Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!


Angels with flocked capes
These had belonged to my mom


Merry Christmas Eve Day!

I'm sorry I've been so absent, but I did bring a written excuse from my mother.

First, the tale of my techno woes. Last Friday my cell phone died, or at least wouldn't hold a charge and the phone place doesn't carry my phone any longer. At least they didn't point and laugh at me. But I did come away from there with a much larger, much more complicated phone than what I had gone in with. I know I'll learn it - eventually. The best thing about it is that when I get e-photos of the grandkids, I will actually be able to see what they are, rather than viewing a thumbnail.

THEN, my printer stopped working. No idea what was wrong. So I phoned HP to talk with tech support. After about 15 minutes on the phone with them, they took over my computer and I watched my cursor dart back and forth across the screen for a few minutes.

The guy came back with, 'You have no printer drivers installed on your computer, and several of your files are corrupted.' He said I'd have to get a certified systems engineer to fix the problem. (I guess I thought that was him, right?) Anyway, I told him I'd get our local computer geek to look at it and thank you very much. THEN he said that only certified systems engineer can do this because, and get this, 'We have very expensive equipment to help us fix the problem.' I thanked him and said no.


Avon angels

Then I took the computer to the local computer geek (and I do mean geek. He is insanely smart about computers!)  He looked things over and said my files were not corrupted and all my printer drivers were there. He said I'd been SCAMMED. No! Me??! I couldn't believe it. I was so annoyed, and very glad I hadn't told them they could 'fix' my computer with all their expensive equipment (sounds ominous, doesn't it!)

As it turned out, all that was wrong with my computer was that the USB port that I plugged the printer into was iffy. The printer had always worked, but suddenly it didn't. Evidently it was that crazy port. So after four days of not communicating with any of you, my blogger friends, I did want you to know why you haven't heard from me.


More of Mom's angels. They are bells.
except for the middle one who came from...
Yes, from Bobby! :-)


And now, onto the real subject of this post, the hymn 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!'  If you tune into Minnesota Public Radio this morning at 9 CST, you will hear a live performance of The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College Chapel, Cambridge, England. It is their Christmas Eve service which begins (in England) at 3 PM in the afternoon. I listen to it by radio every single Christmas Eve morning here in Wisconsin. Check it out on Minnesota Public Radio.

From www.minnesota.publicradio.org

'...the festival has its origins not in Cambridge, but the English city of Truro, where it first saw the light of day in 1880. (note: I wonder if Doc Martin knows this.)


'There have been important changes over the years, but some of the documents describing that first festival have survived. Tomorrow, Dec. 17, the Truro Cathedral will recreate that 1880 event (to the extent possible), Victorian hymns and all. Here's an article in the Guardian that has the details.'  (obviously we're too late for Dec. 17, but we could still read the article. And I'm hoping to find the recording online somewhere.)



I realize that I'm getting far afield from the topic of this blog post, but hang on. The connection is that although some choral selections change from year to year in the Festival's program, the thrilling procession is always marked by 'Once in Royal David's City' and the last hymn is a resounding 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!' - sung by the choir and the congregation, just before the recessional. Both selections have a beautiful descant on the last verse. I love it. It's always a little sad when it's over.





And if you happen to miss listening to this year's Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Minnesota Public Radio, you can pick up the 2010 version at this link on YouTube One way or another, I hope you will enjoy this wonderful event as much as I do.


Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"



Photobucket

28 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas! I have one of the flocked angels and the two leftin ones with harps?

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  2. Ahhhh.. gotta love how people will still try and take advantage of others even around the holidays!!!

    Merry Christmas to you and your family, Judy!!!

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  3. A lovely post, Judy. I've been a bit out of it too - just too much to do. Hope your new mobile phone works out - my old one (which was coal-powered) worked more like a phone than my new one, which does almost everything well except be a phone... Great that you listen to carols from England. We are looking forward to Christmas very much here - had the carol service in the village church on Sunday (not a dry eye in the house). So - have a wonderful Christmas and all the best for 2014. And I've put a Billy Connolly link in that post about Glasgow for you!

