Gather ‘Round Ye Children
There are two kinds of people in this world: those who love Christmas music, and those who can’t stand it. Those tendencies in us always present themselves when one of our favorite radio stations goes “all holiday music” from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. I am a fan of Christmas music and my enjoyment of it increases with each passing year. However, I have friends who would rather have their teeth drilled than listen to Bing Crosby, Mannheim Steamroller, or Josh Groban perform those timeless holiday favorites. So, two kinds of people, with vastly differing taste palettes, and never the twain shall meet! Enter Behold the Lamb of God.
Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb of God is a brilliantly constructed tapestry of the story of Jesus Christ. Peterson gives us a bird’s eye view of Passover, Moses, the Kings of Israel, the Prophets, the Nativity, and even the Genealogy of Jesus. He manages to cram nearly the entire Bible into 43.5 minutes, and he does so with a poetic accessibility that cannot be misunderstood. And that’s just the lyrics. His melodies and arrangements are reminiscent of James Taylor and Vince Gill. The songs are different than the traditional holiday blend, but the holiday traditionalist won’t be disappointed. These new Christmas songs have what it takes to stand the test of time. And my friends, who abhor Christmas music, would feel right at home listening to the high caliber folk/rock sounds of Andrew Peterson, et al.
This year’s show will feature Andrew, his band, Jill Philips, Andy Gullahorn, Andrew Osenga, and Bebo Norman. As in years past, the first half of the show will give a platform for the individual artists to showcase their solo efforts and the second half will be the Behold the Lamb of God song cycle. The concert is in the sanctuary at Southwood. Doors will open at 6:40PM and the concert begins at 7:00PM. Tickets are available at www.southwood.org/beholdthelamb.
Or you can purchase them at the church office during the week. They will also be on sale in the Tower after each service on December 7 and December 14. Tickets cost: $10 for Southwood members, $15 for non-church members; $120 for a group of 10. A $1.00 processing fee is added to online sales. The member price can be obtained online by inputting the coupon code, “member”.
I would be remiss without mentioning that there will be a certain number of free tickets available for members to use as gifts for their friends this season. Behold the Lamb is an excellent opportunity to invite people to come and hear a presentation of the gospel. It’s such a good way to invest in your neighbor this Christmas. Trust me when I say that Peterson’s songs will provide a sturdy bridge to spiritual conversation. If you’re interested in obtaining some of these tickets, or for any other questions, please contact the church office (882-3085 ext 400 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).