Oh little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth,
the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary,
and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep
their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together,
proclaim the holy birth.
And praises sing to God the king,
and peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is given.
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven
No ear may hear his coming
but in this world of sin
where meek souls will receive him still
the dear Christ enters in.
Oh holy child of Bethlehem
Descend to us we pray.
Cast out our sin and enter in.
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell.
O come to us, abide with us,
Our lord Emmanuel.
(Philip Brooks 1835-93)
While shepherds watched
their flocks by night
all seated on the ground
the angel of the Lord came down
and glory shone around.
“Fear not” said he
for mighty dread
had seized their troubled minds.
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and all mankind”.
For you in David’s
town this day
is born of David’s line
a saviour, who is Christ the Lord,
and this shall be the sign:
The heavenly babe
you there shall find
to human view displayed
all meanly wrapped in swathing bands
and in a manger laid.”
Thus spake the seraph
and forthwith
appeared a shining throng
of angels praising God who thus
addressed their joyful song.
“All glory be to
God on high
and to the earth be peace.
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
begin and never cease.
(Nahum Tate 1652-1715)
Away in a manger
no crib for a bed,
the little lord Jesus
lay down his sweet head,
The stars in the bright sky
look down where he lay
the little lord Jesus
asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing
The baby awakes.
But little lord Jesus
no crying he makes.
I love thee, lord Jesus
look down from the sky
and be by my side
until morning is nigh.
Be near me, lord Jesus.
I ask thee to stay
close by me for ever
and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children
in thy tender care
and take us for heaven
to live with thee there.
(Anon. Verse 3 J T McFarland c1906)
Ding dong merrily on high
in heaven the bells are ringing.
Ding dong verily the sky
is riven with angels singing
Gloria
Hosanna in excelsis
Gloria
Hosanna in excelsis.
E’en so here below below
let steeple bells be swungen
and io io io
by priest and people sungen
Gloria....
Pray you beautifully prime
you matin chime, ye ringers.
May you beautifully rhyme
your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria...
O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him,
born the king of angels.
O come let us adore him.
O come let us adore him.
O come let us adore him,
Christ, the lord!
God of God,
light of light,
lo, he abhors not the virgin’s womb.
Very God,
begotten, not created.
Refrain
Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above:
“Glory to God,
all glory in the highest!”
Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n;
Word of the Father,
begotten, not created
(From the 18th century Latin, tr Frederick Oakley 1802-80)
how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth,
the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary,
and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep
their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together,
proclaim the holy birth.
And praises sing to God the king,
and peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is given.
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven
No ear may hear his coming
but in this world of sin
where meek souls will receive him still
the dear Christ enters in.
Oh holy child of Bethlehem
Descend to us we pray.
Cast out our sin and enter in.
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell.
O come to us, abide with us,
Our lord Emmanuel.
(Philip Brooks 1835-93)
While shepherds watched
their flocks by night
all seated on the ground
the angel of the Lord came down
and glory shone around.
“Fear not” said he
for mighty dread
had seized their troubled minds.
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and all mankind”.
For you in David’s
town this day
is born of David’s line
a saviour, who is Christ the Lord,
and this shall be the sign:
The heavenly babe
you there shall find
to human view displayed
all meanly wrapped in swathing bands
and in a manger laid.”
Thus spake the seraph
and forthwith
appeared a shining throng
of angels praising God who thus
addressed their joyful song.
“All glory be to
God on high
and to the earth be peace.
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
begin and never cease.
(Nahum Tate 1652-1715)
Away in a manger
no crib for a bed,
the little lord Jesus
lay down his sweet head,
The stars in the bright sky
look down where he lay
the little lord Jesus
asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing
The baby awakes.
But little lord Jesus
no crying he makes.
I love thee, lord Jesus
look down from the sky
and be by my side
until morning is nigh.
Be near me, lord Jesus.
I ask thee to stay
close by me for ever
and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children
in thy tender care
and take us for heaven
to live with thee there.
(Anon. Verse 3 J T McFarland c1906)
Ding dong merrily on high
in heaven the bells are ringing.
Ding dong verily the sky
is riven with angels singing
Gloria
Hosanna in excelsis
Gloria
Hosanna in excelsis.
E’en so here below below
let steeple bells be swungen
and io io io
by priest and people sungen
Gloria....
Pray you beautifully prime
you matin chime, ye ringers.
May you beautifully rhyme
your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria...
O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him,
born the king of angels.
O come let us adore him.
O come let us adore him.
O come let us adore him,
Christ, the lord!
God of God,
light of light,
lo, he abhors not the virgin’s womb.
Very God,
begotten, not created.
Refrain
Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above:
“Glory to God,
all glory in the highest!”
Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n;
Word of the Father,
begotten, not created
(From the 18th century Latin, tr Frederick Oakley 1802-80)