O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from the Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.He knows our need, to our weaknesses no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.Words: Placide Cappeau (1808-1877), Music: Adolphe Charles Adams (1803-1856), English translation: John Sullivan Dwight (1813-1893)

Jan Gossaert, The Adoration of the Kings (1510-15)A New Christmas Carol

Away in a manger, where cows ate their hay,
the Lord God of heaven was laid down one day
by Mary, his mother, whose heart sang of love
while “Glory!” and “Peace!” sang the angels above.

Away on a mountain while crowds gathered round
the Lord God of heaven sat down on the ground
and taught them that love is fulfilling the law,
so it was for love that he’d come for us all.

Away on a hilltop, a place called “The Skull,”
the Lord God of heaven was hung on a pole
by all of his people and all of their sin
while Israel and Satan cried, “Crucify him!”

Away in a tomb that a rich man had loaned,
the Lord God of heaven was laid behind stone
by some of his sad friends who’d watched as he died
and wondered how God’s Son could be crucified.

Away rolled the tombstone and sin, death, and hell:
the Lord God of heaven has done all things well,
and now he has risen and us with him raised,
that we may forever sing songs in his praise.

by Kilby Austin (1988–____)