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  4. Thanks for the link. Have a Merry Christmas!

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  5. Thanks for the link. Have a Merry Christmas!

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  6. Glad your tech problems are over. Good for you for not being scammed! Radio program sounds lovely-- thanks for the info.

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  7. Sorry for all the insanity concerning the tech stuff. Hmmm...oddly suspect.

    Oh I'd very much enjoy that program. I sometimes listen to their music on You Tube. I did listen to St. Olaf's Choir last night from Norway. It was spectacular!

    Merry Christmas, my dear!

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  8. Merry Christmas, my friend!

    (You'll love that new bigger phone! I just got one and can actually see the photo's on it. I don't know how to work half of what all it does, but that's why God gave us grandchildren to teach us.)

    Good luck with your surgery. I'll be thinking of you and have you in my prayers.

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  9. Judy, I hate technical problems, and I can't believe they tried to rip you off. Shame on them!

    On a happier note, I love this hymn, and I watched the video. Erosion. So pretty! I have a link on my post to my favorite hymn "O Come All Ye Faithful". I hope you take time to click on it. I think you will enjoy the little surprises in the video.

    Merry Christmas!

    Sheila

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  10. Your mom's angels are such a treasure. I remember them...cuz everything I remember is OLD!!!! Wish I could get MPR here. Listen to it often when I'm in the state. Merry Christmas!!! Sit back and enjoy the festivities!!!

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  11. Thanks for the video link...I'm going to enjoy this. And Merry Christmas my friend! Sweet hugs, Diane

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  12. Yes we are all set to turn our NPR on at 10:00 for the Festival of Nine Lessons … a tradition here and one that reminds me of my parents as they always tuned in. Your angels are all so nice, especially the blue and white ones! Have a wonderful Christmas, thanks for a lovely post and glad you did not get scammed. A wise woman you are!

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  13. Wishing you and your family a Blessed Christmas and a Wonderful New Year, Judy. I haven't graduated to a larger or smarter phone yet. I don't know if I'm smart enough to learn how to use it. :)
    Hugs, Barb

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  14. love all the cute angels. i hate 'helpful technicians' that try to hoodwink us non-techie folk.

    bless you this holiday season. i know you'll love the new phone. i was grumpy for a few days as i got used to mine and now i love it.

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  15. I love this song and have my whole life...
    your geek woes has blown my mind that HP would do that to you... I would have done the same thing you did, hang up.
    glad it was something that your personal geek could fix. i love tech stuff but it is a love/hate relationship. Merry Christmas

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  16. Just finished listening to the Festival of Nine Lessons... :) It was lovely as always!

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  17. I'm very glad you didn't fall for the scam and give them your bank details! I'm always wary when we get phone calls offering us one off special offers, I always say no thanks!
    Wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas xx

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  18. Lovely, lovely post!
    Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  19. Well Mary is getting ready to give birth of just has and I bet the angels are singing with such joy!
    Merry Christmas to you too. sandie

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  20. Hi Judy! Have a very Merry Christmas with you family!
    Sherry

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  21. ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
    *M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
    ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
    To YOU and to your Family!

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  22. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I love that song and the angles.

    Cynthia

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  23. Merry Christmas and Thank You for the link to the King's College performance! Just beautiful!

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  24. I'm late catching up, but enjoyed your angel photos!! Technology problems are second only to car troubles.

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  25. Merry Christmas!

    It sounds to me like typical 'expert' speak. They don't know what is wrong with it so they blame whatever they can on whatever they can!! It's international and inter-trade from plumbers, to computer experts with builders in the middle!!

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  26. Nice to know that you have got sorted with your technical problems. I did smile when your story was interspersed with Christmas photos of angels … your support weren't being angel like !

    I never knew that about Truro.

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