(grand orchestral music) (grand orchestral music continues) (grand orchestral music continues) (grand orchestral music continues) (grand orchestral music continues) ♪ O come, all ye faithful ♪ Joyful and triumphant ♪ O come ye, o come ye ♪ To Bethlehem ♪ Come and behold Him ♪ Born the King of angels ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ Christ the Lord ♪ God of God ♪ Light of Light ♪ Lo, He abhors not ♪ The Virgin's womb ♪ Very God ♪ Begotten not created ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ Christ the Lord ♪ Sing, choirs of angels ♪ Sing in exultation ♪ Sing, all ye citizens ♪ Of heav'n above ♪ Glory to God ♪ Glory ♪ In the highest ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ O come ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ O come ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ Christ the Lord ♪ Yea, Lord, we greet Thee ♪ Born this happy morning ♪ Jesu, to Thee ♪ Be all glory giv'n ♪ Word of the Father ♪ Now in flesh appearing ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ Christ ♪ The Lord (cheerful festive music) ♪ I saw three ships come sailing in ♪ ♪ Come sailing in, come sailing in ♪ ♪ I saw three ships come sailing in ♪ ♪ On Christmas day in the morning ♪ ♪ Whither sailed those ships all three ♪ ♪ The ships all three, the ships all three ♪ ♪ Pray, whither sailed those ships all three ♪ ♪ On Christmas day in the morning ♪ ♪ O they sailed into Bethlehem ♪ To Bethlehem, to Bethlehem ♪ O they sailed into Bethlehem ♪ On Christmas day in the morning ♪ ♪ And who should be in those three ships ♪ ♪ In those three ships, in those three ships ♪ ♪ And who should be in those three ships ♪ ♪ But Joseph and his lady ♪ And he did whistle and she did sing ♪ ♪ And she did sing, and she did sing ♪ ♪ And he did whistle and she did sing ♪ ♪ On Christmas day in the morning ♪ (choir whistling) (cheerful festive music) (choir continues whistling) ♪ La la la la la la la ♪ La-la la la, la-la la la ♪ La la la la la la la ♪ La la la la la la la ♪ And all the bells on earth shall ring ♪ ♪ On earth shall ring, on earth shall ring ♪ ♪ And all the bells on earth shall ring ♪ ♪ On Christmas day in the morning ♪ ♪ And all the angels in Heaven shall sing ♪ ♪ In Heaven shall sing, in Heaven shall sing ♪ ♪ And all the angels in Heaven shall sing ♪ ♪ On Christmas day in the morning ♪ ♪ And let us all rejoice amain ♪ Rejoice amain, rejoice amain ♪ And let us all rejoice amain ♪ On Christmas day in the morning ♪ (gentle heartfelt music) ♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪ ♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪ ♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪ While shepherds kept their watching ♪ ♪ O'er silent flocks by night ♪ Behold, throughout the heavens ♪ ♪ There shone a holy light ♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪ ♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪ The shepherds feared and trembled ♪ ♪ When lo, above the earth ♪ Rang out the angel chorus ♪ That hailed our Savior's birth ♪ ♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪ ♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪ Down in a lowly manger ♪ The humble Christ was born ♪ And brought us God's salvation ♪ ♪ That blessed Christmas morn ♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪ ♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪ That Jesus Christ is ♪ Born (grand festive music) (grand festive music continues) ♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪ That Jesus Christ ♪ Is born (serene orchestral music) - Merry Christmas.

I'm Matthew Ruffner, the senior pastor at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas.

I'm joined by our artistic director, Steve Jobman.

Steve and I, along with KERA North Texas Public Television, wanna welcome you to this evening of celebration and song.

We hope that our musical gifts this evening will awaken the life and the love and the joy that this season offers to each and every one of us.

- We are deeply honored to welcome John Rutter as a world-renowned guest to our program this evening.

John, dubbed the composer who owns Christmas by the New York Times, is conducting a wide variety of his most beloved holiday compositions.

We've invited him to share with you the backstory of his brand new Christmas carol, "I Too Shall Walk to Bethlehem," composed for our choir and orchestra.

- I just wanted to tell you a little bit about the next piece we're going to be performing for you.

When I'm writing a carol, the words come first.

I pretty much need a text before I can begin work on the music, so I often turn to great poets of the past, but "I Too Shall Walk to Bethlehem" was different.

I wrote it earlier this year, specially for this church choir, with a living collaborator, a remarkable young man named Marc Bratcher.

