I have spent the past few nights sitting on my living room floor surrounded with Christmas presents, boxes, wrapping paper and ribbon- wrapping all the goodies for my numerous children and grandchildren- all the while watching Christmas movies, The Great British Baking Show and the occasional YouTube video. This came across my feed and I thought it was stunning and a perfect holiday share. Each of these singers in their own right take my breath away… and then there’s Rufus Wainwright looking regal in his robe! I had never heard the song before and was so moved by it that I played it twice through and then had to learn because it is so gorgeous.

In the Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan;
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain,
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty —
Jesus Christ.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a Shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan;
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone…
~Poem by Christina Rossetti, Music by Gustav Holst~
(There are actually two more verses but they were not sung in this concert.)