Act 2

Introducing Patrick Franks

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Arr. Robert P. Manookin

Patrick Franks, organ

Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the new-born king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the new-born king”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Risen 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 new-born king”

Night of Silence/Silent Night

Arr. David Kantor

Directed by Krista Carroll

Performed by Concert Choir and Chorale

Featuring Lily Hanson, Alessa Binetti, Aleya Rourke, Miriam Eliason

Cold are the people, winter of life
We tremble in shadows this cold, endless night
Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping
Flowers that will echo the sunrise
Fire of hope is our only warmth
Weary, its flame will be dying soon

Voice in the distance, call in the night
On wind you enfold us you speak of the light
Gentle on the ear you whisper softly
Rumours of a dawn so embracing
Breathless love awaits darkened souls
Soon will we know of the morning

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
‘Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy infant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Spirit among us, shine like the star
Your light that guides shepherds and kings from afar
Shimmer in the sky so empty, lonely
Rising in the warmth of your Son’s love
Star unknowing of night and day
Spirit we wait for your loving Son

Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake, at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing ‘Alleluia’
Christ the Saviour is born
Christ the Saviour is born

You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch

Arr. Jeff Funk

Directed by Krista Carroll

Performed by Concert Choir and Chorale

Featuring Eden Tippets, Mariah Pittson, Nicole Olson, Tyler Hudson, Norah Fitzpatrick, Samara Bourn, Isla Stewart, Jaycee Nelson, Melanie Shreeve, Isabelle Jimenez, Noah Hessing, Zack Hebdon; Instrumentalists: Finn Anderson, slide whistle; Gray Willis, triangle; Ginger Orton, guiro; Riggin Merrill, cowbell; Gillian Alden Johnson, wood block; David Baird, shaker; Blaine Johnson, Mr. Grinch

You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch
You really are a heel
You’re as cuddly as a cactus
And as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch
You’re a bad banana with a greasy black peel

You’re a monster, Mr. Grinch!
Your heart’s an empty hole.
Your brain is full of spiders.
You’ve got garlic in your soul,
Mr. Grinch!

I wouldn’t touch you
With a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!

You’re a vile one, Mr. Grinch!
You have termites in your smile.
You have all the tender sweetness
Of a seasick crocodile,
Mr. Grinch!

Given the choice between the two of you,
I’d take the seasick crocodile!

You’re a foul one, Mr. Grinch!
You’re a nasty, wasty skunk!
Your heart is full of unwashed socks.
Your soul is full of gunk,
Mr. Grinch!

The three words that best describe you
Are as follows, and I quote,
“Stink, stank, stunk!”

You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch!
With a nauseous super naus!
You’re a crooked jerky jockey,
And you drive a crooked hoss,
Mr. Grinch!

You’re a three-decker sauerkraut
and toadstool sandwich,
With arsenic sauce!

Amazing Grace

Arr. Stephen Nelson

Directed by Keith McCauley

Ella Hessing, Julia Klassen, Kinsley Wardle

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

Yea, When this flesh and heart shall fail
and mortal life shall cease
I shall possess within the veil
A life of joy and peace

When we’ve been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun
begun

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That save a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see

Welcoming Back Patrick Franks

I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas

Arr. Patrick Franks

Patrick Franks, organ

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
I don’t want a doll, no dinky Tinkertoy
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
I don’t think Santa Claus will mind, do you?
He won’t have to use our dirty chimney flue
Just bring him through the front door
That’s the easy thing to do

I can see me now on Christmas morning
Creeping down the stairs
Oh, what joy and what surprise
When I open up my eyes
To see my hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, or rhinoceroseses
I only like hippopotamuseses
And hippopotamuses like me too

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
A hippopotamus is all I want
Mom says the hippo would eat me up
But then teacher says a hippo is a vegetarian

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
The kind I saw this summer at the zoo
There’s lots of room for him in our two car garage
I’d feed him there and wash him there
And give him his massage

I can see me now on Christmas morning
Creeping down the stairs
Oh, what joy and what surprise
When I open up my eyes
To see my hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, or rhinoceroseses
I only like hippopotamuses
And hippopotamuses like me too

The First Nowell

Arr. Mack Wilberg

Directed by Erika McCauley

Performed by Concordia and Virtuoso

Noël is an Old French word meaning “Christmas.” Nowell is its Middle English equivalent.

