Dec 24: With Wondering Awe | Helga Campbell, Provo, Utah

Today's posting comes from my Aunt Helga Moerdelmeyer Campbell. Helga is the wife to my late uncle, Dennis Campbell (former Chief Radio Announcer at KBYU-FM, a component of BYU Broadcasting in Provo, Utah). Everyone loves my Aunt Helga! She was born and raised in Germany and later immigrated to the United States. For 2 years during college, I lived 4 streets away from her and my uncle. I tried to visit them as often as possible because I love them and I know they liked the visits. Very often, Aunt Helga would be baking or cooking something and they would offer it to me (Aunt Helga knew that college students were hungry so she always delivered). I love my Aunt Helga and think about her often.

"My favorite Christmas carol is 'With Wondering Awe'. I loved this song as a child: the melody and the story of the wise men coming to see Christ. When I hear it, I remember the feelings of my childhood in Germany and all the family at the holidays. The first time I remember hearing this song was in 1944 (I was age 8) at the Sunday Christmas Celebration. It touched me since that was the war years and the thought of Christ being found by the wise man gave me hope in Christ. After the meeting, each child got a gift (all hand made since they couldn't get things during the war). I got a small blue corduroy teddy bear."

With Wondering Awe

Text and music: Anon., Laudis Corona, Boston, 1885

With wondering awe the wise men saw

The star in heaven springing,

And with delight, in peaceful night,

They heard the angel singing:

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to His name!

By light of star they traveled far

To seek the lowly manger,

A humble bed wherein was laid

The wondrous little Stranger.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to His name!

And still is found, the world around,

The old and hallowed story,

And still is sung in every tongue

The angels' song of glory:

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to His name!

The heavenly star its rays afar

On every land is throwing,

And shall not cease till holy peace

In all the earth is growing.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to His name!

Note from Stew: here is another great version of this song. I like to sing along with this arrangement...this guy does all of the vocals.