On Shepherds' Pipes / William Drummond

SOURCE

O than the fairest day, thrice fairer night!

Night to blest days in which a sun doth rise

Of which that golden age which clears the skies

Is but a sparkling ray, a shadow-light!

And blessed ye, in silly pastors' sight,

Mild creatures, in whose warm crib now lies

That heaven-sent youngling, holy-maid-born wight:

Midst, end, beginning of our prophecies!

Blest cottage that hath flowers in winter spread,

Though withered--blessed grass that hath the grace

To deck and be a carpet to that place!

Thus sang, unto the sounds, of oaten reed,

Before the Babe, the shepherds bowed on knees;

And springs ran nectar, honey dropped from trees.

I Cannot Tell / William Young Fullerton

SOURCE

1. I cannot tell why He Whom angels worship,

Should set His love upon the sons of men,

Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wanderers,

To bring them back, they know not how or when.

But this I know, that He was born of Mary

When Bethlehem’s manger was His only home,

And that He lived at Nazareth and labored,

And so the Savior, Savior of the world is come.

2. I cannot tell how silently He suffered,

As with His peace He graced this place of tears,

Or how His heart upon the cross was broken,

The crown of pain to three and thirty years.

But this I know, He heals the brokenhearted,

And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,

And lifts the burden from the heavy laden,

For yet the Savior, Savior of the world is here.

3. I cannot tell how He will win the nations,

How He will claim His earthly heritage,

How satisfy the needs and aspirations

Of East and West, of sinner and of sage.

But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory,

And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,

And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendor

When He the Savior, Savior of the world is known.

4. I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,

When, at His bidding, every storm is stilled,

Or who can say how great the jubilation

When all the hearts of men with love are filled.

But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,

And myriad, myriad human voices sing,

And earth to Heaven, and Heaven to earth, will answer:

At last the Savior, Savior of the world is King!

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.

Advent / Christina Rossetti

SOURCE - CPDL

'Come,' thou dost say to Angels,
To blessed Spirits, 'Come':
'Come,' to the lambs of Thine own flock,
Thy little ones, 'Come home.'

'Come,' from the many-mansioned house
The gracious word is sent;
'Come,' from the ivory palaces
Unto the Penitent.

O Lord, restore us deaf and blind,
Unclose our lips though dumb:
Then say to us, 'I will come with speed,'
And we will answer, 'Come.'

A tender shoot / Otto Goldschmidt

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SATB

A tender shoot has started up from a root of grace,
as ancient seers imparted from Jesse's holy race:
It blooms without a blight, blooms in the cold bleak winter,
turning our darkness into light.

This shoot Isaiah taught us, from Jesse's root should spring;
The Virgin Mary brought us the branch of which we sing;
Our God of endless might gave her this child to save us,
Thus turning darkness into light. 

Rejoice, Christ is born! / Bruno Vlahek

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SATB
TEXT -
Rejoice! Rejoice! Christ is born
Of the Virgin Mary, rejoice!
The time of grace has come
For which we have prayed
Let us devoutly sing
Songs of joy.
God is made man,
While nature wonders
The world is renewed
By Christ the King.
The closed gate of Ezekiel
Has been passed through
From where the light has risen [the East],
Salvation is found.
Therefore let our assembly sing praises now
At this time of purification
Let it bless the Lord:
Greetings to our King.

Rest Thy holy head / J. Ashley Hall

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SATB

Sweet Jesus, Son of Mary,
The Christ Child, Son of God
The prophets have foretold Thee,
The heav'ns shout Thy name.

Chorus:
Jesus in a manger, rest Thy holy head.
One day Thou shalt redeem us, but for now please sleep,
while for joy we weep, for our Savior is born.

Dear Jesus, Son of David,
Our Lord Emmanuel,
From Thee men seek salvation
From the dawn of creation
Chorus

Kind Jesus, The Messiah,
Jehovah, King, The Word,
Bring peace, justice and mercy,
Dear God how we need Thee!
Chorus

The Saviour of the world is born / Gustav Holst

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SATB

In Bethlehem, that noble place,

As by prophecy said it was,

Of the Virgin Mary, full of grace,

Salvator mundi natus est.

Be we merry in this feast

In quo Salvator natus est.

On Christmas night an Angel it told

To the shepherds keeping their fold

That in Bethlehem with beats wolde, (wild)

Salvator mundi natus est.

The shepherds were compassed right,

About them was a great light,

“Dread ye naught,” said the Angel bright,

Salvator mundi natus est.

“Behold! To you we bring great joy.

For why? Jesus is born to-day

Of Mary that mild may, (maid)

Salvator mundi natus est.

“And thus in faith find it ye shall,

Lying poorly in an ox's stall.”

The shepherds then lauded God all,

Quia Salvator mundi natus est.

Be we merry in this feast

In quo Salvator natus est.

See amid the winter's snow / John Goss

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SATB

See amidst the winter's snow,

Born for us on earth below;

See the tender lamb apears,

Promis'd from eternal years.

Refrain

Hail, thou ever blessed morn;

Hail, redemption's happy dawn;

Sing through all Jerusalem,

Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Lo, within a manger lies

He who built the starry skies;

He who throned in height sublime,

Sits amid the cherubim.

Refrain

Say, ye holy shepherds, say

What your joyful news today;

Wherefore have you left your sheep,

On the lonely mountain steep?

Refrain

As we watch'd at dead of night,

lo,we saw a wondrous light;

angels singing, peace on earth

told us of the Saviour's birth.

Refrain

Sacred infant, all divine,

what a tender love was thine,

thus to come from highest bliss

down to such a world as this.

Refrain

Teach, O teach us, Holy Child,

by thy face so meek and mild,

Teach us to resemble thee,

in thy sweet humility:

O come, O come Emmanuel / Traditional

SOURCE - CPDL 
FOR - Varies

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou wisdom from on high,
who ord'rest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou branch of Jesse's tree,
free them from Satan's tyranny
that trust thy mighty power to save,
and give them vict'ry o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
( Alt: O come, thou branch of Jesse's stem, from every foe deliver them
that trust ... )

O come, thou Dayspring from on high,
and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
(alt: ...of humankind)
bid thou our sad division cease,
and be theyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, o come great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times didst give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
(alt: ...sets us free,)
and close the path to misery. 

O Zion Awake, Rejoice! / Thurlow Weed

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SATB

O Zion, Awake, Rejoice!
My soul shall exult in God,
For he hath clothed me.
This is the Lord in whom we have waited;
Let us rejoice and be glad.
Joy and gladness and thanksgiving are found in Zion;
O Zion, rejoice! 

O Zion, that bringest good tidings / John Stainer

SOURCE - CPDL 
FOR - SATB

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain.
O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength;
lift up thy voice, be not afraid: say to the cities of Judah, behold your God. Alleluia.

Of that birth forever blessed,
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bare the Saviour of our race,
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred Face.
Evermore and evermore.

Of the Father's love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see.
Evermore and evermore. 

Of the Father's love begotten / Anonymous, trans. John Mason Neale & Henry Williams Baker

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - Unison

Of the Father’s love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore!

At His Word the worlds were framèd;
He commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean
In their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun,
Evermore and evermore!

He is found in human fashion,
Death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children
Doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below,
Evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessèd,
When the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bare the Saviour of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face,
evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him,
and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing,
Evermore and evermore!

This is He Whom seers in old time
Chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord,
Evermore and evermore!

Righteous judge of souls departed,
Righteous King of them that live,
On the Father’s throne exalted
None in might with Thee may strive;
Who at last in vengeance coming
Sinners from Thy face shalt drive,
Evermore and evermore!

 Thee let old men, thee let young men,
Thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens,
With glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring,
Evermore and evermore!

Christ, to Thee with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving,
And unwearied praises be:
Honour, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory,
Evermore and evermore!

The Manger Throne / Charles Steggall

SOURCE - CPDL 
FOR - SATB

Like silver lamps in a distant shrine,
The stars are sparkling bright
The bells of the city of God ring out,
For the Son of Mary is born to-night.
The gloom is past and the morn at last
Is coming with orient light.

Never fell melodies half so sweet
 As those which are filling the skies,
And never a palace shone half so fair
As the manger-bed where our Saviour lies;
No night in the year is half so dear
As this which has ended our sighs.

Now a new Power has come on the earth,
A match for the armies of Hell:
A Child is born who shall conquer the foe,
And all the spirits of wickedness quell:
For Mary's Son is the Mighty One
Whom the prophets of God foretell.

The stars of heaven still shine as at first
They gleamed on this wonderful night;
The bells of the city of God peal out
And the angels' song still rings in the height,
And love still turns where the Godhead burns
Hid in flesh from fleshly sight.

Faith sees no longer the stable floor,
The pavement of sapphire is there
The clear light of heaven streams out to the world
And the angels of God are crowding the air,
And heaven and earth through the spotless birth
Are at peace on this night so fair. 

Lift up your heads in joyful hope / Thomas Clark

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SATB

LIFT up your Heads in joyful Hope,
Salute the happy Morn;
Each Heav'nly Pow'r
Proclaims the glad Hour,
Lo Jesus the Saviour is born!

All Glory be to God on high,
To Him all Praise is due;
The Promise is seal'd,
The Saviour's reveal'd,
And proves that the Record is true.

Let Joy around like Rivers flow,
Flow on, and still increase;
Spread o'er the glad Earth
At Jesus his Birth,
For Heaven and Earth are at Peace.

Now the Good-will of Heaven is shewn
Tow'rds Adam's helpless Race;
Messiah is come
To ransom his Own,
To save them by infinite Grace.

Then let us join the Heavens above
Where hymning Seraphs sing,
Join all the glad Pow'rs,
For their Lord is Ours,
Our Prophet, our Priest, and our King. 

Judea (A Virgin unspotted) / William Billings

SOURCE - CPDL 
FOR - SATB

A Virgin unspotted,

by Prophet foretold,

Should bring forth a Savior

which now we behold,

to be our Redeemer

from death, hell and sin,

Which Adam's transgression

involved us in.

Chorus:

Then let us be merry,

put sorrow away

our saviour Jesus

was born on this day.

At Bethlem in Jewry

a city there was,

Where Joseph and Mary

together did pass

And there to be taxed

with many one mo'

For Caesar commanded

the same should be so.

To teach us humility

all this was done,

Then learn we from hence,

haughtry pride fro to shun.

A manger's his cradle,

who came from above,

The Great God of mercy,

of peace and of love.

Joseph, dearest Joseph mine / Traditional

SOURCE - CPDL 
FOR - SATB

"Joseph, Dearest Joseph mine,

Help me cradle the Child divine.

God reward thee and all that’s thine,

In paradise," so prays the mother Mary.

Chorus

He came among us at Christmas time

At Christmas time in Bethlehem

Men shall bring him from far and wide,

Love’s diadem

Jesus, Jesus;

Lo, he comes and loves and saves and frees us.

"Gladly dear one, Lady mine

Help I cradle this Child of thine."

"God’s own light on us both shall shine,

In paradise," as prays the mother Mary. Chorus

Servant 1:

Peace to all that have goodwill!

God, who heaven and earth doth fill,

Comes to turn us away from ill,

As all may see In Jesus, Son of Mary. Chorus

Servant 2:

All shall come and bow the knee,

Wise and happy their souls shall be.

Loving such a divinity as all may see

In Jesus Son of Mary. Chorus

Servant 3:

Now is born Emmanual,

Prophesied once by Ezekiel,

Promised Mary by Gabriel, Ah, who can tell

Thy praises, Son of Mary. Chorus

Servant 4:

Thou my lazy heart hast stirred,

Thou, The Father's eternal Word,

Greater than aught that ear hath heard,

Thou tiny bird of love, Thou Son of Mary. Chorus

Servant 1:

Sweet and lovely little one,

Thou princely, beautiful, God's own Son,

Without Thee all of us were undone;

Our love is won by Thine, O Son of Mary. Chorus

Servant 2:

Little man, and God indeed,

Little and poor, Thou art all we need;

We will follow where Thou dost lead,

And we will head our brother, born of Mary. Chorus

In nightly stillness (Wrsod nocnej ciszy) / Traditional

SOURCE - CPDL 
FOR - SATB
TEXT -
In nightly stillness, darkness all around,
Comes the glad cry,
“Behold the King of Light!
Come, you shepherds, to the stable,
Speed as fast as you are able,
Christ is born this night!”

When the shepherds found the holy Babe
Lying in a manger,
Sinless tiny Lamb,
They worshipped in adoration,
Knowing He had brought salvation,
Christ, a Babe for man.

That night was thousand, thousand years ago;
Yet, in our darkness,
Brightly you will shine.
Wise men, prophets, long have known you,
Priests and saints have all proclaimed you,
Christ, dear Saviour mine. 

Hail happy morn, thrice happy we / Joseph Key

SOURCE - CPDL 
FOR - SATB

Hail happy morn, thrice happy we,
Who from our bondage are set free:
From Jesse’s line doth spring a ray,
Shall turn our darksome night to day.
Sweet Hallelujah let us sing
To God, our Saviour and our King.

Hark, a glad voice the sinner cheers,
Prepare the way, a God appears;
A God! a God! lost man to save
From hell, destruction, and the grave.
Sweet Hallelujah let us sing
To God, our Saviour and our King.

The Saviour’s come, by prophets told,
The deaf do hear, the blind behold,
The dumb do speak, the dead are rais’d,
The lame do walk, and sing his praise.
Sweet Hallelujah let us sing
To God, our Saviour and our King.

Let no dark clouds obstruct the morn
Whereon the Lord of life was born,
Let mortals join to sing his fame,
And duly celebrate the same.
Sweet Hallelujah let us sing
To God, our Saviour and our King.

Come, thou long-expected Jesus / Charles Wesley

SOURCE - CPDL
FOR - SATB

Come, thou long-expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us;

let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

hope of all the earth thou art,

dear Desire of ev’ry nation,

joy of ev’ry longing heart.

Joy to those who long to see thee,

Dayspring from on high, appear;

come, thou promised Rod of Jesse,

of thy birth we long to hear!

O’er the hills the angels singing news,

glad tidings of a birth;

“Go to him, your praises bringing;

Christ the Lord has come to earth.”

Come to earth to taste our sadness,

he whose glories knew no end;

by his life he brings us gladness,

our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.

Leaving riches without number,

born within a cattle stall;

this the everlasting wonder,

Christ was born the Lord of all.

Born thy people to deliver,

born a child and yet a king,

born to reign in us forever,

now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal Spirit

rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all-sufficient merit,

raise us to thy glorious throne.