Advent Reflections: Hymns of Christmas

These songs are typically called carols, which has its origins in Britain and before that, the word "choros" from which we get choreography; the original meaning was a song to dance to.

Many times we think of the term Christmas carol as referring Dickens' wonderful novella.  I have a student from China who did not know that work, and I told her she had to read it to understand Christmas in America.  I would have given her my copy but couldn't find it.

I tried to write a similar Christmas novel, which is available on Amazon.  

Here is my song for the day.  As with the others, we only sing some of the verses and the most interesting ones are left out in our public worship.  I have noticed that more traditional and liturgical churches sing all of the verses, and Baptists leave them out.  HUMMMMMM.

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.

Refrain

Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant light:

Refrain

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star.

Refrain

Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear;
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear.

Refrain

Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you; break your chains.

Refrain

Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:

Refrain

All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To th’eternal Three in One.

Refrain