Favourites Praise Sunday 12 December 2021

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus:
but wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
love be yours and love be mine,
love to God and all men,
love for plea and gift and sign.

Once in royal David’s city,
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby,
in a manger for His bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
who is God and Lord of all;
and His shelter was a stable,
and His cradle was a stall:
with the poor and mean and lowly
lived on earth our Saviour holy.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
through His own redeeming love;
for that child, so dear and gentle,
is our Lord in heaven above;
and He leads His children on
to the place where He is gone.

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 praise,
the babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian fear: for sinners here
the silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ ...

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
come, peasant, king, to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings,
let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This, this is Christ ...

Away in a manger,
no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus
laid 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 You, Lord Jesus!
look down from the sky
and stay by my side
until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus;
I ask You to stay
close by me for ever
and love me, I pray;
bless all the dear children
in Your tender care,
and fit us for heaven
to live with You there.

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.

Hark! the herald-angels sing,
‘Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.’
Joyful, all you nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem!’
Hark! the herald-angels sing,
‘Glory to the new-born 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 man to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.
Hark! the herald-angels sing,
‘Glory to the new-born 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 new-born King!’