Dinner Conversations Christmas Special

EpisodesEpisodes - Season 1

Oct 22

Written By

Hosts Mark Lowry and Andrew Greer deck the halls with holiday stories and songs (and lots of laughs!) featuring some of their favorite folks — Cindy Morgan, Mark Schultz and Point of Grace. Plus, Mark performs a special acoustic version of his modern Christmas classic, "Mary, Did You Know?" on this special Dinner Conversations Christmas special.

Transcript

Mark: So it's Christmas.

Mark and Andrew: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere we go.

Mark: Anyway, it's merry Christmas, everybody. It's the Dinner Conversations Christmas special.

Andrew: This is the Christmas special.

Mark: You know, I bought the jacket for $100 off the internet, and then a friend of mine took it and she put beads all over it. She must have used Elmer's Glue because some of them have fallen off, so everywhere I go, I leave a trail of sequins, which is a nice, happy way to spend your Christmas.

Andrew: I would say everywhere you go you leave—

Mark: A trail. So we're very excited about this special, aren't we?

Andrew: Yeah, I love it because it's gonna be more focused on music than probably we usually do. It's still gonna have conversations but conversations through some of our favorite songs and our favorite people.

Mark: Who are we staring with? I'm excited.

Andrew: We're gonna start with me.

Mark: This would be a good time to go to the restroom. No. What are you singing?

Andrew: "Go Tell It On The Mountain" with our good friend — it is redeemable — our good friend Cindy Morgan. Yeah, so we're gonna kick it off with a little...

Mark: All right, here he is.

Andrew Greer and Cindy Morgan singing “Go Tell It On the Mountain”

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

While shepherds kept their watching
O'er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
Jesus Christ is born
Oh Jesus Christ is born

Mark Schultz singing “Different Kind of Christmas”

Mark Schultz: Hey, I'm Mark Schultz, and Mark and Andrew, thanks so much for having me on your Christmas special. This song, "Different Kind of Christmas," was actually inspired by my wife growing up in her house at Christmastime. Ever since she could remember, she and her dad would go to the fireplace on Christmas Eve and leave milk and cookies, and the next morning she would come and there would be a letter from Santa Claus that would say, "Hey, I was coming down the chimney last night, and I bumped into your dad, and he told me that he thinks you're about the greatest thing that ever happened to him." And so my wife loved to get those letters every Christmas from Santa Claus. Even when she was in college, she would go home and write a note to Santa the night before. And even when we got married, the notes changed a little bit, but she still got notes. They'd be like, "Hey, I bumped into your dad coming down the chimney last night. He thinks you're the greatest thing in the world. Your husband needs to learn how to fix some things around the house." You know, he was a huge part of Christmas to her, so after he passed away, she was walking into my office and she said, "You know what?" She said, "We've got the Christmas tinsel and we've got the Christmas lights, and we've got all the things we decorate the tree with — those are all the same — but daddy's gone, and it's a different kind of Christmas this year."

Snow is falling Christmas Eve
Lights are coming on up and down the street
The sound of carols fills the air
And people rushing home, families everywhere
Putting candles in the windows
And lights upon the tree
But there's no laughter in this house
Not like there used to be
It's just a million little memories
That remind me you’re not here
It's just a different kind of Christmas this year

And in the evening, fires glow
Dancing underneath the mistletoe
A letter left from Santa Claus
Won't be the same this year in this house because
There's one less place set at the table
One less gift under the tree
And a brand new way to take their place inside of me
Well, I'm unwrapping all these memories
Fighting back the tears
It's just a different kind of Christmas this year

Now there's voices in the driveway
Families right outside the door
And we'll try to make this Christmas like the ones we've had before
But as we gather around the table, I see joy on every face
And I realize what's still alive is the legacy you made
It's time to put the candles in the windows, the lights upon the tree
It's time to fill this house with laughter like it used to be
Just because your up in heaven doesn't mean you're not near
It's just a different kind of Christmas
It's just a different kind of Christmas this year

Project Beautiful Sponsorship Message

Mark: This Christmas program is brought to you by our good friends at Project Beautiful.

Andrew: A passionate community committed to saving innocent lives from the terrors of modern-day slavery, Project Beautiful has intercepted over 12,000 vulnerable people from the front lines of sex trafficking, and today, you can help. Your partnership pledge of $30 a month will help save three lives each year from entering a life of slavery through Project Beautiful's sophisticated interception strategies. And if you sign up today, you will receive a special partnership package filled with exclusive show items straight from our table to your doorstep.

Mark: So will you partner with Andrew and me today to help bring the innocent home through Project Beautiful for just $30 a month? You can save three people a year. Bring them home. Go to projectbeautiful.org/dinnerconversations.

Andrew: Project Beautiful because every life is beautiful and worth fighting for.