He's a poet and sculptor, and what made his text so memorable and moving for me is that Marc has cerebral palsy.

He lives his life in a wheelchair, and yet he tells us in the words of his text, "I Too Shall Walk to Bethlehem."

(gentle poignant music) (gentle poignant music continues) ♪ I too shall walk to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Along each lonely road ♪ I did not have the strength until ♪ ♪ I heard the story told ♪ There is a place where all may rest ♪ ♪ And set down any load ♪ In a stable where once a child was born ♪ ♪ Where once ♪ A child ♪ Was born (poignant orchestral music) (poignant orchestral music continues) (poignant orchestral music continues) ♪ I too shall walk to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ And never shall I fall ♪ I did not have the heart until ♪ ♪ I heard the angels call ♪ And quicken then each eager step ♪ ♪ With tidings for us all ♪ To a stable where once ♪ A child was born ♪ Where once ♪ A child ♪ Was born (poignant orchestral music) (poignant orchestral music continues) ♪ I too shall walk to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ For now I know the way ♪ Lies with a child who lies within ♪ ♪ A sleep where oxen lay ♪ The road to Heaven shall begin ♪ ♪ That blessed Christmas day ♪ From a stable where once ♪ A child was born ♪ Where once ♪ A child ♪ Was born ♪ Where once ♪ A child ♪ Was born (poignant orchestral music) (gentle poignant music) (ethereal music) (ethereal music continues) (ethereal music continues) (ethereal music continues) (ethereal music continues) (ethereal music continues) (ethereal music continues) (ethereal music continues) (ethereal music continues) (ethereal music continues) (ethereal music continues) (ethereal orchestral music) (ethereal orchestral music continues) (ethereal orchestral music continues) (ethereal orchestral music continues) (ethereal orchestral music continues) (ethereal orchestral music continues) (ethereal orchestral music continues) (gentle ethereal music) (gentle ethereal music continues) (ethereal orchestral music) (ethereal orchestral music continues) (gentle ethereal music) (gentle ethereal music continues) (gentle ethereal music continues) (gentle ethereal music continues) (triumphant orchestral music) (triumphant orchestral music continues) (triumphant orchestral music continues) ♪ Ding dong, merrily on high ♪ In heaven the bells are ringing ♪ ♪ Ding dong, verily the sky ♪ Is riven with angels singing ♪ Gloria ♪ Dong ding dong ding ♪ Dong ding dong ding, dong ding dong ding ♪ ♪ Dong ding dong ding, dong ding dong ding ♪ ♪ Dong ding dong ♪ Hosannah in excelsis ♪ Gloria ♪ Dong ding dong ding ♪ Dong ding dong ding, dong ding dong ding ♪ ♪ Dong ding dong ding, dong ding dong ding ♪ ♪ Dong ding dong ♪ Hosannah in excelsis (triumphant orchestral music) ♪ E'en so here below, below ♪ Let steeple bells be swungen ♪ And io, io, io ♪ By priest and people sungen ♪ Gloria ♪ Dong ding dong ding ♪ Dong ding dong ding, dong ding dong ding ♪ ♪ Dong ding dong ding, dong ding dong ding ♪ ♪ Dong ding dong ♪ Hosannah in excelsis ♪ Gloria ♪ Dong ding dong ding ♪ Dong ding dong ding, dong ding dong ding ♪ ♪ Dong ding dong ding, dong ding dong ding ♪ ♪ Dong ding dong ♪ Hosannah in excelsis (grand orchestral music) (grand orchestral music continues) (grand orchestral music continues) ♪ Pray you dutifully prime ♪ Your matin chime, ye ringers ♪ May you beautifully rhyme ♪ Your evetime song, ye singers ♪ ♪ Gloria ♪ Hosannah in excelsis ♪ Gloria ♪ Dong ding dong ding ♪ Dong ding dong ding, dong ding dong ding ♪ ♪ Dong ding dong ding, dong ding dong ding ♪ ♪ Dong ding dong ♪ Hosannah in excelsis ♪ Hosannah in excelsis ♪ Hosannah ♪ In excelsis ♪ In excelsis ♪ In excelsis (cheerful festive music) ♪ Sing this night, for a boy is born in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Christ our Lord, in a lowly manger lies ♪ ♪ Bring your gifts, come and worship at his cradle ♪ ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ ♪ See his star shining bright ♪ In the sky this Christmas night ♪ ♪ Follow me joyfully ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ ♪ Angels bright, come from Heaven's highest glory ♪ ♪ Bear the