Dear Fellow Parishioners,

This is the last Sunday of the Christmas Season, so we start the Mass with ‘Joy to the World’ and then start to move away from Christmas music. No new music this week, but we have a very old song from the 13th Century, ‘Of the Father’s Love Begotten’ that we don’t often sing. Here’s a link for it: https://youtu.be/T1CAZi_PmLA The song for the Preparation of the Gifts, ‘When Jesus Comes to Be Baptized,’ is sung to the tune of ‘On Jordan’s Bank.’ The words to these songs and all the others can be found in this attachment.

So for this last Sunday of the Christmas season, I first want to share a recording of ‘Joy to the World’ as sung by the Bulgarian National Radio Children’s Choir. They are wonderful! https://youtu.be/sihe9Li_cqU

Just like the song choices for mass, we’ll now move on to the Baptism of the Lord. I found some interesting songs about His baptism in a wide variety of musical styles. The first one I’m going to share with you is ‘Troparion of the Theophany of Christ’ sung by a Byzantine choir from Pittsburg. It has a very Middle Eastern sound. https://youtu.be/JkrXBn0-cRQ

At the opposite end of the musical spectrum, here’s a song sung by George Jones, ‘I Wonder How John Felt (When He Baptized Jesus)’  https://youtu.be/jibwyko5C_s

The next one is ‘The Baptism of Jesus’ by Peg Angell, sung in a folk music style. https://youtu.be/U7d3fZUehMo

A more traditional hymn, ‘When John Baptized in Jordan’s River’ is sung here by a monk, Brother Alphonsus Mary. https://youtu.be/XBRGMSV5WyI

And lastly, after this tumultuous week of strife and shocking numbers in the pandemic, I have two songs for you. The first is ‘He Knows (Song of Hope in Turbulent Times)’ sung by a young girl, Hallie Cahoon.
https://youtu.be/ZkC4gohAmtI

The second is by an even younger girl, Claire Ryann Crosby, only 5 at the time this was recorded with her father. ‘Peace in Christ’  https://youtu.be/Waitmz6C100

I hope they bring you peace. God bless you and keep you well.

Janis Cantú