We can hardly believe it's already November, and whether it's getting hotter or colder in your hemisphere, November means that Christmas is near. For some of you, it might mean things are winding down and you're about to enjoy a holiday. For others, you might be frantically planning three thousand carol services. Or perhaps you're realising you might need to get onto that Christmas shopping! Whoever you are, we've pulled together some songs, resources and gifts for the season. Most of all, we hope this collection keeps pointing you to the true and wonderful meaning of Christmas.

Joy to the World: A Christmas Playlist
Featuring a range of artists and their Christmas classics, well-loved carols and some new songs, we hope you enjoy this playlist of Christmas songs.
Listen now on Spotify
Listen now on Apple Music

A (Christmas!) Night In With Emu
For our friends in Sydney, we've got an evening of live Christmas music, carols, and storytelling with Liv, Philip and Alanna on 10 Dec from 8pm at St Thomas' Anglican Church, North Sydney. All welcome, but registration essential. Get your free tickets here. 

How Still the Starry Night
Emu Music

The fullness of the deity
A borrowed manger fills
The God of all eternity
Beneath the Bethl'hem hills

This is our latest Christmas release, which Liv Chapman and Sam Brewster (of UK ministry JoyfulNoise) wrote as a meditation on the central paradox of Christmas: that such a monumental event as the incarnation should occur in such an understated way. A simple song to help us delight in the wonder and meekness of Christ! 
Chord chart available here.

-

Hallelujah, Christ Is Born
Caroline Cobb

Hallelujah, Christ is born!
Hallelujah, the Saviour of the world
This is the one we've waited for!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Christ is born

This is a lovely, folky song from Caroline Cobb's 2020 album, A Seed, A Sunrise. We love its poetic storytelling and production, and we commend the whole album as a beautiful exploration or the anticipation of Advent, the joy of Christmas, and the expectant hope of Jesus’s return.
The sheet music for the album can be purchased here.

-

Hope Is Alive
Ellie Holcomb

So sing with the angels that fill up the sky
Heaven broke through and now hope is alive
He is right here among us
Our God is with us tonight
And hope is alive

Forgive us for adding an older song, but we love this tune from Ellie Holcomb. After the last couple of years, don't we need to be reminded that our God is with us and hope is alive? We also love the energy of this song, and if you have a good rhythm section in your ensemble, we think this could work really good as an up beat Christmas item. 
Sheet music here. 



-

Maker, Made a Child
Emu Music

O Bethlehem, a prophet told
From your streets will rise the ruler of all time
O Bethlehem, our king you hold
For the maker of the world is made a child

This song reflects on Micah's prophecy in chapter 5 verse 2: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." We hope it helps you to rejoice in God's amazing plan through history to rescue us through Jesus.
Sheet music available here.
Acoustic song leading video here. 



-

Emmanuel (God In the Highest)
Sovereign Grace Music

The Light of Life descended to the world He made
The ageless Rock of Ages in a manger laid
Behold the Word that bore our flesh
The heart of God inside an infant's chest

We absolutely loved 'O Come All You Unfaithful' from Sovereign Grace's 'Heaven Has Come' album last year. This is another great offering from that album with rich lyrics and a solid drive. 
Sheet music here. 



-

Saviour In a Manger
Emu Music

Rejoice, the Lord has come
Rejoice, the promised son
Rejoice, the saving one
Has come to pay our ransom
The saviour in a manger

If you're looking for a simpler song to use as an item or reflection piece for your services, then this is a great option. We've done a three piece arrangement (below) so that you can hear how it might sound in a smaller setting.
Sheet music available here. 

-

Need some carol inspiration?
Did you know we have three acoustic arrangements of trad carols? You can watch them on our playlist below and grab free sheet music at the bottom of our online resource page here. 

For gifts:

The Miracle In the Manger (a musical Christmas book)
Judith and Klaus Hickel

This is a great book for families to journey back in time together to witness the very first Christmas and discover afresh the wonder of the Christmas story. Paired with a song, The Miracle of Christmas, this book is a great way to help young people rejoice in Jesus' birth. Find the book, song and sheet music here. Discounts available for bulk purchases.

 

Emu rCup
We've teamed up with Circular&Co. to produce Emu's own reusable coffee cup, made from recycled, used cups. It's leak proof, dishwasher safe, insulated, and with 360 degrees drinking like a normal open cup. Now you can drink your hot choc, coffee or tea in style and support Emu's ministry. A great gift... and why not grab one for yourself while you're at it?? Get it here. 

Joy In Sorrow CD
If you still have a CD player, we salute you! Our brand new album is a collection of songs that give God's people the words to call to him in sorrow and cry out in praise. We have modelled many of these songs on the trajectory of the Psalms, which journey from distress to delight, from pleading to praising. Ultimately, we long to say with the apostle Paul that in Christ we can be "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Corinthians 6:10), and it is our hope and prayer that these songs help you to know and express that reality. Buy the digital and physical album here. 

-

We wish you a wonderful Christmas as we sing and celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus. Do drop us a line at hello@emumusic.com if you have any questions or concerns or would like some help crafting your carol service.

Love, the Emu team