What does a Christmas Song Look Like?

High school students in Minnesota are learning more about some of the classic Christmas hymns and songs with help from the Today devotional. They also created unique Christmas images, like the one displayed here.

December’s devotionals from Today focus on a different Christmas song every day. The devotionals were written by Brian Kuyper, pastor of First CRC in Taber, Alberta.

“As we focus on songs of Christmas and then some songs that look ahead to the new year, we will reflect on the Scripture message behind each song and how God calls us to live by his Word each day.”

As high school students from Avail Academy in Fridley, Minn. read these reflections, they found an additional way to ponder the words and meaning of each song—through photography.

As part of their class assignment, students in Susan Van Geest’s photography class read through the devotions and photographed scenes that reminded them of the lyrics, and ultimately, the  Bible’s Christmas story.

As Grace Bruin read Kuyper’s devotional on O Little Town of Bethlehem, she snapped the photo above.

“The contrast of the light inside the house and the darkness outside is similar to what I think the scene would have been to someone coming to the little town of Bethlehem when Jesus was born,” Bruin wrote. “Outside in the dark night, there was nothing drawing anybody to the stable. It was probably dark and unwelcoming. But little did they know, the Light of the World had just been born in the darkness, into a dark world, to spread His light to all.”

Bruin’s classmates found their own reminders of the Christmas story—from sunsets, to flowers at the beach, to horses—each with their own written reflection about why the photo and corresponding song offer a unique reminder of the familiar Christmas story.

“As you celebrate the birth of our Savior, I hope these students and their reflections inspire you in your own spiritual walk,” added Jeff Bulthuis, managing editor of Today.