How Brightly Shines the Morning Star!/Philipp Nicolai

SOURCE - Hymnary

How brightly shines the Morning Star!
The nations see and hail afar
the light in Judah shining.
Thou David's son of Jacob's race,
The Bridegroom, and the King of grace,
for thee our hearts are pining!
Lowly, holy, great and glorious,
thou victorious Prince of graces,
filling all the heavenly places!

Though circled by the hosts on high,
he deigns to cast a pitying eye
upon his helpless creature;
the whole creation’s Head and Lord,
by highest seraphim adored,
assumes our very nature.
Jesus, grant us, through thy merit,
to inherit thy salvation:
hear, O hear our supplication.

Rejoice, ye heav'ns; thou earth, reply;
with praise, ye sinners, fill the sky
for this his incarnation.
Incarnate God, put forth thy pow'r,
ride on, ride on, great Conqueror,
till all know thy salvation.
Amen, amen! Alleluya, alleluya!
Praise be given evermore by earth and heaven.

When to Our World the Savior Came

SOURCE - Hymnary.org
FOR - Readings

Text at Hymnary
https://hymnary.org/text/when_to_our_world_the_savior_came

Christmas / George Herbert

SOURCE

THe shepherds sing; and shall I silent be?

                My God, no hymn for thee?

My soul ’s a shepherd too; a flock it feeds

                Of thoughts, and words, and deeds.

The pasture is thy word: the streams, thy grace

                Enriching all the place.

Shepherd and flock shall sing, and all my powers

                Out-sing the day-light houres.

Then we will chide the sunne for letting night

                Take up his place and right:

We sing one common Lord; wherefore he should

                Himself the candle hold.

I will go searching, till I finde a sunne

                Shall stay, till we have done;

A willing shiner, that shall shine as gladly,

                As frost-nipt sunnes look sadly.

Then we will sing, shine all our own day,

                And one another pay:

His beams shall cheer my breast, and both so twine,

Till ev’n his beams sing, and my musick shine.

Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour / Frank Houghton

SOURCE

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,

All for love's sake becamest poor;

Thrones for a manger didst surrender,

Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,

All for love's sake becomes poor.

Thou who art God beyond all praising,

All for love's sake becamest man;

Stooping so low, but sinners raising

Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.

Thou who art God beyond all praising,

All for love's sake becamest man.

Thou who art love beyond all telling,

Saviour and King, we worship thee.

Emmanuel, within us dwelling,

Make us what thou wouldst have us be.

Thou who art love beyond all telling,

Saviour and King, we worship thee.

Come to This Christmas Singing! / Shirley Erena Murray

READ HERE

The Wise Men / G. K. Chesterton

SOURCE

Step softly, under snow or rain,

    To find the place where men can pray;

The way is all so very plain

    That we may lose the way.

Oh, we have learnt to peer and pore

    On tortured puzzles from our youth,

We know all labyrinthine lore,

We are the three wise men of yore,

    And we know all things but the truth.

We have gone round and round the hill

    And lost the wood among the trees,

And learnt long names for every ill,

And served the mad gods, naming still

    The furies the Eumenides.

The gods of violence took the veil

    Of vision and philosophy,

The Serpent that brought all men bale,

He bites his own accursed tail,

    And calls himself Eternity.

Go humbly…it has hailed and snowed…

    With voices low and lanterns lit;

So very simple is the road,

    That we may stray from it.

The world grows terrible and white,

    And blinding white the breaking day;

We walk bewildered in the light,

For something is too large for sight,

    And something much too plain to say.

The Child that was ere worlds begun

    (…We need but walk a little way,

We need but see a latch undone…)

The Child that played with moon and sun

    Is playing with a little hay.

The house from which the heavens are fed,

    The old strange house that is our own,

Where trick of words are never said,

And Mercy is as plain as bread,

    And Honour is as hard as stone.

Go humbly, humble are the skies,

    And low and large and fierce the Star;

So very near the Manger lies

    That we may travel far.

Hark! Laughter like a lion wakes

    To roar to the resounding plain.

And the whole heaven shouts and shakes,

    For God Himself is born again,

And we are little children walking

    Through the snow and rain.

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.”

The Lamb / William Blake

SOURCE

Little Lamb, who made thee

Dost thou know who made thee,

Gave thee life, and bid thee feed

By the stream and o'er the mead;

Gave thee clothing of delight,

Softest clothing, woolly, bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,

Making all the vales rejoice?

Little Lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee;

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee:

He is called by thy name,

For He calls Himself a Lamb

He is meek, and He is mild,

He became a little child.

I a child, and thou a lamb,

We are called by His name.

