To wrap up the festive season, today’s hymn is a repost and my favourite Christmas carol. There are so many versions out there, but my favourite is being in a room full of believers, singing at the top of their lungs these words; there’s no other sound like it! I hope you’ve enjoyed the Christmas season!

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!

God of God, Light of Light,
lo, He abhors not the virgin’s womb;
very God, begotten not created; [Refrain]

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

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! [Refrain]

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Today’s hymn comes from one of the greatest hymn writers and poets, John Newton, and is included in his 1779 collection ‘Olney Hymns’. No matter how you decide to celebrate (or not) Christmas, I pray meditating on Christ’s incarnation will lead you to say with Newton “I will love Thee with­out end”. Enjoy reading this one and have a blessed Christmas time!

Sweeter sounds than mu­sic knows
Charm me, in Em­ma­nu­el’s name;
All her hopes my spir­it owes
To His birth, and cross, and shame.

When He came the an­gels sung
Glory be to God on high,
Lord, un­loose my stam­mer­ing tongue,
Who should loud­er sing than I?

Did the Lord a man be­come
That He might the law ful­fill,
Bleed and suf­fer in my room,
And canst thou, my tongue, be still?

No, I must my prais­es bring,
Though they worth­less are, and weak;
For should I re­fuse to sing
Sure the ve­ry stones would speak.

O my Sav­iour, shield, and sun,
Shepherd, bro­ther, hus­band, friend,
Every pre­cious name in one;
I will love Thee with­out end.

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Today’s hymn comes from Reformer Martin Luther. Writing about this hymn, Pastor Greg Wismar notes “although much of the music was reserved for the clergy in the early centuries of the Christian Church, by the end of the first millennium the singing of choral responses by the entire gathered congregation had begun to take shape. In Germany these sung responses of praise, traced as far back as the tenth century, were called Leisen. The verse sung by people at worship on Christmas day, now the first stanza of “We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth,” dates
back to the eleventh century. It had been established already for centuries when Martin Luther added six more stanzas to it and published it as a hymn late in 1523 or in 1524 along with the tune to which the song is still sung to this day. The choice of this hymn as the “hauptlied” or chief hymn for Christmas Day has found usage among Lutheran people for almost five hundred years!¹” Enjoy this one today!

We praise you, Jesus, at your birth;
Clothed in flesh you came to earth.
The virgin bears a sinless boy
and all the angels sing for joy. Alleluia!

Now in the manger we may see
God’s Son from eternity,
the gift from God’s eternal throne
here clothed in our poor flesh and bone. Alleluia!

The virgin Mary’s lullaby
calms the infant Lord Most High.
Upon her lap content is he
who keeps the earth and sky and sea. Alleluia!

The Light Eternal, breaking through,
made the world to gleam anew;
his beams have pierced the core of night,
he makes us children of the light. Alleluia!

The very Son of God sublime
entered into earthly time
to lead us from this world of cares
to heaven’s courts as blessed heirs. Alleluia!

In poverty he came to earth
showing mercy by his birth;
he makes us rich in heav’nly ways
as we, like angels, sing his praise. Alleluia!

All this for us our God has done
granting love through his own Son.
Therefore, all Christendom, rejoice
And sing his praise with endless voice. Alleluia!

_¹https://www.cuchicago.edu/globalassets/media-files-master/documents-and-images/academics/centers-of-excellence/center-for-church-music/devotions/hymn-of-the-day-devotion-christmas-day2.pdf

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Today’s advent hymn is written by Lutheran pastor Johann Gottfried Olearius (1635-1711). This hymn is directed to Christ as our ransom, the one who was born to pay the price for our sin. I hope this meditation leads you also to sing Hosanna in your heart! Enjoy!

Meter: 7.8.7.8.7.7

Come, Thou precious Ransom, come,
Only hope for sinful mortals!
Come, O Saviour of the world!
Open are to Thee all portals.
Come, Thy beauty let us see;
Anxiously we wait for Thee.

Enter now my waiting heart,
Glorious King and Lord most holy.
Dwell in me and ne’er depart,
Though I am but poor and lowly.
Ah, what riches will be mine
When Thou art my guest divine!

My hosannas and my palms
Graciously receive, I pray Thee;
Evermore, as best I can,
Saviour, I will homage pay Thee,
And in faith I will embrace,
Lord, Thy merit through Thy grace.

Hail! Hosanna, David’s Son!
Jesus, hear our supplication!
Let Thy kingdom, scepter, crown,
Bring us blessing and salvation,
That forever we may sing:
Hail! Hosanna to our King.

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December is upon us, so it’s only right to post some Advent/Christmastide songs! Today is one I reposted a couple of years ago, but is one of my favourites since I discovered it. “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”, which is a beloved Christmas hymn that poignantly expresses the eternality of the Son of God and his divinity and coequality with the Father and the Spirit. It serves as a reminder that Jesus is the promised and long-awaited for Messiah who brings redemption to the world. It was originally written in the 4th Century by Marcus Aurelius Prudentius Clemens (commonly known as Prudentius) – it was then translated into English in the mid 19th Century¹. Below are some of my favourite renditions; enjoy!

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.

Oh, that birth forever blessed
When the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bore the Saviour of our race,
And the babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face,
Evermore and evermore.

This is he whom seers and sages
Sang of old 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.

Let the heights of heav’n adore him,
Angel hosts his praises sing,
Pow’rs, dominions bow before him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Ev’ry voice in concert ring,
Evermore and evermore.

Christ, to thee, with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, to thee
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
And unending praises be,
Honor, glory, and dominion
And eternal victory
Evermore and evermore.

¹https://medium.com/congregational-song/hymn-analysis-of-the-fathers-love-begotten-c702fb643ffb#:~:text=%E2%80%9COf%20the%20Father’s%20Love%20Begotten,brings%20redemption%20to%20the%20world.

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Today’s hymn is a Christmas hymn written by German Johann Rist (1607-1667), and inspired by Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 2. wrote a twelve-stanza hymn on the incarnation of Christ. It was later translated by John Troutbeck. I hope you all have a blessed Christmas, meditating on the coming of our Saviour!

Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light,
and usher in the morning.
O shepherds, shrink not with affright,
but hear the angel’s warning:
this child, now weak in infancy,
our confidence and joy shall be,
the pow’r of Satan breaking,
our peace eternal making.

Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light,
to herald our salvation.
He stoops to earth, the God of might,
our hope and expectation.
He comes in human flesh to dwell,
our God with us, Immanuel,
the night of darkness ending,
our fallen race befriending.

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Today’s hymn is a collaboration between theologian R C Sproul and composer Jeff Lippencott. Writing of this project, Sproul says “We glorify and enjoy the Lord most fully in worshiping Him. Our God, who is the standard of truth, goodness, and beauty, deserves the truest, best, and most beautiful worship we can offer. And as we offer such worship, we are shaped more fully into His image. Jeff Lippencott and I have produced this second collection of hymns and sacred music with the goal of helping the church offer worship that is true, good, and beautiful. We pray that these songs will bring glory to our Creator and lead His people into a greater love for Him.”¹ A lovely hymn to mediate on this Advent and Christmas; enjoy!

We confess the mystery and wonder
Of God made flesh.
And rejoice in our great salvation
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
With the Father and the Holy Spirit
The Son created all things
Sustains all things
And makes all things new.
Truly God, He became truly man
Two natures in one person.
He was born of the Virgin Mary
And lived among us.
Crucified, dead, and buried
He rose on the third day.
Ascended to heaven, and will come
Again, in glory and judgement.
For us, He kept the law
Atoned for sin, and satisfied God′s wrath.
He took our filthy rags
And gave us His righteous robe.
He is our Prophet, Priest, and King
Building His church
Interceding for us
And reigning over all things.
Jesus Christ is Lord
We praise His holy Name
Forever, forever Amen!

¹ligonier.org/posts/saints-zion-new-collection-sacred-music-rc-sproul-and-jeff-lippencott

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Today’s hymn is the Christmas carol “The Wexford Carol”. It has uncertain origins, but it likely was composed in the 15th or 16th century based on its musical and lyrical style.^[ The song achieved a renewed popularity due to the work of William Grattan Flood (1859–1928), who was organist and musical director at St. Aidan’s Cathedral in Enniscorthy, Ireland. He transcribed the carol from a local singer and had it published in The Oxford Book of Carols.¹ I’m sure you’ve heard many different versions of this carol; send me your favourite, I’d love to hear!

Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending His beloved Son
With Mary holy we should pray,
To God with love this Christmas Day
In Bethlehem upon that morn,
There was a blessed Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide,
The noble virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark how all things came to pass
From every door repelled, alas,
As was foretold, their refuge all
Was but a humble ox’s stall.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep
To whom God’s angels did appear
Which put the shepherds in great fear
Prepare and go, the angels said
To Bethlehem, be not afraid
For there you’ll find, this happy morn
A princely Babe, sweet Jesus, born.

With thankful heart and joyful mind
The shepherds went the babe to find
And as God’s angel had foretold
They did our Saviour Christ behold
Within a manger He was laid
And by his side the virgin maid
Attending on the Lord of Life
Who came on earth to end all strife.

¹wikipedia.org/wiki/Wexford_Carol

The prolific hymn writer Charles Wesley first wrote these lyrics in 1739, a year after his conversion. It was first published in Sacred Hymns and Poems – Charles’ first joint hymnal with his brother John, and was under the title “Hymn for Christmas-Day”. The original first line written by Charles was “Hark how all the welkin rings” but was later changed (with some other adjustments throughout the hymn) to what we know it now by George Whitefield, a friend of John and Charles Wesley, when he published this song in his Hymns for Social Worship in 1753¹. For me, this is my favourite Christmas Carol, which is why I have left until last. I have you have enjoyed these Advent/Christmas songs through December, and have a blessed New Year 🙂

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 th’angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain:
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 the Virgin’s womb:

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.

Refrain

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 we no more may die,
Born to raise us from the earth,
Born to give us second birth.

Refrain

French legend indicates that in medieval times on Christmas Eve, the shepherds would sing and call to one another from one hillside to another.  “They would call “Gloria in excelsis Deo” which means “glory to God in the highest” in Latin. It was how they would spread their holiday message and cheer from points far away to one another. Angels We Have Heard on High is of French origin and originally titled “Les anges dans nos campagnes“.  The original author of the song is unknown, but believed to be from Languedoc, France. In 1862, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, northeast England, James Chadwick translated the song into English. The English version was published that years in the Crown of Jesus Music¹.

Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heav’nly song?

Refrain

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Refrain

¹dianaleaghmatthews.com/angels-we-have-heard-on-high/#.Y6tbA-zP0bk