What Child Is This?
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 laud,
the babe, the son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate
where oxen now are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
the Cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
the babe, the son of Mary.
(Words: William Chatterton Dix, Music: English Traditional; Words & Music: Public Domain; Church CCLI # 2458953)
Go Tell it on the Mountain
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
that Jesus Christ is born.
While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
that Jesus Christ is born.
The shepherds feared and trembled,
when lo, above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Saviour’s birth!
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
that Jesus Christ is born.
Down in a lowly manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
that bless-ed Christmas morn.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
that Jesus Christ is born.
(Words & Music: African American Traditional, adaptation: John W. Work. © John W. Work, 1940. Church CCLI#2458953)
Responsive Reading – PSALM 147:1-11
1 Praise the Lord!
How good it is to sing praises to our God;
for He is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted,
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
He gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
His understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
He casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds,
prepares rain for the earth,
makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives to the animals their food,
and to the young ravens when they cry.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
in those who hope in His steadfast love.
SOLO: The Colours of Winter Meghan McCarthy © 2016 Hal Leonard, Milwin Music Corporation. Church CCLI#2458953
Come In, Come In, New Year
Come in, come in, New Year
with sparkling winter day!
Your promise calls us here
to celebrate and pray,
through January’s open door
to stride with hopeful step once more.
For though December dies,
still Christmas keeps the light,
the hope in children’s eyes,
the star that shatters night;
now Simeon and Anna see
the child who rules all time to be.
The calendar of Christ
will mark the seasons’ turn;
His story claim our trust;
His love be ours to learn.
For all the world,
for young and old,
we pray a year of peace unfold!