Search - CHRISTMAS:TIME FOR JOY on DVD

The spirit of Christmas

Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 10/31/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The styles are varied in this wonderful show, but the quality always high, with renditions of familiar classics along with a few original songs, with some numbers that are truly thrilling, among them the opening song, a bluegrass flavored "It's a Time for Joy" with Karen Peck and New River, the Gaither Vocal Band with David Phelps doing an exquisite tenor solo on "The Christmas Song" (and Mark Lowry doing Johnny Mathis !), "Children Go Where I Send Thee" with The Bishops giving us harmonies from heaven, the country rockin' sound of "Go Tell" with The Martins, and best of all, "Mary, Did You Know ?" (music and lyrics by Mark Lowry and Buddy Green), sung by the Gaither Vocal Band featuring an emotionally stirring solo by Mark Lowry. The words, melody, and interpretation of this song fills my eyes with tears when I hear it...the disc is worth it for this number alone.

The music is so inspired, I probably would have preferred less humor...one segment in particular isn't that funny and has a "secular entertainment" feel to it, but that is a minor quibble when compared to the overwhelming spirit of this disc, which I'll enjoy any time of the year, with the musicians and singers giving 100% of their talent, and moving one to praise and worship the Lord, in the true spirit of Christmas.
The show was filmed in the Alabama Theater, a lovely ornate theater in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2001, and total running time is 90 minutes.
The DVD extras include an interesting piece titled "Project Spotlight" with people like Joni Eareckson Tada, and subtitles are also available.
Track Listing:
1: Program Opening
2:"It's a Time For Joy", Karen Peck and New River
3: Comedy featuring Mark Lowry and Bill Gaither
4: "Listen to the Angels Sing", The Martins
5: "Angels We Have Heard on High", The Hayes Family
6: "Good News", The Hoppers
7: "White Christmas", Jake Hess
8: "The Friendly Beasts" (just one verse) Jeff and Sheri Easter, Charlotte Ritchie
9: "Sweet Baby Jesus", Jeff and Sheri Easter, Charlotte Ritchie
10: "The Christmas Song", Gaither Vocal Band
11: Comedy with Aaron Wilburn
12: "Children Go Where I Send Thee", The Bishops
13: "Winter Wonderland", Sam Levine on Saxophone
14: "Hope of the Ages", Tanya Goodman Sykes
15: "Merry Christmas, My Love", Allison Durham Speer
16: "Go Tell", The Martins
17: "I'll be Home for Christmas", The Florida Boys
18: "Glory to God", The Talley Trio
19: "Piper's Night Before Christmas" story by Mark Lowry
20: "Holy is Thy Name", Legacy Five
21: Narrative by Zig Ziglar
22: "Five Little Fingers", Stephen Hill
23: Narrative by Gloria Gaither
24: "Ordinary Baby", Amy Rouse
25: "Mary, Did You Know ?", Mark Lowry and the Gaither Vocal Band
26: "The King is Coming", Gaither Vocal Band
"