General Chat

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord: Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice; Tender to me the promise of His word; In God my saviour shall my heart rejoice. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name: Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done; His mercy sure, from age to age the same; His holy name, the Lord, the mighty one. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might: Powers and dominions lay their glory by; Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight, The Hungry fed, the humble lifted high. Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word: Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord To children's children and for evermore.

The Holy City Revelation 21:2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Last night I lay a-sleeping, there came a dream so fair, I stood in old Jerusalem beside the temple there. I heard the children singing and ever as they sang, Me thought the voice of angels from heaven in answer rang. Me thought the voice of angels from heaven in answer rang. Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Lift up your gates and sing, Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to your King! And then me thought my dream was changed, the streets no longer rang, Hushed were the glad Hosannas the little children sang. The sun grew dark with mystery, the morn was cold and chill, As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill. As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill. Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Lift up your gates and sing, Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to your King! And once again the scene was changed; new earth there seemed to be; I saw the Holy City beside the tideless sea; The light of God was on its streets, the gates were open wide, And all who would might enter and no one was denied. No need of moon or stars by night, or sun to shine by day; It was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away. It was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away. Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Lift up your gates and sing, Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to your King! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to your King!

And looking ahead to Epiphany: We three kings of Orient are; Bearing gifts we traverse afar, Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star. Refrain O star of wonder, star of light, 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. Refrain Frankincense to offer have I; Incense owns a Deity nigh; Prayer and praising, voices raising, Worshipping God on high. Refrain Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom; Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone cold tomb. Refrain Glorious now behold Him arise; King and God and sacrifice; Alleluia, Alleluia, Sounds through the earth and skies. Refrain

Love Holy Night, too. For tomorrow, 26 December: Good King Wenceslas! This Christmas carol is unusual as there is no reference in the lyrics to the nativity. Good King Wenceslas was the king of Bohemia in the 10th century. Good King Wenceslas was a Catholic and is portrayed in an almost saintly vein because of his charitable attempts to give food to the poor. The saint referred to in Good King Wenceslas is St. Stephen whose feast day was celebrated on 26th December which explains why this song is performed as a Christmas carol. 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

Mine is, Holy Night,the same as for Mandy and Wendy and an old oneis We Three Kings

for Christmas Day, triumphantly!! O Come All Ye Faithful! The text to O Come All Ye Faithful was originally in Latin (Adeste Fideles) and was intended to be a hymn, it is attributed to John Wade, an Englishman. The music to O Come All Ye Faithful was composed by fellow Englishman John Reading in the early 1700s. The tune was first published in a collection known as "Cantus Diversi" in 1751. In 1841 Rev. Frederick Oakley is reputed to have worked on the familiar translation of O Come All Ye Faithful which replaced the Latin lyrics "Adeste Fideles". 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; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. O Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word. Give to our Father glory in the Highest; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning, O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored. 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.

Wonderful!! Happy Christmas, Philip. :) Joy

Hello Joy, I remember when I was training in Huddersfield in the late '60s, being invited along to a Christmas performance of The Messiah by the Huddersfield Choral Society. Magic! The local tradition was to stand at the beginning and sing "Christians awake". Magic again! Have a very happy Christmas, Philip

Christians awake salute the happy morn! Christians awake salute the happy morn was written by John Byron who was born in Broughton, England in 1692 and died in Manchester in 1763. His lyrics of Christians awake salute the happy morn are famous for the comprehensive quotation of the Archangel Gabriel “Behold, I bring good tidings…” John Byron wrote this poem in 1745 for his little daughter Dorothy. On Christmas morning she found the manuscript amongst her presents, the title was originally called 'Christmas Day for Dolly' but was renamed as Christians awake salute the happy morn when music was added. The music to Christians awake salute the happy morn was composed by J.Wainwright Christians, awake, salute the happy morn Whereon the Saviour of the world was born Rise to adore the mystery of love Which hosts of angels chanted from above With them the joyful tidings first begun Of God incarnate and the Virgin's Son Then to the watchful shepherds it was told Who heard the angelic herald's voice: "Behold, I bring good tidings of a Saviour's birth To you and all the nations upon earth This day hath God fulfilled His promised word; This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord." He spake, and straightaway the celestial choir In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire The praises of redeeming love they sang And heaven's whole orb with alleluias rang God's highest glory was their anthem still Peace upon earth and unto men goodwill To Bethlehem straight the shepherds ran To see the wonder God had wrought for man And found, with Joseph and the blessed Maid Her Son, the Saviour, in a manger laid Amazed, the wondrous story they proclaim The earliest heralds of the Saviour's name Let us, like these good shepherds, them employ Our grateful voices to proclaim the joy Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss From His poor manger to His bitter cross Treading His steps, assisted by His grace Till man's first heavenly state again takes place Then may we hope, the angelic thrones among To sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song He that was born upon this joyful day Around us all His glory shall display Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing Of angels and of angel-men the King

Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain, Wheat that in the dark Earth many days has lain. Love lives again, that with the dead has been. Love is come again like wheat that springeth green. Now the spirit stirreth at the stricken root From the rotted tree stump springs a living shoot Mold, muck and clay bring for the green of May Love is come again like wheat that springeth green In the Earth they laid them in a barren place Witches from the burning nameless and erased. Rising again, their ashes feed the grain. We are come again like wheat that springeth green. Now the wasteland bloometh from the hidden bud in the rocky desert, rivers brim and flood Dry bones will sing, the quickening of spring Love is come again like wheat that springeth green

Love Silent night, I vow to thee my country, The Shepherds pipe carol Going through the hills on a night all starry On the way to Bethlehem, Far away I heard a shepherd boy piping Angels brought this message: 'Dance and sing for joy that Christ the King is come to bring us peace on earth, and he's lying cradled there at Bethlehem" 'Tell me, shepherd boy piping tunes so merrily On the way to Bethlehem Who will hear your tunes on these hills so lonely On the way to Bethlehem?' Angels brought this message: 'Dance and sing for joy that Christ the King is come to bring us peace on earth, and he's lying cradled there at Bethlehem" 'None may hear my pipes on these hills so lonely On the way to Bethlehem; But a King will hear me play sweet lullabies When I get to Bethlehem.' Angels in the sky came down from on high, Hofered o'er the manger where the babe was lying cradled in th arms of his mother Mary, sleeping now at Bethlehem. 'Where is this new King, shepherd boy piping merrily, Is he there at Bethlehem?' 'I will find him soon by the star shining brightly In the sky o'er Bethlehem." Angels in the sky brought this message nigh: 'Dance and sing for joy that Christ the new-born King is come to bring peace on earth, and he's lying cradled there at Bethlehem.' 'May I come with you, shepherd boy piping merrily, Come with you to Bethlehem? Pay my homage too at the new King's cradle, Is it far to Bethlehem?' Angels in the sky brought this message nigh: 'Dance and sing for joy that Christ the infant King is born this night in lowly stable yonner, Born for you at Bethlehem.'

nudge me please will add later...............jerusalem anyways

1. Three Kings from Persian lands afar To Jordan follow the pointing star: And this the quest of the travellers three, Where the new-born King of the Jews may be. Full royal gifts they bear for the King; Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering. 2. The star shines out with a steadfast ray; The kings to Bethlehem make their way, And there in worship they bend the knee, As Mary’s child in her lap they see; Their royal gifts they show to the King; Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering. 3. Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem The Kings are travelling, travel with them! The star of mercy, the star of grace, Shall lead thy heart to its resting place. Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring; Offer thy heart to the infant King.

We are climbing Jacob's ladder, We are climbing Jacob's ladder, We are climbing Jacob's ladder, Brothers, sisters, all. Every rung goes higher and higher, Every rung goes higher and higher, Every rung goes higher and higher, Brothers, sisters, all. We are dancing Sarah's circle, We are dancing Sarah's circle, We are dancing Sarah's circle, Sisters, brothers, all. Every new one makes us stronger, Every new one makes us stronger, Every new one makes us stronger, Sisters, brothers, all We are climbing Jacob's ladder We are climbing Jacob's ladder We are climbing Jacob's ladder Brothers, sisters, all

Oh well, I'm tired and so weary But I must go alone Till the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh yes Well the morning's so bright And the lamp is alight And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes There will be peace in the valley for me, some day There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray There'll be no sadness, no sorrow No trouble, trouble I see There will be peace in the valley for me, for me Well the bear will be gentle And the wolves will be tame And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes And the beasts from the wild Shall be lit by a child And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes There will be peace in the valley for me, some day There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray There'll be no sadness, no sorrow No trouble, trouble I see There will be peace in the valley for me, for me

In my heart there rings a melody There rings a melody with heavenly harmony In my heart there rings a melody There rings a melody of love. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Sweetest name I know Fills my every longing Keeps me singing as I go.

The Virgin Mary had a baby boy The Virgin Mary had a baby boy The Virgin Mary had a baby boy And they gave him the name of Jesus He came from the Glory, He came from the Glorious Kingdom, Oh yes, Believer, oh, yes, Believer He came from the Glory, He came from the Glorious Kingdom, The wise men saw when the baby born The wise men saw where the baby born The wise men went where the baby born And they said that his name was Jesus He came from the Glory, He came from the Glorious Kingdom, Oh yes, Believer, oh, yes, Believer He came from the Glory, He came from the Glorious Kingdom, They saw the star over Bethlehem That glorious star over Bethlehem The trailed that star over Bethlehem To the crib of the child named Jesus He came from the Glory, He came from the Glorious Kingdom, Oh yes, Believer, oh, yes, Believer He came from the Glory, He came from the Glorious Kingdom, They found a manger in Bethlehem A lowly manger in Bethlehem And in that manger in Bethlehem They worshipped the child named Jesus He came from the Glory, He came from the Glorious Kingdom, Oh yes, Believer, oh, yes, Believer He came from the Glory, He came from the Glorious Kingdom,

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! Shepherds, in the fields abiding, Watching o'er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing, Yonder shines the infant Light; Come and worship, Come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King! Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great desire of nations, Ye have seen His natal star; Come and worship, Come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King! Saints before the altar bending, Watching long in hope and fear, Suddenly the Lord, descending, In His temple shall appear: Come and worship, Come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King!

It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold: "Peace on the earth, goodwill to men From heavens all gracious King!" The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing. Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled; And still their heavenly music floats O'er all the weary world: Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hovering wing, And ever o'er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing. O ye beneath life's crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow; Look now, for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing; Oh rest beside the weary road And hear the angels sing. For lo! the days are hastening on, By prophets seen of old, When with the ever-circling years Shall come the time foretold, When the new heaven and earth shall own The Prince of Peace, their King, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.

Ding dong merrily on high, In heav'n the bells are ringing: Ding dong! verily the sky Is riv'n with angel singing. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! E'en so here below, below, Let steeple bells be swungen, And "Io, io, io!" By priest and people sungen. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! Pray you, dutifully prime Your matin chime, ye ringers; May you beautifully rime Your evetime song, ye singers. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!