MP 337
In the bleak mid-winter,
frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron,
water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow,
snow on snow,
in the bleak mid-winter,
long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold Him,
nor earth sustain,
heaven and earth shall flee away
when He comes to reign;
in the bleak mid-winter
a stable-place sufficed
the Lord God almighty,
Jesus Christ.
Solo by Dean Maynard
Angels and archangels
may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim
thronged the air;
but His mother only,
in her maiden bliss,
worshipped the Beloved
with a kiss.
What can I give Him,
poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb;
if I were a wise man,
I would do my part;
yet what I can I give Him –
give my heart.
MP 503
O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see you lie!
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by:
yet in your dark streets shining
is everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in you tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary;
and, gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O 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.
MP 47
Away in a manger,
no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus
lay down His sweet head;
the stars in the bright sky
looked down where He lay;
the little Lord Jesus
asleep in 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 stay 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 fit us for heaven
to live with thee there.
MP 644
The first nowell the angel did say,
was to Bethlehem’s shepherds
in fields as they lay;
in fields where they
lay keeping their sheep
on a cold winter’s night
that was so deep:
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Nowell, nowell……………
And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far
To seek for a king was their intent
To follow the star wherever it went.
Nowell, nowell ...
Then entered in those wise men three,
Full rev’rently upon bended knee
And offered there in His presence
their gold and myrrh and frankincense:
Nowell, nowell ...
Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
that hath made heaven and earth of nought
and with His blood mankind has bought:
Nowell, nowell ...
MP 393
Joy to the world, the Lord has come!
let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare Him room
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing!
Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns!
your sweetest songs employ
while fields and streams and hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness,
the wonders of His love,
the wonders of His love,
the wonders, wonders of His love.