We continue our series on Melodies of Hope: Hymns From Advent and Christmastide. Each year, our churches sing a familiar rotation of Advent and Christmas hymns, often without knowing their meaning and context. To provide a fresh take on the Christmas carol canon, we’ve enlisted eight worship leaders, songwriters and thinkers from around C4SO to tell us a favorite Advent or Christmas hymn, giving us historical and musical context, and a word of good news each hymn speaks to us today.

This episode’s song is “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” and our guest is Katie Fox, who is the arts ministry leader at Christ Church Austin.  She is a musician by training, and has experience as a choral director, a worship leader, and a mezzo-soprano soloist. She is also a writer, and has a background in art history and theater, as well.  She is currently pursuing a Master of Theology at Fuller Seminary, focusing on the intersection of faith and the arts. Katie is is married with two wonderful daughters.

The recording featured in this episode is “Festgesang, MWV D4, Gutenberg-Kantate 2. (Adap. W.H. Cummings as Hark! The Herald Angels Sing) [Arr. D. Willcocks]”, by Farnham Youth Choir, The Cambridge Singers, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & John Rutter, from the album Christmas Star: A Christmas Festival.

• Our Cycle of Prayer Spotlight ministry this week is Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Longview, Texas, led by the Rev. Britt Norvel.