Midweek Praise Wednesday 14 December 2022

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.

It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
‘Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
from heaven’s all-gracious king!’
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.

Choir Sing verse 2

With sorrow brought by sin and strife
the world has suffered long,
and, since the angels sang, have passed
two thousand years of wrong;
for man at war with man hears not
the love-song which they bring:
O hush the noise, you men of strife,
and hear the angels sing!

And still the days are hastening on –
by prophets seen of old -
towards the fulness of the time
when comes the age foretold:
then earth and heaven renewed shall see
the Prince of peace, their king;
and all the world repeat the song
which now the angels sing.

It was on a starry night when the hills were bright,
earth lay sleeping, sleeping calm and still;
then in a cattle shed, in a manger bed,
a boy was born, King of all the world.

And all the angels sang for him,
the bells of heaven rang for him;
for a boy was born, King of all the world.
And all the angels sang for him,
the bells of heaven rang for him;
for a boy was born, King of all the world.

Soon the shepherds came that way, where the baby lay,
and were kneeling, kneeling by his side,
to celebrate his birth bringing peace on earth;
a boy was born, King of all the world.

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heav’nly hosts sing, Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
radiant beams from thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Choir sing verse 4

O come, all you faithful,
joyful and triumphant,
O come now, O come now to Bethlehem;
come and behold Him,
born the King of angels:

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!

True God of true God,
light of light eternal,
He, who abhors not the virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father,
begotten not created:

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!

Sing like the angels,
sing in exultation,
sing with the citizens of heaven above,
‘Glory to God,
glory in the highest’:

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!

Yes, Lord, we greet You,
born that/this happy morning.
Jesus, to You be glory given!
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing:

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!