The First Noel
The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
While Shepherds Watched
While shepherds watched their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around
“Fear not,” he said, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled minds
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind
“To you in David’s town this day
Is born of David’s line
The Savior who is Christ the Lord
And this shall be the sign
“All glory be to god on high
and to the earth be peace;
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Ding dong merrily on high, in heav’n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky is riv’n with angel singing.
Glo——-ia, hosanna in excelsis! Glo——-ia, hosanna in excelsis!
E’en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen,
And “Io, io, io!” By priest and people sungen.
Glo——-ia, hosanna in excelsis! Glo——-ia, hosanna in excelsis!
Pray you, dutifully prime your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime your evetime song, ye singers.
Glo——-ia, hosanna in excelsis! Glo——-ia, hosanna in excelsis!
O Little Town of Bethlehem
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee 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.
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
Once in Royal David’s City
Once in royal Davids 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.
For He is our childhood’s pattern;
Day by day, like us, He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles, like us He knew;
And He cares when we are sad,
And he shares when we are glad.
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
Good King Wenceslas
Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight, gath’ring winter fuel
“Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou know’st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?”
“Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes’ fountain.”
“Bring me flesh and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine, when we bear him thither.”
Page and monarch forth they went, forth they went together
Through the rude wind’s wild lament, and the bitter weather
“Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer.”
“Mark my footsteps, my good page, tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage, freeze thy blood less coldly.”
In his master’s steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod, which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing
We Three Kings of Orient Are
We three kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star
O Star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy Perfect Light
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign
O Star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy Perfect Light
Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising, all men raising, worship Him, God most high
O Star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy Perfect Light
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb
O Star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy Perfect Light
Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia, Earth to heav’n replies
O Star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy Perfect Light
