Sunday, 21 December 2014

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

SONG: GO, TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN

Artist: The Trinity Choir, Boston
Words/Music: Trad adapted Work/Trad
Recording: Dorian DOR 93240

Refrain:
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born!

While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light.

Refrain

The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo! above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Savior’s birth

Refrain

Down in a lowly manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
that blessed Christmas morn.

Refrain

SONG: AS WITH GLADNESS MEN OF OLD

Artist: Choir of Tewkesbury Abbey
Words/Music: Dix/Kocher
Label: Naxos 8.553077

As with gladness men of old
did the guiding star behold;
as with joy they hailed its light,
leading onward, beaming bright;
so, most gracious Lord, may we
evermore be led to thee.

As with joyful steps they sped,
Savior, to thy lowly bed,
there to bend the knee before
thee, whom heaven and earth adore;
so may we with willing feet
ever seek thy mercy seat.

As they offered gifts most rare
at thy manger, rude and bare,
so may we with holy joy,
pure and free from sin’s alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to thee, our heavenly king.

Holy Jesus, every day
keep us in the narrow way;
and when earthly things are past,
bring our ransomed souls at last
where they need no star to guide,
where no clouds thy glory hide.

SONG: WEXFORD CAROL

Artist: The Sixteen/Harry Christophers
Words/Music: Trad
Recording: Coro COR 16117

Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done,
In sending His belovèd Son.
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas Day;
In Bethlehem upon the morn
There was a blest Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide
The noble virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark how all things came to pass:
From every door repelled, alas!
As long foretold, their refuge all
Was but a humble oxen stall.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep;
To whom God’s angels did appear
Which put the shepherds in great fear.
Prepare and go, the angels said,
To Bethlehem, be not afraid;
For there you’ll find, this happy morn,
A princely babe, sweet Jesus born.

With thankful heart and joyful mind,
The shepherds went the babe to find,
And as God’s angel has foretold,
They did our Savior Christ behold.
Within a manger He was laid,
And by His side the virgin maid
Attending to the Lord of Life,
Who came on earth to end all strife.

SONG: LIGHT OF LIGHTS

Artist: Festival Singers
Words/Music: McLeod
Recording: Festivity Productions FPCD2007

Light of lights beholden
we from days of olden
sang this song
for to understand
that peace upon this planet
was pledged to come.
Each to other, sister, brother,
born for life and song,
look towards the light and carry on:
let the simple heart and hope among us
keep our family strong.

Darkness all around us,
light has always found us,
light will come
where the dark is deepest,
greater light will keep us
safe from harm.
Troubled times will always find
a voice of troubled doom,
look towards the light and carry on:
let the simple heart and hope among us
keep our family strong.
Let the simple heart and hope among us
Keep our family strong.

SONG: THE VIRGIN MARY HAD A BABY BOY

Artist: Oxford Pro Musica Singers
Words/Music: Trad
Recording: Proud Sound PROU CD134

The Virgin Mary had a baby boy,
the Virgin Mary had a baby boy,
the Virgin Mary had a baby boy,
and they say that his name is Jesus.

Refrain

He come from the glory,
he come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory,
he come from the glorious kingdom.
O yes, believer!
O yes, believer!
He come from the glory,
he come from the glorious kingdom.

The angels sang when the baby born,
the angels sang when the baby born,
the angels sang when the baby born,
and they say that his name is Jesus.

Refrain]

The shepherds came where the baby born,
the shepherds came where the baby born,
the shepherds came where the baby born,
and they say his name is Jesus.

Refrain

SONG: ANGELS’ CAROL

Artist: Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia
Words/Music: Rutter
Recording: Collegium 880111

Lyrics not available.

SONG: ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY

Artist: Choir of Wellington Cathedral
Words/Music: Alexander/Gauntlett
Label: Herald HAVPCD 224

Once in royal David’s 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 meek and lowly,
lived on earth our Savior holy.

Jesus 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 feels for all our sadness,
and he shares in all our gladness.

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.