The First Nowell the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King of Israel!

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King of Israel!

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind hath bought
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King of Israel!
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King
Born is the King of Israel!

Betelehemu

Arr. Barrington Brooks

Directed by Brandi Cook

Performed by Concordia and Virtuoso

Featuring John Orton; Emma Olsen, dance leader

Introducing Rick Murdock and Elizabeth Pike Murdock

Deck the Hall

Arr. Mack Wilberg

Performed by Elizabeth Pike Murdock; Nanette Jensen, piano

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la
’Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la

Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la, la, la
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la

See the blazing Yule before us
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la

Follow me in merry measure
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la
While I tell of Yuletide treasure
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la

Fast away the old year passes
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la

Sing we joyous all together
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la
Heedless of the wind and weather
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la

He’s Born

Words and music by Aaron Edson

Directed by Keith McCauley

Featuring Rick Murdock; Backup: Ella Hessing, Julia Klassen, Kinsley Warde

A few weeks before his first Christmas from home, Aaron Edson was making his way down a sun-baked road in Venezuela. He said, “The song’s signature bass line just came to me. That bass line just fit my stride.” He put this song together while he was walking. Several months ago, I reached out to Aaron requesting permission to arrange his song for Rick Murdock. He’s Born was originally written for 8 part mens a cappella. But, Aaron was so excited about his song being set to instruments that he asked if he could arrange it instead! Aaron said, “Jesus belongs to all of us. And that’s why I wanted to include instruments from all over the world.”

Keith McCauley

Joy to the world, the Lord has come
To every boy and girl, He’ll be the Holy One
He’ll be a King, He’ll be a Lord
He’s just a baby, but He’ll save the world

And I’ll sing Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
He is my Savior, today He’s born

Rejoice, Rejoice, the Savior’s come
We’ll lift every voice, to the Healing One
The sinner’s saved, the price was paid
He’s just a baby, and He’s born today

And I’ll sing Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
He is my Savior and my King,
with all my heart to Him I’ll sing
My Lord and King will I adore,
with my praise forevermore
He is my Shepherd and I know,
with all my love to Him I’ll show
With all my life to Him I’ll give, today He’s born

And I’ll sing Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
He is my Savior, today He’s born
He’s born

The Prayer

Arr. Mark Hayes

Directed by Keith McCauley

Performed by Elizabeth Pike Murdock and Rick Murdock

Elizabeth:
I pray you’ll be our eyes,
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise,
In times when we don’t know
Let this be our prayer,
When we lose our way
Lead us to a place,
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe

Both:
Give us faith so we’ll be safe

Sognamo un mondo senza più violenza
(We dream of a world with no more violence)
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
(A world of justice and hope)
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
(Everyone lends a hand to their neighbour)
Simbolo di pace e di fraternità
(A symbol of peace and fraternity)

Both:
Give us faith so we’ll be safe

E la fede che
(And the faith that)
Hai acceso in noi
(You have ignited within us)
Sento che ci salverá
(I feel that it will save all of us)

We invite all Cantus Almuni to come to the stage to perform O Holy Night

We sing. We dance. We share.

O Holy Night

Arr. Mack Wilberg

Directed by Keith McCauley

Performed by Cantus Youth Choirs

Featuring Elizabeth Pike Murdock, soprano; Rick Murdock, baritone; Patrick Franks, organ

O holy night, night divine, holy night, O night divine

O holy night
The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees!
O hear the angel voices!
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born,
O night divine,
O night divine,

O holy night, night divine, holy night, O night divine.

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord!
O praise His name forever,
His power and glory ever more proclaim.
His power and glory ever more proclaim, forever.

Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever.
His power and glory ever more proclaim.
His power and glory ever more proclaim.

O holy Night, night divine, holy night, O night divine,
Holy night, night divine, holy night, O night divine,
O holy night, O night divine.