Little Lamb, God bless thee!

Little Lamb, God bless thee!

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.

Hail to the Lord's Annointed / James Montgomery

SOURCE

Hail to the Lord's Anointed

Great David's greater Son:

Hail, in the time appointed,

His reign on earth begun!

He comes with succour speedy,

To those who suffer wrong;

To help the poor and needy,

And bid the weak be strong.

By such shall He be feared

While sun and moon endure,

Beloved, obeyed, revered,

For He shall judge the poor,

Through changing generations,

With justice, mercy, truth,

While stars maintain their stations

Or moons renew their youth.

He shall come down like showers

Upon the fruitful earth,

And love, hope, joy, like flowers,

Spring in his path to birth.

Before Him, on the mountains,

Shall peace, the herald, go;

And righteousness in fountains,

From hill to valley flow.

With offerings of devotion,

Ships from the Isles shall meet,

To pour the wealth of oceans

In tribute at his feet.

Kings shall fall down before Him,

And gold and incense bring;

All nations shall adore Him,

His praise all people sing;

For He shall have dominion

O'er river, sea, and shore,

Far as the eagle's pinion,

Or dove's light wing can soar.

For Him shall prayer unceasing,

And daily vows ascend;

His kingdom still increasing,

A kingdom without end;

The mountain dews shall nourish

A seed in weakness sown,

Whose fruit shall spread and flourish,

And shake like Lebanon.

The tide of time shall never

His covenant remove;

His name shall stand for ever,

That name to us is Love.

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.

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.

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.

He is So Sweet and Small / Gerard Bullet

We saw Him sleeping in His manger bed
And flatered feet and heart in holy dread.
Until we heard the maiden-mother call:
"Come hither, sirs, He is so sweet and small."

She was more fair than ye have looked upon,
She was the moon and He her little sun;
"O Lord," we cried, "have mercy on us all!"
"But ah," qod she, "He is so sweet and small."

Whereat the blessed beasts with one accord
Gave tongue to praise their little blessed Lord,
Oxen and asses singing in their stall:
"The King of Kings He is so sweet and small."

A Morning Song for Christmas Day / Selwyn Image

SOURCE - A Book of Christmas Verse

Consider what estate of fearful woe
Had then been ours, had He refused this birth;
From sin to sin tossed vainly to and fro,
Hell's playthings, o're a doomed and helpless earth!
Had He from us witheld His priceless worth,
Consider man's estate of fearful woe!

Consider to what joys He bids thee rise,
Who comes, Himself, life's bitter cup to drain!
Ah! look on this sweet Child, whose innocent eyes,
Ere all be done, shall close in mortal pain,
That thou at last Love's Kingdom may'st attain:
Consider to what joys He bids thee rise!

Consider all this wonder, O my soul:
And in thine inmost shrine make music sweet!
Yea, let the world, from furthest pole to pole,
Join in thy praises this dread birth to greet!
Keeling to kiss thy Saviour's infant feet!
Consider all this wonder, O my soul!

Let My Heart the Cradle Be / Fr. John Tabb

Let my heart the cradle be

Of Thy bleak Nativity!
Tossed by wintry tempests wild,
If it rock Thee, Holy Child,
Then, as grows the outer din,
Greater peace shall reign within.

Work of Christmas Begins / Howard Thurman

SOURCE - GodWeb

When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with the flocks,
then the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal those broken in spirit,
to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all peoples,
to make a little music with the heart…
And to radiate the Light of Christ,
every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say.
Then the work of Christmas begins.

Christmas Eve Prayer / Frank Borman

SOURCE - GodWeb

Give us, O God, the vision which can see Your love in the world in spite of human failure.
Give us the faith to trust Your goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness.
Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts.
And show us what each one of us can do to set forward the coming of the day of universal peace.

(Apollo 8 space mission, 1968)

Sons of men, behold from far / Charles Wesley

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SATB

Sons of men, behold from far, Hail the long-expected star! Jacob's star that gilds the night, Guides bewilder'd nature right. Fear not hence that ill should flow, Wars or pestilence below, Wars it bids and tumults cease, Ushering in the Prince of Peace. Mild he shines on all beneath, Piercing thro' the shade of death, Scatt'ring error’s wide-spread night, Kindling darkness into light. Nations all, far off and near, Haste to see your God appear! Haste, for him your hearts prepare, Meet him manifested there! There behold the Day-Spring rise, Pouring eye-sight on your eyes, God in his own light survey, Shining to the perfect day. Sing, ye morning stars again, God descends on earth to reign, Deigns for man his life t'employ; Shout, ye sons of God, for joy!

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.