Hosanna in Excelsis: Hymns and Devotions for the Christmas Season

“David and Barbara Leeman have done it again. Their newest hymnal, Hosanna in Excelsis—a collection of carols and devotions for the Christmas season—unlocks the riches of the rescue mission we call the incarnation. Each hymn is accompanied by three sections: "Text" (on the background of both author and song), "Tune" (on the melody), and "As You Sing This Hymn" (practical application for thought and life). What a terrific resource to help families and churches lift their voices to the King in the manger, resting in the shadow of a cross.”

“In a day when the glorious message of Christmas and the incarnation of the Son of God are trivialized and commercialized, I can think of nothing more essential than this volume of theologically rich, devotionally inspiring, and biblically faithful hymns. What a wonderful gift this is not only for the individual believer but also for the church corporately. Thank you to the Leemans!”

“Perhaps more families begin or restart family worship during the Christmas season than any other time of year. Whether this describes your family's intention, or you've been consistent in family worship for a long time, I want to commend Hosanna in Excelsis to you. It's a daily devotional that dovetails the biblical teaching upon which many seasonal hymns and carols are based with the lyrics and score of the songs themselves. So you'll learn some of the story behind each song and often about the hymn writer and/or composer, as well as discover biblical insights from the foundational passage for the song. Then, of course, you sing the song in worship of the One whose coming we celebrate at Christmas. Combine all that with the captivating calligraphy of Timothy Botts, and you have a family worship resource you'll enjoy year after year.”

“One critical piece of Christmas being the most wonderful time of the year is the music. And if so in our increasingly secular society, how much more in the church. The angels sang. Mary sang. The magi bowed in worship. The shepherds shared their joy, and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. And we too sing. The coming of God Himself in human flesh is too great to only keep silent. We must soon enough lift our voices, and as our praises go up, they complete our joy that Christ came down to dwell among us. I look forward to making this volume my annual reference for enjoying my favorite Christmas hymns all the more, and learning some new ones as well.”

“The Leemans have done it again! We have recommended their Student Hymnal in our curriculum for several years, and now I am happy to be able to answer our members when they ask if we can recommend any resources specifically for the Christmas season from Advent through Epiphany. The collection includes both well-loved and new-to-me hymns, along with fascinating information about the writers and composers. The Leemans' piano accompaniment recordings are beautiful enough to listen to even when we are not singing. This would be such a welcome addition to any family music library.”

“Effectively compiled, this inspiring, informative collection of Christmas hymns is an essential resource, rejoicing the hearts of those who envision themselves as participants in the incarnation narrative. Emphasizing the church year, Hosanna in Excelsis invigorates the inner spirit, bringing expectation, fulfillment, and light to our darkened world.”