This one we had for my mum's funeral, at her request. I then used it at Ian's this year. Given his love of walking hills and the outdoors, it seemed right. I also believe it is taken from a Russian hymn, and that's where he died. He wasn't a religious man as such, but he was convinced there was some higher intelligence behind what he saw.

'How Great Thou Art'

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, etc

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, etc

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, etc

As for Christmas, there are many beautiful carols. The one that speaks to me most these days is "It came Upon the Midnight Clear", which has a lot to say about the way of the world. And it was written in the 19th Century - nothing changes, really, does it?

Andrea