Do the We Three Kings. Don't die on that hill.

At least for a while, I think a sacro-pop (think John Michael Talbot/Haugen/Haas/Joncas or Steve Janco's Draw Near, not KLove Christian rock with drums) offertory "hymn" would be wise. I did that early in my career and it worked out well. I think it bought me a longer leash to do the really lovely sacred music we did in that parish. Of course, the music director who succeeded me in that position went whole-hog OCP, but that's another story.

Liam- dare I ask why about Silent Night? This is a new objection for me. . .

I've never looked to most hymns at mass for much theological content as it is (no to mention they just add another layer of non-liturgical song to the already complicated mix), so doing them at all is "throwing them a bone" in my book.

It's nice to be able to ask if it's a hill to die on. Most people die in much more unpleasant territory. Seriously, do it and move on. (And if people are all about "sad music", then why are you doing something with the verse in minor?)

I'm an easterner. We don't believe in the Latin version of Purgatory. LOL. No one will ever be punished for "kings" and "silent night." I am sure God has more important things to do. Now "Gather us In," however, is a sure road to hell.

Reverence is simultaneously an objective and subjective reality. What a comforting fact that is to know.

Let me explain:

Your goal is to bring about the objective reality, as you understand it, from church documents and tradition into practice in your local community.

If, however, in doing so, you skillfully use familiar music with which they are acquainted and enamored to achieve that end, even if it grates against your ideals, then take comfort at least in this: they, not having perceived any difficulty with that music before you arrived, will not perceive any difficulty with it simply because you have now arrived.

In other words, it will still be perceived, subjectively, as reverent, and you can rest assured that it will cause no scandal, if you use it.

Here's how that fits, in my view, into a plan to achieve your ends (although your situation, from previous posts, sounds more interesting than most):

Broadening their taste to include things that are your ideal would be step one. Usually that taste is not there when one begins. Keep the aesthetic feel the same as it was, but introduce beautiful moments that are different here and there. I was at a musically abhorrent funeral once, but there was incense, and at Offertory time, during the incensation, Dubois' Adoramus Te was sung. It was momentary, but moving. That kind of thing.

Step two would be to make enough of this kind of music familiar and second nature, that entire liturgies could be built using only this.

Step three, strategically introduce controlled liturgical environments of this kind, with repertoire that is now familiar, in which the assembly can take part.

Step four, gradually adjust the proportions in more settled liturgies, like the Sunday Mass. Retire rep strategically and gently, not abruptly,

Pay attention to negative feedback, and seriously ask if their are ways you can adjust your program to meet it. It is inevitable, but that is not a license to ignore it. Consider it as in good faith, and realize that some of what they desire will be likely compatible with your vision and the pastor's. Do that, as a gesture of goodwill back. You may make unexpected friends, who will help you in otherwise inaccessible spaces within the community.

I think Silent Night is loathsome, fortunately I do not have to programme English songs at our Masses.

As for We Three Kings I like the first verse,

We Three Kings of Orient are, in search of a pub' it can't be too far... One on a scooter beeping his hoooter, following yonder star

N.B. A Pub' is for Public house so a bar or other drinking establishment, Scooter is a motorised bicycle (or children's two wheeled toy), and a hooter is a car horn.

I actually like Silent Night. What I don't like is the lowering of church lights so as to set the mood as if we are in some kind of hotel lounge or grafting "Night of Silence" to further embrace the mood.

As for "We Three Kings", I haven't seen anyone suggesting an alternative perhaps because nothing new has been written in a very long time. There are three Epiphany hymns in the Catholic Church Hymnal compiled by A. Edmonds Tozer. There are also some hymns for Epiphany in the Alverno Hymnal. There is even a selection of hymns in the Adoremus hymnal. But there again, older hymns. If you need an alternative to Silent Night, consider "Sleep Holy Babe". I particularly like the arrangement from the 1918 St. Basil Hymnal.

Do 3 Kings, but like this. https://m.soundcloud.com/inmemoriamgerrehancock/we-three-kings-of-orient-are-three-kings-of-orient

Tomjaw.
Here's the equivalent on the west side of the pond:
"We three kings of Orient are
Tried to smoke a rubber cigar.
It was loaded; it exploded,
Blowing us wide and far."

Pace Liam & others, I don't think relegating SN and W3K to carol sings and shopping malls and letting them gradually lose any religious connotation should count as a victory. But as long as we're playing at Grinches, I count The First Noel against my purgatory time ;-)

"We three kings of Orient are
Smoking on a rubber cigar.
It was loaded; it exploded,
Blowing us wide and far.
Now there are only two."

A shorter version of 99 bottles.