Dad C’s Book (almost) out – Discovering the Songs of Christmas!

My Dad’s new book – Discovering the Songs of Christmas: Meditations on Our Traditional Carols and Christmas Hymns – is (almost) out!

As you might guess, it should have been out quite some time ago.  But due to a variety of circumstances, it was delayed.  However, it’s being printed and almost ready to be shipped.

It’s too bad it wasn’t ready sooner – but after all, everyone says we should celebrate Christmas all year!

Anyway, this book from a world-class hymn historian not only will tell you things about Christmas carols you never knew, it also has thoughts on the meaning of the songs.

You can read, actually, one of my favourite stories online – the familiar Christmas song that was, when first written, only one letter in length.

You may also have noticed a new feature here at Finding direction.  My Dad (Robert Cottrill) also has a blog in which he’s been sharing a kind of "hymn almanac" – what happened in this day in hymn history, as well as other thoughts.  You can see the latest entry on the right if you scroll down, under Wordwise Hymns Today.

Meanwhile you can pre-order the book Discovering the Songs of Christmas right here.  It’s already listed on amazon (although they made a mistake and listed two editors, who were actually just regular publisher editors of the manuscript I believe), and will be coming to other locations soon (although most of you may find the best deal by pre-ording on amazon now).

So through the book and blog – enjoy discovering and rediscovering hymns from the life of the church around the world!