O, how shall I receive Thee, how meet Thee on Thy way.
Bless'd hope of every nation, my soul's delight and stay?
O Jesus, Jesus, give me now by Thine own pure light
To know whate'er is pleasing and welcome in Thy sight.
Paul Gerhardt, 1653
Breathe upon us, Holy Spirit, as adoringly we bow
At these altars, pure and sacred, paying Thee our solemn vow.
All our feeble graces quicken with the streams of Thy sweet grace,
And make glorious with Thy presence this Thy holy dwelling place.
Elisha A. Hoffman, 1899
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.
Glory be to Thee, O Lord Most High. Amen.
I bind my heart this tide To the Galilaean's side,
To the wounds of Calvary, To the Christ who died for me.
I bind my soul this day To the sister far away,
And the brother near at hand In this town and in all lands.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace!
This is the first in a new series of service music I'm currently writing. The aim is to provide music that is instantly learnable and singable, yet memorable also.
From heav'n above to earth I come to bear good news to everyone.
Glad tidings of great joy I bring, to all the world, and gladly sing:
To you this night is born a child of Mary, chosen virgin mild.
This newborn child, of lowly birth, shall be the joy of all the earth!
Martin Luther
Angels from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye, who sang creation's story Now proclaim Messiah's birth.
Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King!
James Montgomery, 1816 - 1825
We would see Jesus; lo! His star is shining
Above the stable, while the angels sing;
There, in a manger, on the hay reclining,
Haste, let us lay our gifts before the King.
J. Edgar Park (1879 - 1956) the Pilgrim Hymnal
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee.
Emily E.S. Elliott (words from the Broadman Hymnal)
Bright and glorious is the sky, radiant are the heavens high
Where the golden star is shining, all its rays to earth inclining,
Leading to the newborn King, leading to the newborn King!
Nikolai F. S. Grundtvig, Sandsigeren, 1811