Mark Lowry reading Piper’s Night Before Christmas

Mark: They said it was the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a—

Kids: Mouse

Mark: Oh, but hours before, there was much stirring then for Piper the Mouse was the hyperist he'd been. He tried to be good, but his patience grew thin. He wanted it Christmas right there and right then. He stared at those presents like catfish to bait. What was inside them? He just couldn't wait. One gift was marked "Piper," so trying to peek, he pulled on the ribbon, stretching it with his feet. But instead of it breaking, it snapped with a force, catapulting poor Piper in the air. And of course, the window was open, so out Piper flew. There's no telling how many red lights he flew through. The church doors were open. He flew right inside, past the pews and the pastor. What a wonderful ride! He landed smack dab in a pillow of hay, then realized he was now in their Christmas Eve play. There was Mary and Joseph the shepherds and sheep. They were saying their lines. He didn't dare make a peep. They said that God loved us and gave us his son, so at Christmas, it's giving not getting that's fun. Piper looked right beside him and there on the hay lay the most precious baby ever born to this day. He jumped off that manger and ran to his house, breaking all the speed limits that apply to a mouse. He got his one gift, and he dragged it for miles to the church, to the stage, to the manger, and smiled. He gave it to Jesus. It was all he could do, but then the angel said, "Jesus would rather have you." The play was now over. The cast took their bows. Piper took one himself with the sheep and the cows. And he walked home that night with something new to believe, for he'd learned it's much better to give than receive. And when he got to his house, he did not make a peep. He just made gifts for his loved ones, then fell fast asleep. So that night before Christmas, that's why all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Andrew: All right, so one of my favorite things is—

Mark: Oh no. He loves a Christmas quote, y'all. Quotes.

Andrew: I love quotes in general. Yeah, cause people–

Mark: I do too.

Andrew: You do.

Mark: I do, but I don't like—

Andrew: You don't like mine.

Mark: I don't, like, write them down and carry them around with me.

Andrew: Okay. See if you can guess who said this. You ready? "He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree."

Mark: I have no idea.

Andrew: You're not even going to guess? That's the game.

Mark: Benjamin Franklin

Andrew: No, Roy L. Smith.

Mark: Well, who's that?

Andrew: I don't know.

Mark: I'm shedding again.

Andrew: Okay. Here's—

Mark: But I shed Christmas everywhere I go. It just sheds. Go ahead.

Andrew: All right. You will know this name. "Christmas is not a time nor a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."

Mark: Pee-wee Herman

Andrew: Close — Calvin Coolidge. Here's a good one: "Christmas, my child, is love in action."

Mark: Mother Teresa

Andrew: Close — Dale Evans.

Mark: Oh, Roy's wife?

Andrew: Yeah, which is kind of like a Mother Teresa figure. Okay, here's the last one. I love this one.

Mark: Oh, good.

Andrew: "Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."

Mark: "Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." Oh, conspiracy is an interesting word for that.

Andrew: It is.

Mark: I don't know. Who? I don't know.

Andrew: Hamilton Wright Mabie

Mark: Never heard of him either. Have you?

Andrew: No.

Mark: Okay. There's our Christmas quotes. Now, back to the music.

Mark Lowry singing “Mary Did You Know”

Mark: In this great ever-expanding universe, how are we going to find God? He found us. But you know what? He came through the back door. He came through a virgin girl. My college professor said she was 13 years of age. Now, I don't know where he got that in the Bible, but I learned a lot of things in Bible college I never read in the Bible. But we do know that she was a virgin maiden and she was young. If I had been God and I was coming to Earth, that's not the way I'd have come. I'd have had a big golden staircase coming out of the sky. I'd have had cherubim singing and seraphim swinging and Gabriel playing a Dixieland melody on that trumpet. And I'd have let them know I'm coming to Earth, and when I get here, I'm going to kick some tail ‘cuz I'm a Baptist. That's not the way God came. You know who I feel sorry for? The people that were in the motel while God was being born in the barn. Just a few barnyard animals got to witness the entrance of the King, and a virgin maiden and her espoused, her husband, Joseph. And then she got to grow up with him. Isn't that cool? Now, my dad— My dad's here tonight. My dad believes Jesus knew who he was the second he was conceived. I don't. And when daddy does his concert, he can say what he wants. I said, "Daddy, if Jesus knew who he was the second he was conceived, then he was faking all those diaper changes.” Because Mary changed God's diapers. Mary got to have God nursing her breasts. Mary taught God how to talk. Mary taught God how to walk because when our God came to Earth, he set aside his omniscience, his omnipresence, and wrapped himself in flesh and became one of us so we could know him.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you delivered will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to the blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy, he will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face God

The blind will see and the deaf will hear, the dead will live again
And the lame will leap, the dumb will speak the praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Oh, Mary, did you know your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know your baby boy, he's heaven's perfect lamb?
And this sleeping child that you're holding, He's the great I Am

Mark Lowry and Andrew Greer reading Christmas Story from Luke 2 (The Message Bible)

Mark: Here's the Christmas story from Luke 2 in The Message Bible. At that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem and Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

Andrew: There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for" a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

Mark: As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

Andrew: Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!

Andrew Greer and Leigh Cappillino of Point of Grace singing “Silent Night”

Andrew: You start us off.

Leigh: All right.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin
Mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth

Project Beautiful Sponsorship Message

Mark: Dinner Conversations is presented by Project Beautiful. Did you know for only $30 a month you can save three people a year from sex trafficking around the world? Just think if this was your daughter, wouldn't you be glad someone is spending $30 a month to get her home? Go to projectbeautiful.org/dinnerconversations and join Andrew and me as we try to stop sex trafficking in the world today.

Andrew: If we don't help, who will? Project Beautiful because every life is beautiful and worth fighting for.

Mark: One, two, three, four.

Mark and Andrew: Oh by golly, have a holly jolly Christmas this year.

Mark: Merry Christmas, everybody!

Season One title sponsor, Project Beautiful ... a passionate community committed to saving lives from the terrors of human trafficking. Learn more about how you can partner with Mark, Andrew and Project Beautiful to help bring innocent lives home by visiting: