ADVENT NATIVITY

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful, all ye nations rise; Join the triumph of the skies;

With angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."

Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord!

Late in time, behold Him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity,

Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings, Risen 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.

Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."

While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night

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 mind
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all mankind"

"To you, in David's town this day is born of David's line
The Saviour who is Christ the Lord and this shall be the sign"

"The heavenly Babe you there shall find to human view displayed
And 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 on the earth be peace
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men begin and never cease"

Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

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.

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.

O 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!

We Three Kings

We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.

Refrain: O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain, gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign.

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Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, all men raising, worshiping God on high.

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Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes of life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

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Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia, earth to heaven replies.

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Little Donkey

Little donkey, little donkey, on the dusty road

Got to keep on plodding onward with your precious load

Been a long time little donkey through the winters night

Don't give up now little donkey Bethlehem's in sight

Ring out those bells tonight, Bethlehem, Bethlehem

Follow that little star tonight, Bethlehem, Bethlehem

Little donkey, little donkey, had a heavy day

Little donkey, carry Mary safely on her way

Thorn in the Straw

Since the day the angel came it seemed that everything had changed

The only certain thing was the child that moved within

On the road that would not end winding down to Bethlehem

So far away from home

Just a blanket on the floor of a vacant cattle-stall

But there the child was born she held him in her arms

And as she laid him down to sleep she wondered - will it always be

So bitter and so sweet

And did she see there in the straw by his head a thorn

And did she smell myrrh in the air on that starry night

Then the words of ancient seers tumbled down the centuries ...

A virgin shall conceive... God with us... Prince of Peace

Man of Sorrows - strangest name. Oh Joseph there it comes again

So bitter yet so sweet

And did she see there in the straw by his head a thorn

And did she smell myrrh in the air on that starry night

And as she watched him through the years her joy was mingled with her tears

And she'd feel it all again the glory, and the shame

And when the miracles began she wondered, who is this man

And where will this all end

'Til against a darkening sky the son she loved was lifted high

And with his dying breath she heard him say 'Father forgive'

And to the criminal beside "Today-with me in Paradise"

So bitter yet so sweet

And did she see there in the straw by his head a thorn

And did she smell myrrh in the air on that starry night

And did she hear angels sing not so far away

Till at last the sun rose blood-red in the morning sky

O Come All Ye Faithful

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.

Refrain:
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
o sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest

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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.

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