... and I realized it could be turned into a song. It was one of my quickest songs ever, words and tune written late in the evening of 19th December 2005. I am very grateful to friends from CSO who have helped me to improve it by writing critiques.
John Hartley
Windows Media Player. When you click the left-hand "play" button your computer should have started to play the tune. If it didn't, you might be able to get the tune by clicking here, or by right-clicking the link, choosing "save target as", saving it onto your computer, and then opening it with a music-playing program.
Please remember that a midi file of a tune isn't supposed to be a state-of-the-art musical arrangement - it is only supposed to give a basic idea of how the tune goes. Any reasonable organist / keyboard player / music group could make it sound far better.