For Unto Us a Child is Born

Christmas time is here. This time last year I would be busy with church choir practices. I feel something's missing this year as I realised churches here mostly do not have choirs. I remember whenever we sing a new piece each month, I would always struggle with the notes as most of them are not familiar songs to me. And I was always amazed at how some of the choir members would recognize the song and I marvelled when Pak Lin (choir conductor) told the background behind song(the composer, why it was created, etc etc).

Yesterday, I was reading ODB and the bible phrase is taken from Isaiah 9:1-7 and the main bible verse is taken from Job 19:25" I know that my Redeemer lives". Well, I soon began singing a song "I know that my redeemer liveth" (Handel version) which was a song I would never have heard if I had not joined choir before. As I began reading the Isaiah chapter, I just realised I quoted one of the verses for my Christmas card this year:

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace

And I remember us trying to sing the song "For Unto Us a Child is Born" but we didn't proceed with it as it is a difficult piece requiring a minimum number of SATB (Christmas is the time when the choir members go back to Indonesia for holiday so there were only a few of us left). Also, it requires a strong choir to sing the song and we were not one hehehe..

So this Christmas we went to the mall and were surprised to see Santa Clause taking picture with kids (for a fee) which I don't remember we have one back in Singapore (or I seldom go to the mall during that period coz of choir practices). My friends brought us to Sutherland to see nice houses decorated in Christmas lightings, and I thought it was all only in the Christmas movies I have seen on TV hahahaa...

My MIL watched the Christmas Carols in domain on TV and she said "So sad that your father would miss this". Oh well, there would be many Christmas-es ahead for him to enjoy here. I think this feels like Chinese New Year in Singapore, where people would go out and shop and shops/offices close down during the period and time would be spent with family.

As for us, it would be filled with gatherings with friends (YumCha, children's birthday party and Boxing day dinner with Singaporean friends). Looking forward to all of them...

Now, I just enjoy the Choral songs from youtube so I don't miss my choir and church so much :)

I'll walk with God

This morning I was glancing at my homepage of internet page, which is the Our Daily Bread page. So I read the article, skipping the bible reading (very bad of me) . Thee bible phrase was "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. —Genesis 5:24" and the story was about walking with God. I was reading it and humming a song I sang in choir "I'll walk with God". I miss choir!!

I look it up in the internet for the lyrics, and they are beautiful:

I'll walk with God

I'll walk with God from this day on.
His helping hand I'll lean upon.
This is my prayer, my humble plea,
May the Lord be ever with me.

There is no death, tho' eyes grow dim.
There is no fear when I'm near to Him.
I'll lean on Him forever
And He'll forsake me never.

He will not fail me
As long as my faith is strong,
Whatever road I may walk along.

I'll walk with God, I'll take His hand.
I'll talk with God, He'll understand.
I'll pray to Him, each day to Him
And He'll hear the words that I say.

His hand will guide my throne and rod
And I'll never walk alone
While I walk with God.

Not sure how to upload video from Youtube, if it's even possible but I found several videos by different singers for the song, the original one probably from Mario Lanza though I prefer Jon Christos' or Russell Watson only because it's less opera-like. I think I remember Pak Lin singing this song at one of our Eklesia gathering or when we were practising this song.

It's a good song to memorize (I have yet to), it will help me whenever I feel lost or down or sick. I think the song was sung at a funeral in the movie "Student Prince". Hubby, if you're reading this, I want to request this song at my funeral.

Again, I miss Eklesia :)