The Old Church

The old church leans nearby a well-worn road,

Upon a hill that has no grass or tree,

The winds from off the prairie now unload

The dust they bring around it fitfully.

The path that leads up to the open door

Is worn and grayed by many toiling feet.

Of us who listen to the Bible lore

And once again the old-time hymns repeat.

And every Sabbath morning we are still

Returning to the altar waiting there.

A hush, a prayer, a pause, and voices fill

The Master’s House with a triumphant air.

The old church leans awry and looks quite odd,

But it is beautiful to us and God.

 

The Lamb

Little Lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Gave thee life, and bid thee feed

By the stream and o”er the mead;

Gave thee clothing of delight,

Softest clothing, woolly, bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,

Making all the vales rejoice?

Little Lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee,

Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee:

He is called by thy name,

For he calls himself a Lamb.

He is meek, and he is mild;

He became a little child.

I, a child, and thou a lamb,

We are called by his name.

Little Lamb, God bless thee!

Little Lamb, God bless thee!

 

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day:

I would my true love did so chance

To see the legend of my play,

To call my true love to my dance;

Sing O my love, O my love, my love, my love;

This have I done for my true love.

Then was I born of a virgin pure,

Of her I took fleshly substance;

Thus was I knit to man’s nature,

In a manger laid and wrapped I was,

So very poor this was my chance,

Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass,

Then afterwards baptized I was;

The Holy Ghost on me did glance,

My Father’s voice heard from above,

To call my true love to my dance;

Sing O my love, O my love, my love, my love;

This have I done for my true love.

 

Cantata 118

O Jesus Christ, my life’s true light,

My prize, my strength, hope to my sight,

On earth here am I but a guest

And by sin’s burden sore oppressed.

 

In virtute tua, Domine

In thy strength, O Lord, the just man shall rejoice: and in Thy salvation, he shall

rejoice exceedingly. Thou hast given him his heart’s desire.

 

Dixit Maria

Mary said to the angel: Here I am, the handmaiden of the Lord. Let it be done to

me according to your word.

 

Magnificat

Magnificat… My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

Quia respexit… For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold,

henceforth I shall be called blessed by all generations.

Quia fecit… For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his

name, and his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations.

Fecit potentiam… He hath shewed strength with his arm : he hath scattered the

proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their

seat : and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good

things : and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Suscepit Israel… He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy.

As it was spoken to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever.

Gloria Patri… Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it

was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

 

Earth Song

Sing, Be, Live, See…

This dark stormy hour,

The wind, it stirs.

The scorched earth

cries out in vain:

O war and power,

You blind and blur.

The torn heart

cries out in pain.

But music and singing

Have been my refuge,

And music and singing

Shall be my light.

A light of song

Shining strong: Alleluia!

Through darkness, pain, and strife, I’ll

Sing, Be, Live, See…..

Peace.

 

All My Trials

All my trials, Lord,

Soon be over.

If religion was a, a thing that money could buy,

The rich would live and the, the poor would die.

All my trials, Lord,

soon be over.

Too late, my brother,

too late but never, never mind.

All my trials, Lord,

soon be over.

Hush, hush, hush, hush little baby,

don’a you cry.

Oh, man is, is born to die.

All my trials, Lord,

soon be over.

Too late, my brother,

too late but never, never mind.

All my trials, Lord,

soon be over.

Too late, my brother,

too late but never, never mind.

All my trials, Lord,

soon be over.

 

What Sweeter Music

What sweeter music can we bring,

than a carol for to sing

The birth of this our heav’nly King?

Awake the voice!

Awake the string!

Heart, ear and eye

and everything.

Awake! Awake!

the while the active finger

Runs division with the singer.

Awake! Awake!

the while the active finger

Runs division with the singer.

What sweeter music can we bring?

 

Shalom Rav

Grant abundant peace over Israel, Your people, forever.

For You are the sovereign source of all peace.

So may it be good in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel

in every season and in every hour with Your peace.

Blessed are You, Adonai, Who blesses His people Israel with peace.

 

Mayim, Mayim

Joyfully shall you draw water from the fountains of triumph.

Hey, water, water in joy!

 

The First Noel

The first Noel, the angels did say,

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay,

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,

On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

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.

Then let us all with one accord

Sing praises to our heav’nly Lord,

That hath made heav’n and earth of naught,

And with His blood mankind hath bought.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel!

Born is the King, Noel.

 

Oh, How Beautiful the Sky

Oh, how beautiful the sky,

With the sparkling stars on high,

How they glitter, brightly beaming,

How they twinkle, gladsome beaming,

As they draw our hearts to heav’n.

Oh, how beautiful the sky,

With the sparkling stars on high,

They twinkle merrily.

In the midst of Christmas night,

While the stars were shining bright,

Of a sudden, clear and radiant,

One appeared and shone resplendent,

With the luster of the sun.

Wise men by this star were led

To the Christ-Child’s lowly bed,

Guiding star, oh, may we heed thee,

May we know we ever need thee.

Lead us to our heav’nly King.

Oh, how beautiful the sky,

With the sparkling stars on high.

They twinkle very merry, merrily.

Guide us to our King!

Guiding star, oh, may we heed thee,

Lead us to our King,

To our heav’nly King.

 

What Is This Lovely Fragrance?

What is this lovely fragrance wafting

like to the scents of flow’rs in spring!

Shepherds, O tell us, whence such beauty,

Hear you not heav’nly caroling?

What is this lovely gragrance wafting

like to the scents of flow’rs in spring.

What is this light so fair, so tender

Breaking upon our wond’ring eyes?

Never the Morning Star so radiant

Followed his course o’er eastern skies.

What is this light so fair, so tender,

Breaking upon our wond’ring eyes?

Shepherds, O haste with eager footsteps

Seek the Saviour, born today.

Low at His feet we lay our treasure,

Heart’s adoration, love for aye.

Shepherds, O haste with eager footsteps

Seek the Saviour, born today.

Gesú Bambino: The Infant Jesus

When blossoms flowered ‘mid the snows

Upon a winter night,

Was born the Child, the Christmas Rose,

The King of Love and Light.

The angels sang, the shepherds sang,

The grateful earth rejoiced;

And at His blessed birth the stars

Their exultation voiced.

Again the heart with rapture glows

To greet the holy night,

That gave the world its Christmas Rose,

Its King of Love and Light.

Let ev’ry voice acclaim His name,

The grateful chorus swell.

From paradise to earth He came

That we with Him might dwell.

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

Still, Still, Still

Still, still,

one can hear the falling snow.

For all is hushed, the world is sleeping,

Holy Star, its vigil keeping.

Still, still, still

one can hear the falling snow,

the snow, the snow so still, still

Sleep, sleep, sleep

‘tis the eve of our Savior’s birth.

The night is peaceful all around you,

close your eyes, let sleep surround you.

Sleep, sleep, sleep

‘tis the eve of our Savior’s birth.

Dream, dream, dream

of the joyous day to come.

While guardian angels, without number,

watch you as you sweetly slumber.

Dream, dream, dream

of the joyous day to come.

O Come, All Ye Faithful

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,

Sing choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation!

Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above.

Glory to God,

All glory in the highest.

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!

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord.