While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night / Margaret Deland

SOURCE

Like small curled feathers, white and soft,

    The little clouds went by,

Across the moon, and past the stars,

    And down the western sky:

In upland pastures, where the grass

    With frosted dew was white,

Like snowy clouds the young sheep lay,

    That first, best Christmas night.

The shepherds slept; and, glimmering faint,

    With twist of thin, blue smoke,

Only their fire's crackling flames

    The tender silence broke—

Save when a young lamb raised his head,

    Or, when the night wind blew,

A nesting bird would softly stir,

    Where dusky olives grew—

With finger on her solemn lip,

    Night hushed the shadowy earth,

And only stars and angels saw

    The little Saviour's birth;

Then came such flash of silver light

    Across the bending skies,

The wondering shepherds woke, and hid

    Their frightened, dazzled eyes!

And all their gentle sleepy flock

    Looked up, then slept again,

Nor knew the light that dimmed the stars

    Brought endless Peace to men—

Nor even heard the gracious words

    That down the ages ring—

The Christ is born! the Lord has come,

    Good-will on earth to bring!

Then o'er the moonlit, misty fields,

    Dumb with the world's great joy,

The shepherds sought the white-walled town,

    Where lay the baby boy—

And oh, the gladness of the world,

    The glory of the skies,

Because the longed-for Christ looked up

    In Mary's happy eyes!

O, Holy Night! (A Christmas Carol) / Thos. C. Roney

SOURCE

Oh, holy night! Oh, glorious light,

     That shines on Bethlehem town!

Oh, music sweet, that from the skies

     Comes floating softly down!

The echo of the angels' song

     Falls on our ears again:

“All glory be to God on high,

     And peace, good will to men.”

The shepherds heard, like note of bird,

     That midnight carol clear,

And to the manger and the babe

     In awe and love drew near

And, as they gazed, the heavenly strain

     Rang in their hearts again:

“All glory be to God on high,

     And peace, good will to men”

'Twas service sweet, 'twas homage meet

     For lowly men to pay;

And we our hearts' obeisance make

     Upon this Christmas day.

We join ye, angel choristers,

     As ye repeat again:

“All glory be to God on high,

     And peace, good will to men.”

Oh, holy night! Oh, glorious light,

     That shines on Bethlehem town!

Oh, music sweet, that from the skies

     Comes softly floating down!

We catch the golden cadences

     And fling them back again --

“All glory be to God on high,

     And peace, good will to men.”

Light In The Darkness / Norval Clyne

SOURCE

The blasts of chill December sound

    The farewell of the year,

And night's swift shadows gath'ring round

    O'er cloud the soul with fear;

But rest you well, good Christian men,

    Nor be of heart forlorn;

December's darkness begins again

    The Light of Christmas morn.

The welcome snow at Christmas-tyde

    Falls shining from the skies:

On village paths and uplands wide

    All holy-white it lies;

It crowns with pearl the oaks and pines,

    And glitters on the thorn,

And purer is the Light that shines

    On gladsome Christmas morn.

'Twas when the world was waxing old,

    And night on Bethlehem lay,

The shepherds saw the heavens unfold

    A light beyond the day;

Such glory ne'er had visited

    A world with sin outworn;

But yet more glorious Light is shed

    On happy Christmas morn.

Those shepherds poor, how blest were they

    The angels' song to hear!

In manger cradle as He lay,

    To greet their Lord so dear!

The Lord of Heaven's eternal height

    For us a Child was born:

And He, the very Light of Light,

    Shone forth that Christmas morn!

Before His Infant smile afar

    Were driven the hosts of hell;

And still in souls that childlike are

    His guardian Love shall dwell:

O then rejoice, good Christian men,

    Nor be of hear forlorn;

December's darkness bring again

    The Light of Christmas morn.

Hymn For The Nativity / Edward Thring

SOURCE

Happy night and happy silence downward softly stealing

    Softly stealing over land and sea,

Stars from golden censers swing a silent eager feeling

    Down on Judah, down on Galilee;

And all the wistful air, and earth, and sky,

Listened, listened for the gladness of a cry.

Holy, night, a sudden flash of light its way is winging:

    Angels, angels, all above, around;

Hark, the angel voices, hark, the angel voices singing;

    And the sheep are lying on the ground.

Lo, all the wistful air, and earth, and sky

Listen, listen to the gladness of the cry.

Happy night at Bethlehem; soft little hands are feeling,

    Feeling in the manger with the kine:

Little hands, and eyelids closed in sleep, while angels kneeling,

    Mary, mother, hymn the Babe Divine.

Lo, all the wistful air, and earth, and sky,

Listen, listen to the gladness of the cry.

Wide, as if the light were music, flashes adoration:

    Glory be to God, nor ever cease.

All the silence thrills, and speeds the message of salvation:

    Peace on earth, good-will to men of peace.

Lo, all the wistful air, and earth, and sky,

Listen, listen to the gladness of the cry.

Holy night, thy solemn silence evermore enfoldeth

    Angel songs and peace from God on high:

Holy night, thy watcher still with faithful eye beholdeth

    Wings that wave, and angel glory nigh.

Lo, hushed is strife in air, and earth, and sky,

Still thy watchers hear the gladness of the cry.

Praise Him, ye who watch the night, the silent night of ages:

    Praise Him, shepherds, praise the Holy Child:

Praise Him, ye who hear the light, O praise Him, all ye sages;

    Praise Him children, praise Him meek and mild.

Lo, peace on Earth, glory to God on high,

Listen, listen to the gladness of the cry.

Hymn for Christmas / Felicia Hemans

SOURCE

Oh! lovely voices of the sky

    Which hymned the Saviour's birth,

Are ye not singing still on high,

    Ye that sang, "Peace on earth"?

        To us yet speak the strains

            Wherewith, in time gone by,

        Ye blessed the Syrian swains,

            Oh! voices of the sky!

Oh! clear and shining light, whose beams

    That hour Heaven's glory shed,

Around the palms, and o'er the streams,

    And on the shepherd's head.

        Be near, through life and death,

            As in that holiest night

        Of hope, and joy, and faith—

            Oh! clear and shining light!

Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her (From Heaven above to earth I come) / Martin Luther, trans. Winkworth

SOURCE

From Heaven above to earth I come

To bear good news to every home;

Glad tidings of great joy I bring

Whereof I now will say and sing:

To you this night is born a child

Of Mary, chosen mother mild;

This little child, of lowly birth,

Shall be the joy of all your earth.

'Tis Christ our God who far on high

Hath heard your sad and bitter cry;

Himself will your Salvation be,

Himself from sin will make you free.

He brings those blessings, long ago

Prepared by God for all below;

Henceforth His kingdom open stands

To you, as to the angel bands.

These are the tokens ye shall mark,

The swaddling clothes and manger dark;

There shall ye find the young child laid,

By whom the heavens and earth were made.

Now let us all with gladsome cheer

Follow the shepherds, and draw near

To see this wondrous gift of God

Who hath His only Son bestowed.

Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes!

Who is it in yon manger lies?

Who is this child so young and fair?

The blessed Christ-child lieth there.

Welcome to earth, Thou noble guest,

Through whom e'en wicked men are blest!

Thou com'st to share our misery,

What can we render, Lord, to Thee!

Ah, Lord, who hast created all,

How hast Thou made Thee weak and small,

That Thou must choose Thy infant bed

Where ass and ox but lately fed!

Were earth a thousand times as fair,

Beset with gold and jewels rare,

She yet were far too poor to be

A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.

For velvets soft and silken stuff

Thou hast but hay and straw so rough,

Whereon Thou King, so rich and great,

As 'twere Thy heaven, art throned in state.

Thus hath it pleased Thee to make plain

The truth to us poor fools and vain,

That this world's honour, wealth and might

Are nought and worthless in Thy sight.

Ah! dearest Jesus, Holy Child,

Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,

Within my heart, that it may be

A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

My heart for very joy doth leap,

My lips no more can silence keep;

I too must sing with joyful tongue

That sweetest ancient cradle-song—

Glory to God in highest Heaven,

Who unto man His Son hath given!

While angels sing with pious mirth

A glad New Year to all the earth.

The Christmas Silence / Margaret Deland

SOURCE

Hushed are the pigeons cooing low

    On dusty rafters of the loft;

    And mild-eyed oxen, breathing soft,

Sleep on the fragrant hay below.

Dim shadows in the corner hide;

    The glimmering lantern's rays are shed

    Where one young lamb just lifts his head,

Then huddles 'gainst his mother's side.

Strange silence tingles in the air;

    Through the half-open door a bar

    Of light from one low-hanging star

Touches a baby's radiant hair.

No sound: the mother, kneeling, lays

    Her cheek against the little face.

    Oh human love! Oh heavenly grace!

'Tis yet in silence that she prays!

Ages of silence end to-night;

    Then to the long-expectant earth

    Glad angels come to greet His birth

In burst of music, love, and light!

