Birthday of a King

A little over a year ago, a friend of mine, Patrick*, went along with me to my church's annual Christmas Candlelight service. Before we got out of the car, I told Patrick, "I must warn you; there's this song we always sing and it's not that great. Yet, somehow, we always manage to survive it." Patrick looked at me as though I was insane but it was for his own good. . .

Well, the time came. It was between traditional songs that one would expect and long to hear at a candlelight service. I believe it happened between "O Holy Night" and "Go Tell it on a Mountain." The praise team began, "Birthday of a King."

My Sunday School teacher says it hails from the 1930s, a time when America was suffering the Great Depression. While the lyrics may suggest otherwise, it just seems to require audiences to have prescriptions for Prozac. However, one of our ministers just loves the song.

In the midst of mumbling the words, Patrick leans over and says, "I think this was the song cut from The Sound of Music. I couldn't help but laugh. I wish it was cut from our minister's yuletide repertoire.

Later, my Sunday School class gathered at the nearby Fuddrucker's. We discussed this song and Patrick said, "Well, at least she gave me fair warning."

Here's your chance to know the awe and wonder we experience annually.



* Name changed to protect me from the "Nutty Professor"