It's never too early to start planning for Christmas!  Such is the choir director's life, at least.  I love summer planning.  Recently, I've been perusing all the sampler catalogs that have come in the mail over the past month, listening to the demo CDs, searching Pepperfor inspiration, and writing down theme ideas.  In my search for old Christmas hymns and texts, I discovered this gorgeous poem:

"Light of the world, we hail Thee Flushing the eastern skies; Never shall darkness veil Thee Again from human eyes; Too long, alas, withholden, Now spread from shore to shore, Thy light so glad and golden, Shall set on earth no more.

Light of the world, before Thee Our spirits prostrate fall; We worship, we adore Thee, Thou Light, the life of all, With Thee is no forgetting Of all Thine hand hath made; Thy rising hath no setting, Thy sunshine hath no shade.

Light of the world, illumine This darkened land of Thine, Till everything that's human Be filled with what's divine; Till every tongue and nation, From sin's dominion free, Rise in the new creation Which springs from Love and Thee. Amen."

- Rev. J.S.B. Monsell, 1863 (from The Sunday School Book)

My current list of traditional hymns/carols:

• Coventry Carol
• Once in Royal David's City
• Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light
• O Sing a Song of Bethlehem
• Sing We Now of Christmas

As for other pieces, I love:

• Before the Marvel of This Night (Carl Schalk)
• Of the Father's Love Begotten (Jay Rouse - listen to it here)
• All My Heart This Night Rejoices (Leo Nestor - listen to it here)
• The Yearning (Craig Courtney - listen to it here).

And if you think I'm crazy now, just wait until next month!  Christmas folder assembly, Christmas decorations for the kick-off, and Christmas cookie-baking!  Merry Christmas, y'all!