Christmas Carol / Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, trans. Longfellow

SOURCE 

When Christ was born in Bethlehem,

'T was night, but seemed the noon of day;

    The stars, whose light

    Was pure and bright,

    Shone with unwavering ray;

But one, one glorious star

Guided the Eastern Magi from afar.

Then peace was spread throughout the land;

The lion fed beside the tender lamb;

    And with the kid,

    To pasture led,

    The spotted leopard fed;

In peace, the calf and bear,

The wolf and lamb reposed together there.

As shepherds watched their flocks by night,

An angel, brighter than the sun's own light,

    Appeared in air,

    And gently said,

    Fear not,--be not afraid,

For lo! beneath your eyes,

Earth has become a smiling paradise.

A Christmas Hymn / Anonymous

SOURCE

In the fields where, long ago,

    Dropping tears, amid the leaves,

Ruth's young feet went to and fro,

    Binding up the scattered sheaves,

In the field that heard the voice

    Of Judea's shepherd King,

Still the gleaners may rejoice,

    Still the reapers shout and sing.

For each mount and vale and plain

    Felt the touch of holier feet.

Then the gleaners of the grain

    Heard, in voices full and sweet,

"Peace on earth, good will to men,"

    Ring from angel lips afar,

While, o'er every glade and glen,

    Broke the light of Bethlehem's star.

Star of hope to souls in night,

    Star of peace above our strife,

Guiding, where the gates of death

    Ope to fields of endless life.

Wanderer from the nightly throng

    Which the eastern heavens gem;

Guided, by an angel's song,

    To the Babe of Bethlehem.

Not Judea's hills alone

    Have earth's weary gleaners trod,

Not to heirs of David's throne

    Is it given to "reign with God."

But where'er on His green earth

    Heavenly faith and longing are,

Heavenly hope and life have birth,

    'Neath the smile of Bethlehem's star.

In each lowly heart or home,

    By each love-watched cradle-bed,

Where we rest, or where we roam,

    Still its changeless light is shed.

In its beams each quickened heart,

    Howe'er saddened or denied,

Keeps one little place apart

    For the Hebrew mother's Child.

And that inner temple fair

    May be holier ground than this,

Hallowed by the pilgrim's prayer,

    Warmed by many a pilgrim's kiss.

In its shadow still and dim,

    Where our holiest longings are,

Rings forever Bethlehem's hymn,

    Shines forever Bethlehem's star.

A Sound of Singing Fills the Air / Timothy Dudley-Smith

SOURCE - Hope Publishing
TEXT-

A sound of singing fills the air

   in praise of all that God has done,

who sent, our human life to share,

   his Son, his own beloved Son;

      the Prince of life the Father gave,

      a wayward world to seek and save.

The sovereign King of all the earth,

   and Lord of all the worlds there are,

he chose, as emblems of his birth,

   a stable and a shining star:

      within a manger-bed to lie,

      whose fingers formed the starry sky.

He came, the Father's final Word,

   from that celestial throne above;

a child, and yet creation's Lord,

   to show the human face of Love:

      the love of god to earth come down,

      who chose the cross before the crown.

So lift our songs to fill the skies!

   From manger-crib and cattle-stall,

from cross and grave, behold him rise,

   the high-ascended Lord of all,

      whose praise the whole creation sings,

      as Lord of lords and King of kings!

Christmas Carol / Sarah Teasdale

SOURCE

The kings they came from out the south,
   All dressed in ermine fine;
They bore Him gold and chrysoprase,
   And gifts of precious wine.

The shepherds came from out the north,
   Their coats were brown and old;
They brought Him little new-born lambs—
   They had not any gold.

The wise men came from out the east,
   And they were wrapped in white;
The star that led them all the way
   Did glorify the night.

The angels came from heaven high,
   And they were clad with wings;
And lo, they brought a joyful song
   The host of heaven sings.

The kings they knocked upon the door,
   The wise men entered in,
The shepherds followed after them
   To hear the song begin.

The angels sang through all the night
   Until the rising sun,
But little Jesus fell asleep
   Before the song was done.

A Hymn on the Nativity of My Savior / by Ben Jonson

SOURCE 

I sing the birth was born tonight,
The Author both of life and light;
     The angels so did sound it,
And like the ravished shepherds said,
Who saw the light, and were afraid,
     Yet searched, and true they found it.

The Son of God, the eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,
     And freed the soul from danger;
He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word, which heaven and earth did make,
     Was now laid in a manger.

