Contemplative Christmas • Music for a Christ-Centered Holiday

December 2, 2013 3 Comments

With the advent of the Christmas season upon us, I thought I would share the updated holiday playlist that is currently in rotation here in our home. At present it consists of 100+ songs, totaling over 6 hours of music.

For me personally, I wanted a playlist that would center my thoughts on the Source of our celebration. So if you listen to these songs, you will quickly discover that there are no Santa references, no jingle bells, none of that type of stuff. Not that I don’t love sleigh rides, mistletoe, snowmen, and all the other wonderful, fun traditions of this time of year. I do! And I have a library of music built up over the years with hours upon hours with all those wonderful, traditional, more secular carols that I still listen to somewhat regularly. You probably do, too.

But that’s not what this particular playlist is about.

The message in this music has made a difference in how I have approached worship from the beginning of Advent through the entire Christmas season. Bear in mind that as it is my playlist, it does cater specifically to my musical tastes– which lean more toward the indie, folk, & contemporary Christian genres. So apologies if that’s really not your thing. Also, just for your information– the tracks from The Brilliance were not in the Spotify catalog at the time of this posting and were added to the playlist from my personal collection. Therefore, they may not show up on your personal Spotify playlist. But if you’re into indie music, check them out via the link below. Love them.

I hope you enjoy.
Have a blessed Christmas season!

(If you are reading this post on an RSS feed reader, please be aware that there is a widget link to my Spotify playlist on my site which will allow you to listen to almost the entire playlist for free. If for some reason it is not letting you listen from here, you can also search Spotify for the playlist “Contemplative Christmas.”)


 

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If you don’t want to create a Spotify account, here is a list of the tracks on my playlist (via affiliate links) if you are curious:
Maybe This Christmas – Ron Sexsmith
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – Bethany Dillon
A Baby Will Come – Emilee Cook
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus – Daniel Renstrom
Gabriel’s Message – Jars of Clay
Hope – The Brilliance
O Holy Night – Shane & Shane
The Night Before Christmas – Brandon Heath
Come and Worship – Bebo Norman
Joy to the World – Red Mountain Church
Unto Us – Folk Angel
O Come All Ye Faithful – Mindy Gledhill
Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella – Beth Whitney
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly – High Street Hymns
Child of Love – Sara Groves
The Earth Stood Still – Future of Forestry
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Steven Sharp Nelson ft. Paul Cardall
What a Glorious Night – Sidewalk Prophets
Jesus, Savior – Chris August
God Has Come to Earth – Aaron Shust
Do You Hear What I Hear? – Nichole Nordeman
Emmanuel – Hillsong
Asleep in the Hay – Jonny Diaz
Once in Royal David’s City – Sufjan Stevens
Winter Snow – Audrey Assad ft. Chris Tomlin
Sing Him Gloria – Shelly E. Johnson
In the Bleak Midwinter – Steven Curtis Chapman
Stars of Glory – The Lower Lights
Better Days – Matt Brouwer
Born is the King (It’s Christmas) – Phillips, Craig, & Dean
I Saw Three Ships / Pat-A-Pan – Michele McLaughlin
Away in a Manger – Mindy Smith
Joseph’s Lullaby – MercyMe
You’re Here – Francesca Battistelli
The First Noel – Phil Wickham
With Wondering Awe – Debra Fotheringham Band
Baby Boy – for King & Country
This Is Christmas – Kutless
Here With Us – Joy Williams
Go Tell it on the Mountain – Tenth Avenue North
Peace Peace – Sara Groves
Christmastide – The Brilliance
Carol of the Bells – Lanae’ Hale
Silent Night – Marie Miller
God Is With Us – Sojourn
I Wonder as I Wander – Will Ackerman, David Cullen
Coventry Carol – Point of Grace
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Act of Congress
Holy, Holy, Holy – Sufjan Stevens
I Am Joseph (God Is With Us) – Steven Curtis Chapman
Heaven Everywhere – Francesca Battistelli
Still, Still, Still – Kirby Heyborne
Stars Were Gleaming – Nancy Hanson
Joy to the World – Bebo Norman
How Many Kings – Downhere
Come Let Us Adore Him – Savannah Ellis
Unto Us – Hillsong
Hark the Herald Angels Sing – Daniel Renstrom
Bethlehem Skies – Dara Maclean ft. Dave Barnes
Glory in the Highest – Shane & Shane
Jesus Is Alive – Josh Wilson
The Holly and the Ivy – George Winston
Mary, Did You Know? – Erin O’Donnell
O Holy Night – Shawn McDonald
Long, Long Ago – Andrew Peterson
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent – Red Mountain Church
We Three Kings – Steven Curtis Chapman
I Saw Three Ships – The Lower Lights
Just a Girl – Brandon Heath
Babe in the Straw – Caedmon’s Call
This is Love – Paul Baloche & Kathryn Scott
Drummer Boy – Jars of Clay
Once a Year – Josh Wilson ft. Andrew Peterson
Beautiful – Kutless
Love Has a Name – Jason Gray
Redemption Song – MIKESCHAIR
Our God – Lincoln Brewster
Glory Be – Sojourn
Child in the Manger – Derri Daugherty
There is Room – Zac Hicks & Cherry Creek Worship
Where Are You Christmas? – The Piano Guys ft. Sarah Schmidt
Real – Nichole Nordeman
Someday At Christmas – Jack Johnson
Open Up – The Brilliance
Silent Night – Shane & Shane
It’s True – Sara Groves ft. Toby Groves
Let this list stand as a starting point for you to create a Christ-centered Christmas playlist of your own!
May God’s blessings be with you and your loved ones this holiday season & always.

Tiffany

3 Comments

  1. Reply

    Chocolate on my Cranium

    December 3, 2013

    Love it, as usual! Have you heard "A Hallelujah Christmas" by Cloverton? It is beautiful. A twist on Hallelujah with lyrics specifically for Christmas.

  2. Reply

    Chocolate on my Cranium

    December 3, 2013

    You can listen to it and see the video here:

  3. Reply

    Tiffany

    December 6, 2013

    I love that song, Montse! 🙂 I had forgotten about that one– but remember hearing it last year when it came out on the radio. Thank you for reminding me of it!!!

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