I'm a big fan of Casting Crowns. I received their new CD, Until The Whole World Hears, for my birthday this year. It is one those inspiration, energizing CDs filled with the message of God's love and hope for all mankind. One of the songs on that CD is a unique version of “Joyful Joyful.” I'd love to perform this one in church sometime with our adult choir. It's amazingly powerful. This is an interpretation of the traditional Christmas carol. However, research was done and originally there was another verse that usually gets left out of most hymn books. Mark Hall and Casting Crowns made sure to included this last verse in their version. I'd like to share the lyrics with you.
“All Your works with joy surround You
Earth and Heaven reflect Your ways
Stars and angels sing around You
Center of unbroken praise
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
God, our Father
Christ, our Brother
All who live in love are thine
Teach us how to love each other
Lift us to the joy divine
Oh, God, our Father
Christ, our Brother
All who live in love are thine
Teach us how to love each other”
This last verse deals with the personal relationship part of the Christian faith. It's a reminder that true joy is not found until one makes peace with God and lives in peace with everyone in their lives.
“The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ (Numbers 6:25-26) (NIV)
“The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11) (NIV)
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ” Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
Joyful Joyful ( Alegras, alegras) by Casting Crowns
H-m-m… Well, I posted a blog about this hymn this morning on Wordwise Hymns, which is why your post caught my eye. A couple of things in your comments. First, Henry van Dyke’s fine hymn is not a Christmas carol. Second, the stanza sung by “Casting Crowns” is not the last stanza, nor is it missing from most hymn books. (You can see the full hymn on the Cyber Hymnal, here… http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/j/o/y/joyful.htm As to the musical presention, different strokes for different folks, I guess. To me, it’s a great deal of repetitious shouting and unmusical noise. (Beethoven would hardly have recognized his original.) The singers repeat the first couple of lines of the hymn, over and over, with a few scattered phrases of the rest thrown in, Sorry, but it leaves me cold. Robert http://www.wordwisehymns.com