news, with its message of good cheer ♪ ♪ Sing, rejoice for a King is come to save us ♪ ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ ♪ See his star shining bright ♪ In the sky this Christmas night ♪ ♪ Follow me joyfully ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ (heartfelt music) ♪ See, he lies in his mother's tender keeping ♪ ♪ Jesus Christ in her loving arms asleep ♪ ♪ Shepherds poor, come to worship and adore him ♪ ♪ Offer their humble gifts before the son of Mary ♪ ♪ See his star shining bright ♪ In the sky this Christmas night ♪ ♪ Follow me joyfully ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ (cheerful festive music) ♪ Let us all pay our homage at the manger ♪ ♪ Sing his praise on this joyful Christmas night ♪ ♪ Christ is come, bringing promise of salvation ♪ ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ ♪ See his star shining bright ♪ In the sky this Christmas night ♪ ♪ Follow me joyfully ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary ♪ ♪ Hurry to Bethlehem ♪ And see the son of Mary (grand orchestral music) (spirited orchestral music) (spirited orchestral music continues) (Josefina singing in Spanish) (Josefina continues singing in Spanish) (Josefina continues singing in Spanish) (Josefina continues singing in Spanish) (choir and Josefina singing in Spanish) (choir and Josefina continue singing in Spanish) (spirited orchestral music) (spirited orchestral music continues) (Josefina singing in Spanish) (Josefina continues singing in Spanish) (Josefina continues singing in Spanish) (Josefina continues singing in Spanish) (choir and Josefina singing in Spanish) (choir and Josefina continue singing in Spanish) (choir and Josefina continue singing in Spanish) (lively organ music) (rousing orchestral music) (rousing orchestral music continues) (rousing orchestral music continues) (rousing orchestral music continues) (lively organ music) (joyful orchestral music) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (lively organ music) (joyful orchestral music) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (rousing orchestral music) (rousing orchestral music continues) (rousing organ music) (rousing organ music continues) (joyful organ music) (grand organ music) (grand organ music continues) (gentle organ music) (gentle organ music continues) (lively organ music) (lively organ music continues) (grand organ music) (joyful orchestral music) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (joyful orchestral music continues) (rousing organ music) (rousing orchestral music) ♪ Joy to the world ♪ The Lord is come (rousing orchestral music) (bells chime) ♪ Masters in this hall, hear ye news today ♪ ♪ Brought from over sea, and ever I you pray ♪ ♪ Going o'er the hills, through the milk white snow ♪ ♪ Heard the ewes bleat while the wind did blow ♪ ♪ Nowell, nowell, nowell ♪ Nowell sing we clear ♪ Holpen are all folk on earth ♪ Born is God's Son so dear ♪ Nowell, nowell, nowell ♪ Nowell sing we loud ♪ God today hath poor folk raised ♪ ♪ And cast a-down the proud (dramatic orchestral music) (dramatic orchestral music continues) (dramatic orchestral music continues) (dramatic orchestral music continues) ♪ Shepherds, many a one sat among the sheep ♪ ♪ No men spake more word than they had been asleep ♪ ♪ Quoth I, fellows mine, why this guise sit ye ♪ ♪ Making but dull cheer, shepherds though ye be ♪ ♪ Nowell, nowell, nowell ♪ Nowell sing we clear ♪ Holpen are all folk on earth ♪ Born is God's Son so dear ♪ Nowell, nowell, nowell ♪ Nowell sing we loud ♪ God today hath poor folk raised ♪ ♪ And cast a-down the proud ♪ Shepherds should of right leap and dance and sing ♪ ♪ Thus to see ye sit is a right strange thing ♪ ♪ Quoth these fellows then, to Bethlehem town we go ♪ ♪ To see a mighty Lord lie in manger low ♪ ♪ Nowell, nowell, nowell ♪ Nowell sing we clear ♪ Holpen are all folk on earth ♪ Born is God's Son so dear ♪ Nowell, nowell, nowell ♪ Nowell sing we loud ♪ God today hath poor folk raised ♪ ♪ And cast a-down the proud ♪ Ox and ass him know, kneeling on their knee ♪ ♪ Wondrous joy had I, this little babe to see ♪ ♪ This is Christ the Lord, masters be ye glad ♪ ♪ Christmas is come in and no folk should