For you a little child is born Of God's own chosen maid, this morn: A fair and tender baby bright, To be your joy and your delight.
Lo, he is Christ, the Lord indeed, Our God, to guide you in your need: And he will be your Saviour, strong To cleanse you from all sin and wrong.
While shepherds kept their watching Over silent flocks by night Behold throughout the heavens There shone a holy light.
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The shepherds feared and trembled, When lo! above the earth, Rang out the angels chorus That hailed the Savior’s birth.
Down in a lowly manger The humble Christ was born And God sent us salvation That blessèd Christmas morn.
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Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God in the highest glory:
Savior, we greet thee, Born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be all glory given! Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing:
Melody: Adeste Fidelis; Music: J.F. Wade, 1751; Text: Latin, 18th century; Translator: Frederick Oakeley, 1841 et al.
Songs of praise awoke the morn when the Prince of Peace was born; songs of praise arose when he captive led captivity.
Heaven and earth must pass away; songs of praise shall crown that day; God will make new heavens and earth; songs of praise shall hail their birth.
And will man alone be dumb till that glorious kingdom come? No; the Church delights to raise psalms and hymns and songs of praise.
Saints below, with heart and voice, still in songs of praise rejoice, learning here, by faith and love, songs of praise to sing above.
Borne upon their latest breath, songs of praise shall conquer death; then, amidst eternal joy, songs of praise their powers employ. Melody: Culbach; Music: John Wilson; Text: James Montgomery, 1854
Blessed she by all creation, Who brought forth the world's salvation. Blessed they who ever blest, Love you most and serve you best. Virgin-born, we bow before you; Blessed was the womb that bore you; Mary, Mother meek and mild, Blessed was she in her Child. Melody: Mon Dieu, Prete Moi L'Orielle 88-77D (Genevan Psalm 86); Music: German Psalter, 1543; Text: R. Heber, 1783-1826, alt.
Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear, for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you. Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The Babe, the Son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh, Come peasant, king to own Him; The King of kings salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone Him. Raise, raise a song on high, The virgin sings her lullaby. Joy, joy for Christ is born, The Babe, the Son of Mary. Melody: Greensleeves 87.87.68.67; Text: William Chatterton Dix, 1837-1898
Refrain: Let grateful hearts now sing, A song of joy and holy praise To Christ the new-born King.
Though found within a manger poor, alleluia, His Kingdom shall for e'er endure, alleluia, alleluia.
As brother in the flesh he came, alleluia, Our King whose name we now proclaim, alleluia, alleluia.
Melody: Gregorian, Mode I; Music: Traditional, Gregorian; Text: Puer Natus in Bethlehem; Translator: J.W. Hewitt, 1959, alt.
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, and wonders, of His love. Text: Isaac Watts, The Psalms of David, 1719. Music: Antioch, arranged by Lowell Mason, 1836.
Refrain Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ, by highest Heav’n adored; Christ the everlasting Lord; Late in time, behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’incarnate Deity, Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.
Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.
Refrain Text: Charles Wesley, 1739. Music: Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn, 1840
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heavenly song?
Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
See Him in a manger laid, Whom the choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, While our hearts in love we raise.
Refrain Text: Traditional French carol; translated by James Chadwick, 1862. Music: Gloria (Barnes), French carol melody