IMG_2846One of Maureen and my favorite parts of the holiday season is Lessons and Carols at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. Like St. Andrew’s Day just a few weeks earlier, this celebration brings together the entire community. It sets the stage for the Christmas season. From the 1st graders to the 12th graders to faculty and staff to families and alumni, we join together in celebration, celebration of the impending birth of our savior, Jesus Christ, a baby in swaddling clothes in a manger, born to the Virgin Mary.

Even before Maureen’s passing this past October, I could not make it through Silent Night without a tear coming to my eyes. I love this song, because whenever I hear it, I am not only singing its words, but I am remembering. I am remembering being a young acolyte at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Westerville, Ohio, not far from where I grew up in Worthington. I am remembering my fellow youth group members. I am remembering kneeling at the altar rail. I am remembering the lights going low, with only the candles burning brightly, and remembering the joy in my heart at the Christmas season. I am remembering the first Christmas services I went to with my beloved Maureen and again feeling joy, joy that I would celebrate many Christmases to come with this amazing girl. I am remembering our trip to Africa to visit Maureen’s parents in the Cote D’Ivoire and singing in French as we celebrated Christmas there in 1993 at an amazing church in downtown Abidjan, just before Maureen and I moved to Austin, Texas in 1994. I am remembering singing this beautiful song after the birth of each of my children, and I am remembering singing it at the altar at All Saint’s Episcopal Church, with my two oldest kneeling next to me, now acolytes themselves.

Music has a way of moving your soul, connecting you to something much bigger than yourself. Christmas hymns connect us to our God. They connect us to the chorus of angels. This is why I love Lessons and Carols so much. This is why Maureen and I loved Lessons and Carols so much. I know Maureen is now a part of God’s chorus, one of God’s angels. At Lessons and Carols, we hear this chorus through the voices of our Upper School Select Choir singing Carol of the Bells and the angelic 1st graders, singing Mary Had a Baby… sorry Select Choir but those 1st graders always bring down the house!!

However, this year one song in particular spoke to my heart, and I suspect it talks to all of our hearts during this Christmas season. It was sung beautifully by our 2nd graders. All is Well. All is Well. Reflect on its lyrics below, and then find a version to download that you like. For me, I just downloaded Clay Aiken’s rendition. I miss my Maureen; I miss her smile; I miss her laugh; I miss her voice; I miss her hugs. However, because of the birth of Christ and His resurrection at Easter, I know all is well. I hope you do, too. Sing Alleluia.

All is well all is well

Angels and men rejoice

For tonight darkness fell

Into the dawn of love’s light

Sing A-le

Sing Alleluia

All is well all is well

Let there be peace on earth

Christ is come go and tell

That He is in the manger

Sing A-le

Sing Alleluia

All is well all is well

Lift up your voice and sing

Born is now Emmanuel

Born is our Lord and Savior

Sing Alleluia

Sing Alleluia

All is well

Born is now Emmanuel

Born is our Lord and Savior

Sing Alleluia

Sing Alleluia

All is well