Christmas 2025
Our Christmas tree has been up since before Thanksgiving. My wife Molly has a wonderful eye for aesthetics and making a space “feel” right. And that is no more true than at Christmas in our living room.
And as we decorate the tree, there is ONE album that always gets played: Phil Wickham’s “Songs for Christmas”. This album has that ‘right’ feel for Christmas in our house and will always have a place in my listening rotation around this time of year. But, that album is almost a decade old at this point, so I went on a search for some new Christmas music. And I found some!!
So here are my five Christmas Album recommendations for 2025:
“Rejoice! (A Celtic Christmas)” - We Are Messengers
This album has a distinctly “Irish” feel, which makes sense that We Are Messengers are natives of Ireland. But Celtic style makes these newer arrangements of Christmas songs feel appropriately timeless.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/rejoice-a-celtic-christmas/1828701491
https://open.spotify.com/album/2fpYcIaEHetaRYy7SLU2fR?si=bcY6ySdGQdGjBSmzjZUQ9w
“Christmas in Belfast”- Rend Collective
Unintentionally, another Irish group. This album does not have as distinct of a Celtic feel as the first, but it is calming and uplifting. The song “A Christmas Hymn” puts Advent lyrics to the melody of Come Thou Fount. It is incredibly moving and poignant.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/christmas-in-belfast/1849960889
https://open.spotify.com/album/6dnxD1vqWbsxFWrbK1RgpI?si=Q8rkraAaR2OMF-p4dBjZAQ
Christmas Collection Vol. 1 - Sleeping at Last
A song off this album made my “Songs for a Contemplative Christmas” list last year. But this is the whole album. It is a wonderful mix joyful and melancholy.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/christmas-collection-vol-1/1298273516
https://open.spotify.com/album/1DINBPK1Aqj6Y4Cjf3w11o?si=R_Ak0MWTSWuAujZjGfrXlg
Hallelujah, It’s Christmas - Phil Wickham
Turns out Phil Wickham has made a few more Christmas albums since the one that makes an annual appearance in my house. An this is a goooood one. It is big and fun. It has traditional carols done with a modern flare, and some newly composed songs that movingly connect Christ’s birth, with the salvation worked in His death and resurrection.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/hallelujah-its-christmas/1769091038
https://open.spotify.com/album/3MaCYkBn53nBUutcE18cCI?si=DEXwC1jgRTGMOcxqZUz2lQ
Snow Globe Town - Brad Paisley
This album is just FUN. And for me, includes a healthy dose of gratuitous guitar playing. Brad Paisley has a unique way of mixing humorous whimsy, moving arrangements, and amazing guitar playing that hits all of the right notes for me around this time of year!
https://music.apple.com/us/album/snow-globe-town/1843945560
https://open.spotify.com/album/1TcMtNOoUVqs9KiteG5HsX?si=BJRc34g_TRm08X0Bobm5lg
Merry Christmas!
-John Day, Worship Pastor