Go, Tell It on the Mountain

Every year at Christmas time, we sing Christmas songs at church (I know, duh).  But I'll be honest with you, it's not my favorite thing to do.  Most of the Christmas songs that people know and love ("Jingle Bells", "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer", etc...) are not songs that we sing in church.  And so that leaves us singing rearranged Christmas hymns that may or may not work with a praise band.  So, we do the best we can with songs like "Joy to the World", "Angels We Have Heard on High", and "Silent Night".  But I believe MPBC's favorite Christmas song might just be "Go, Tell It on the Mountain".  And the reason for this is that we do the weirdest, funniest, should-get-me-fired version of the song imaginable.

A few years ago, I got the bright idea of having some of our band members showcase their musical abilities at the end of each verse of the song by playing some kind of instrumental solo.  I believe that first year we were treated to the theme songs from "Charlie Brown" and "Bonanza" and a special percussion solo on the congas and bongos that sounded like "Wipeout".  For some unknown reason, the church seemed to like it.  And ever since, we have sung "Go, Tell It on the Mountain" the last Sunday before Christmas with 3 special instrumental solos.  Now, over the years, it has become less about what song they play and more about what instrument they are "attempting" to play.  So, we've gotten to experience instruments such as the ukulele, an auto harp (my favorite), a shofar horn, a jaw-harp, a recorder (like you had to play in elementary school) and many, many others. 

Well, this year's version might be the best yet.  We had a special tambourine solo (the tambourine even lights up), finger cymbals with "The Chicken Dance", and last, but not least, the electric guitar t-shirt (and yes, he is actually playing the t-shirt; it has an amp built into the shirt and when you press on the guitar, it makes sounds).  So, enjoy!

Worship Big!

Brad