be sad ♪ ♪ Nowell, nowell, nowell ♪ Nowell sing we clear ♪ Holpen are all folk on earth ♪ Born is God's Son so dear ♪ Nowell, nowell, nowell ♪ Nowell sing we loud ♪ God today hath poor folk raised ♪ ♪ And cast a-down the proud ♪ Nowell ♪ Nowell ♪ God today hath poor folk raised ♪ ♪ And cast a-down the proud ♪ Nowell ♪ Nowell ♪ Nowell ♪ Nowell ♪ Nowell ♪ Nowell ♪ Nowell ♪ Nowell ♪ Nowell ♪ God today hath poor folk raised ♪ ♪ And cast a-down the proud (serene orchestral music) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music continues) (heartfelt orchestral music) (heartfelt orchestral music continues) (heartfelt orchestral music continues) ♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪ ♪ Let your heart be light ♪ Next year all our troubles ♪ Will be out of sight ♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪ ♪ Make the yuletide gay ♪ Next year all our troubles ♪ Will be miles away ♪ Once again as in olden days ♪ Happy golden days of yore ♪ Faithful friends who are dear to us ♪ ♪ Will be near to us once more (heartfelt orchestral music) ♪ Some day soon, we all will be together ♪ ♪ If the fates allow ♪ Hang a shining star ♪ Upon the highest bow (heartfelt orchestral music) ♪ So have yourself ♪ A merry little Christmas ♪ Now (heartfelt orchestral music) (heartfelt orchestral music continues) (tranquil orchestral music) (tranquil orchestral music continues) (tranquil orchestral music continues) ♪ Silent night, holy night ♪ All is calm, all is bright ♪ Round yon Virgin mother and child ♪ ♪ Holy infant so tender and mild ♪ ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ Silent night, holy night ♪ Shepherds first saw the sight ♪ ♪ Glories stream from Heaven afar ♪ ♪ Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia ♪ Christ the Savior is born ♪ Christ the Savior is born ♪ Alleluia (tranquil orchestral music) ♪ Silent night, holy night ♪ Son of God, love's pure light ♪ ♪ Radiance beams from Thy holy face ♪ ♪ With the dawn of redeeming grace ♪ ♪ Jesus, Lord ♪ Jesus ♪ Lord at Thy birth ♪ Jesus, Lord at Thy birth (tranquil orchestral music) (tranquil orchestral music continues) (serene orchestral music) (serene orchestral music continues) ♪ Away in a manger, no crib for a bed ♪ ♪ The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head ♪ ♪ The stars in the bright sky look down where He lay ♪ ♪ The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay ♪ (serene orchestral music) ♪ The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes ♪ ♪ But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes ♪ ♪ I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky ♪ ♪ And stay by my side until morning is nigh ♪ (serene orchestral music) ♪ Be near me, Lord Jesus ♪ I ask Thee to stay ♪ Close by me forever ♪ And love me, I pray ♪ Bless all the dear children ♪ In Thy tender care ♪ And fit us for Heaven ♪ To live with Thee there (serene orchestral music) (serene orchestral music continues) (triumphant orchestral music) (triumphant orchestral music continues) (triumphant orchestral music continues) ♪ Hark, the herald angels sing ♪ Glory to the newborn King ♪ Peace on earth and mercy mild ♪ ♪ God and sinners reconciled ♪ Joyful all ye nations rise ♪ Join the triumph of the skies ♪ ♪ With angelic host proclaim ♪ Christ is born in Bethlehem ♪ Hark, the herald angels sing ♪ Glory to the newborn King ♪ Christ, by highest heav'n adored ♪ ♪ Christ, the everlasting Lord ♪ Late in time behold him come ♪ Offspring of the Virgin's womb ♪ ♪ Veiled in flesh the Godhead see ♪ ♪ Hail the incarnate Deity ♪ Pleased as man with man to dwell ♪ ♪ Jesus our Immanuel ♪ Hark, the herald angels sing ♪ Glory to the newborn King ♪ Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace ♪ ♪ Hail the Sun of Righteousness ♪ ♪ Light and life to all He brings ♪ ♪ Ris'n with healing in His wings ♪ ♪ Mind he lays his glory by ♪ Born that man no more may die ♪ ♪ Born to raise the sons of earth ♪ ♪ Born to give them second birth ♪ ♪ Hark, the herald angels sing ♪ Glory to ♪ The newborn King (grand orchestral music) (grand orchestral music continues) (grand orchestral music continues) (grand orchestral music continues) (grand orchestral music continues)