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Merry Christmas to you, dear reader!

To celebrate this twelve-day Christmas season, I thought posting twelve carols that I am particularly enjoying might be duly celebratory and edifying for all of us.

To start out with, here's A Gallery Carol by John Gardner which is probably as close to punk rock as the Anglican tradition gets. Turn the volume up to 11, flip the strobe light on and have a listen.

The most apt line—for today, anyway—is "for this is the birthday / Of Jesus our King". A raucous birthday anthem for Jesus, if there ever was one!

And, as with most carols, if the Gardner isn't to your liking, you can always find some music for these words that's a bit older:

Rejoice and be merry
In songs and in mirth!
O praise our Redeemer;
All mortals on earth!
For this is the birthday
Of Jesus our King,
Who brought us salvation,
His praises we’ll sing!

A heavenly vision
Appeared in the sky;
Vast numbers of angels
The shepherds did spy,
Proclaiming the birthday
Of Jesus our King,
Who brought us salvation,
His praises we’ll sing!

Likewise a bright star
In the sky did appear,
Which led the wise men
From the East to draw near;
They found the Messiah,
Sweet Jesus our King,
Who brought us salvation,
His praises we’ll sing!

And when they were come,
they their treasures unfold,
And unto him offered
Myrrh, incense and gold.
So blessed for ever
Be Jesus our King,
Who brought us salvation,
His praises we’ll sing!

Labels: 12 Carols for Christmas, Christmas, John Gardner