The Father's wisdom willed it so,
The Son's obedience knew no "No,"
     Both wills were in one stature;
And as that wisdom had decreed,
The Word was now made Flesh indeed,
     And took on Him our nature.

What comfort by Him do we win?
Who made Himself the Prince of sin,
     To make us heirs of glory?
To see this Babe, all innocence,
A Martyr born in our defense,
     Can man forget this story?

That the King of Glory may come in / Emily Elizabeth Steele Elliott

SOURCE - Chimes of Consecration by Emily Elizabeth Steele Elliott

THOU did’st leave Thy throne and Thy Kingly crown,

    When Thou camest to earth for me;

But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room

    For Thy Holy Nativity:

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!

    There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,

    Proclaiming Thy Royal degree;

But of lowly birth cam’st Thou, Lord, on earth,

    And in great humility:

O, come to my heart, Lord Jesus!

    There is room in my heart for Thee.

The foxes found rest, and the birds had their, nest

    In the shade of the cedar tree;

But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,

    In the deserts of Galilee

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!

    There is room in my heart for Thee.

Thou earnest, O Lord, with the living word,

    That should set Thy people free;

But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn

    They bore Thee to Calvary:

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!

    Thy cross is my only plea.

When Heaven’s arches shall ring, and her choirs shall sing

    At Thy coming to victory,

Let Thy voice call me home, saying, “Yet there is room!

    There is room at My side for thee:”

And my heart shall rejoice at the Bridegroom’s voice,

    When He cometh and calleth for me.

Brightest and best / Reginald Heber

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SATB

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,

Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;

Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining;

Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall;

Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,

Maker and Monarch and Savior of all!

Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,

Odors of Edom and offerings divine?

Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,

Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation,

Vainly with gifts would His favor secure;

Richer by far is the heart’s adoration,

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Why ring these merry bells today? / Adam Geibel

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SATB

Why ring these merry bells today?

Why pour they forth their joyous lay?

It is the day our Christ was born.

The bright and happy Christmas morn.

And thus they bear the gladsome strain,

O'er hill and plain.

Chorus:

Then ring, ring, ring, ring,

Then ring, ye merry Christmas bells,

Then ring, ring ring, ye merry Christmas bells,

Then ring, ring, ring, ring,

Then ring, ye merry Christmas bells,

Then ring, ring, ring, ye merry Christmas bells,

Ye merry bells, ye merry bells, Christmas bells.

Oh, should we not his praise proclaim,

And sing the glory of his name;

The angels came from heav'n above,

To tell the wonders of his love.

The prophets brought their gifts of gold,

And wealth untold.

Chorus.

We'll twine the ivy wreath today,

And laurels strew along the way,

That all the world may know and see

What Christ has done for you and me;

That we, by showing forth our love,

its heart may move.

Chorus.

While by my sheep / Hugo Jüngst

SOURCE - CPDL 
FOR - SATB

While by the sheep I watched at night,
Glad tidings brought an angel bright.

 Refrain:
How great our joy! (Great our joy!)
Joy, joy, joy! (Joy, joy, joy!)
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
(Praise we the Lord in heaven on high)!

There shall be born, so he did say,
In Bethlehem a Child today.
 Refrain

There shall he lie in a manger mean,
Who shall redeem the world from sin.
 Refrain

Lord, evermore to me be nigh,
Then shall my heart be fill'd with joy!
 Refrain

What Child is this? / Traditional

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - various arrangements

What Child is this who, laid to rest

On Mary’s lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;

Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

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.

This day Christ was born / William Byrd

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SSAATB

This day Christ was borne,

this day our Saviour did appeare,

This day the Angels sing in earth,

the Archangels are glad.

This day the just rejoyce, saying:

Glory be to God on high. Alleluia.

There were shepherds / Dudley Buck

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SATB with soprano solo

There were shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flocks by night,
and Lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the Glory of the Lord shone round about them;
and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them,
"Fear not! for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people;
For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord, is Christ the Lord."
And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heav'nly host, praising God and saying:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will to men, Amen. 

Sussex Carol / Traditional

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SATB

On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring
News of great joy news of great mirth
News of our merciful King's birth

Then why should men on earth be so sad
Since our Redeemer made us glad
Then why should men on earth be so sad
Since our Redeemer made us glad Chorus
When from our sin he set us free
All for to gain our liberty?

When sin departs before his grace
Then life and health come in its place
When sin departs before his grace
Then life and health come in its place
Angels and men with joy may sing
All for to see the new born King Chorus

All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night
All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night
Glory to God and peace to men
Now and forever more, Amen.