There’s A Song in the Air and Spinach Dip on the table . . .

“Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless His name!” Psalm 96: 1-2A

Music permeates the air year round, sort of a background buzz like flies at a picnic or car horns in New York City. The sound is audible but so normal, so nonchalant, it drones as elevator music engulfing the world. But somewhere between turkey sales in November and Black Friday the music changes, no longer content to hum in the background, grabbing our attention, insisting on being noticed.

Strains of songs sung since childhood beckon to us, promising peace and presents and poultry. Never in all my days have I thought of sending three or four or seven birds as a present, but my heart rejoices at the thought of French hens, calling birds and swans a swimming from some strange true love.

Christmas music brings with it the nostalgia of the past, the hope of the future, and the joy of the present. The old and the new converging into the wonder of what is to come. Silent Night, Jingle Bells, and Santa Baby all sing out into the days and nights waiting for something, longing for something.

I am waiting and longing for something, although my waiting involves much planning and preparation. Part of our holiday tradition is hosting the annual Christmas Music Party. It is a night like no other in the year, filled with food I will be sweeping up for days, the cries and laughter of children and adults and a Christmas carol rewrite competition that proves the wit and wisdom of our guests over and over again. The event is a lot of work and involves cramming over 50 people into my living room, which is not always comfortable, but is always worth it.

Each year we try a few new recipes, but every year we serve spinach dip. Each year the decorating shifts depending on where our travels have taken us during the year, but every year we put up our Christmas Village. Each year some people who have come in the past can’t make it, but every year they are welcome. Each year the music changes, depending on who is in town to do solos, play instruments and entice the little ones to sing Away In the Manger, but every year we close with the same song.

It is a song that will date me a bit, but it is one of the most beautiful, hopeful songs ever written for the Christmas season. Written 39 years ago by Bob Kauflin, In the First Light can be described as an all season Christmas song. The lyrics are a history and expectation of Jesus.

Imagine yourself, full of spinach dip and homemade bread and Christmas cookies, sitting on my hearth or staircase, surrounded by music. We are not professional musicians, but we are professional Christmas merrymakers! The room resonates with The Christmas Song and Sleigh Ride and O Come All Ye Faithful. Young and old voices fill the space.

A nod from my husband tells me now is the time and the rather complex vocal score of In the First Light appears on the piano. The song starts quietly, pianissimo, “In the first light, of the new day, no one knew He had arrived.” Male and female voices take turns on the second verse and the tension and volume increase as all voices crescendo in singing, “But how much greater will our song be, when He comes again to earth, when He comes to rule the earth!”

Pulses race and tears are shed as we head from that moment into silence. Surrounded by love and twinkling lights and the promise of the future. This is what I am waiting for, longing for. This little glimpse of heaven, this moment of love and worship and faith. Faith in this little baby boy who willingly laid aside the glory of heaven that we might know Him and spend eternity with Him.

I am waiting and longing for the event, because last year we had to cancel the annual party due to my daughter’s chemotherapy treatments. I am waiting and longing for the event because I need to not only hear the music, I need to be a part of the music. I need the reminder and the rejoicing that come from songs in the air and spinach dip on the table.

Maybe you need that reminder and joy, too. I will share the spinach dip recipe and the lyrics to In the First Light. I would love to invite you to my party, but short of that, let me encourage you to have your own. It doesn’t have to be big or grandiose, it just has to be genuine. Invite a few friends and neighbors and family members over and spend some time singing songs that bring hope and life.

Spinach Dip

This is the best spinach dip ever, a recipe given to me by one of my best friends, ever! I always at least double this, and serve it in a round, dark brown loaf, rye or whole wheat.

1 1/4 cup sour cream

1/3 cup mayo

1 tsp lemon juice

3/4 tsp Mortons all natural seasoned salt

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1 8 ounce can water chestnuts, drained and finely diced

1 10 ounce package frozen spinach, thawed, well drained and dried and cut up

(You can use a 16 ounce package if you are doubling the recipe and it is enough)

Combine all ingredients, stir, cover and chill. Very festive to serve in a hollowed out round, dark brown loaf.

Lyrics to In The First Light

written by Bob Kauflin, performed by GLAD

In the first light of a new day
No one knew He had arrived
Things continued as they had been
While a new born softly cried.
But the heavens wrapped in wonder
Knew the meaning of His birth
In the weakness of a baby
They knew God had come to earth.
As His mother held him closely,
It was hard to understand
That this baby not yet speaking
Was the Word of God to man.
He would tell them of His kingdom,
But their hearts would not believe
They would hate Him and in anger
They would nail Him to a tree.
But the sadness would be broken
As the song of life arose
And the First born of creation
Would ascend and take his throne.
He had left it to redeem us,
But before His life began
He knew He’d come back not as a baby
But as The Lord of ev’ry man.
Hear the angels as they’re singing
On the morning of His birth
But how much greater will our song be
When He comes again to earth
When He comes again
Hear the angels as they’re singing
On the morning of His birth
But how much greater will our song be
When He comes again to Earth
When He comes to rule the Earth!
When He comes back, When He comes back
To rule the Earth!