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Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod

Christmas: O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord

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 Christmas is Here! Christ the Lord is Born Today

“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12)

Rejoice and be glad! Sing, choirs of Angels, sing in exultation! It’s Christmas and Christ the Lord, born as baby Jesus has been born today. God’s own Son in the flesh to come live among us. Heaven and earth have touched. God and man are united together in the person of Jesus, born of Mary on Christmas day

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcJYW1oN6fw[/embedyt]

Christ the Savior is born. Not Christ the judge or enforcer. Christmas is the day that exclaims that God is not just “out there”, but He is here with us, amongst us. Immanuel, meaning God with us. God in the flesh.

That is still true today. You will find Him at the baptismal font, in the Last Supper during communion, in the Word spoken by the pastor during the Gospel and throughout the Divine Service. He is found here on earth on those who hold Jesus in their heart.

He demonstrates His love through his people who give their gifts to those around them. Christ the Lord is inside the hearts of caregivers, Mothers, Fathers, teachers, doctors, police officers and all those who remember the love and forgiveness given through grace.

Merry Christmas!

O Come All Ye Faithful Sheet Music


O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord is Born today!! Celebrate Christmas with this popular Christmas hymn O Come All Ye Faithful. Find lyrics, sheet music and more.O Come All Ye Faithful Lyrics

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
Sing, choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above
Glory to God
In the highest!
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be glory giv’n
Word of the Father,
Now in the flesh appearing
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

List of Christmas Carols and Hymns

I hope you have enjoyed Advent Season and my daily reflections. I didn’t know if I would be able to complete the series and I’m glad I did.

Below is a list of Christmas carols and hymns which I specifically wrote about and provided lyrics and sheet music.

Prepare the Royal Highway

Playlist: Hymns for Advent Season

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Hymn

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman

Angels We Have Heard on High

Joy To The World

Once in Royal Davids City

Away in a Manager

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Silent Night

O Come All Ye Faithful

While I wrote each Advent devotion I listened to hymns and Christmas carols in the background. Many times looping my playlist for inspiration. Here is my YouTube Christmas Carol playlist with some of my favorite renditions. Many of them didn’t make it on the list above. It was difficult to decide which one to pick for each day. You can listen to my entire set here on YouTube

Enjoy and have a VERY Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Readings

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 43: 1-24:  Revelation 9: 13- 10: 11

Sunday, Fourth Week Advent: Words to Silent Night Announce Christ the Savior is Born

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Candlelight Service Tradition

On Christmas Eve it is a tradition in many Lutheran churches to end the evening service with the lights turned down and sing Silent Night by the light of candles. Actually, this is a Christmas Eve tradition in many churches and I fondly remember midnight service at Grace Episcopal Church growing up.

All is calm, and all is bright as the congregation sings of heavenly peace. For twenty years I have sat at the front of the church playing Silent Night on the piano as the congregation fills

Silent Night Sheet Music

It came upon the Midnight Clear that glourious sound of old. With Angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold. Rejoice in the music of Christmas as the Lutheran Advent season comes to a close with music and lyrics of It Came Upon a Midnight ClearWords to Silent Night

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Weekly Advent Readings: Sunday, The Nativity Sunday

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 43: 1-24:  Revelation 9: 13- 10: 11

Saturday, Third Week Advent: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

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Christmas Eve is tomorrow!

It came upon a midnight clear. One day, over two thousand years ago for a split second a star shone over Bethlehem and there was Peace on Earth. The news of his birth had been predicted. It was feared by rulers so much they sent wise men to “spy” and report back. Shepards were visited by angels and the whole earth sang of the news.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYDa4Kht6Eo[/embedyt]

Did Advent season do what it was supposed to do?

Did it prepare you for the coming of the Lord? Did it help you change, maybe if it was for a day? If you haven’t thought about it think about it now.

Not only is tomorrow Christmas Eve but it’s Sunday and the last Sunday in Advent. You will receive a double dose of Blessings and Joy!  Some of you not only have Christmas Eve service but morning service. Don’t skip your morning service.

It seems when the last Sunday of Advent is also Christmas Eve the anticipation is even higher for Christmas. We tell our children to be good for goodness sake, but we can use this same advice. Use this extra opportunity to change, really change and not just because it’s Christmas.

Don’t stop doing the things you shouldn’t do, but do the things you should be doing and add love to your actions. Love those who don’t love you back. Forgive those who sin against you before they are sorry. End grudges and let go of the hurt you’re carrying.

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Sheet Music


It came upon the Midnight Clear that glourious sound of old. With Angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold. Rejoice in the music of Christmas as the Lutheran Advent season comes to a close with music and lyrics of It Came Upon a Midnight ClearIt Came Upon a Midnight Clear Lyrics

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 heaven’s 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.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world hath suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love song which they bring:
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing.

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years,
Shall come the Age of Gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.

 

Weekly Advent Readings: Saturday, 3rd Week Advent

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 43: 1-24:  Revelation 9: 13- 10: 11


Friday, Third Week Advent: Words to Away in a Manger Tell a Story

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Words to Away in a Manger tell of a humble birth of the baby Jesus.The Words to Away in A Manger Celebrate a Humble Birth of Baby Jesus.

The Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus was born not in a castle, not in a palace, but a lowly stable.
The birth of the Baby Jesus was NOT attended by the rich. Mother Mary did not have ladies in waiting to bring her food and water. It was Mary and Joseph alone, in probably a cave that served as a stable for animals. They laid him in swaddling clothes in a feeding trough, off the floor on a bed of hay.
The picture of humanity in a tender scene is depicted in this tender Christmas Carol.
Children in hundreds of churches sing this simple song and it’s often the first Christmas carol they learn. In our Sunday School program, the preschool kids sing it the loudest.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur60zV6cjaE[/embedyt]
The innocent voices of these “wee little ones” are perfect for such a humble birth. The words to away in a manger remind us of humble poor beginnings come great things. Don’t judge your surroundings or where you live. Just because you were of a humble birth or poor doesn’t mean you are any less loved.
In fact, you are VERY loved. Jesus comes to you where you live to give you peace, joy and salvation.

Away in a Manger Sheet Music


Lyrics for Away in a Manger

Away in a manger
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head
The stars in the sky
Look down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side
‘Til morning is nigh

Weekly Advent Readings: Friday, 3rd Week Advent

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 43: 1-24:  Revelation 9: 13- 10: 11


Thursday, Third Week Advent: Once in Royal Davids City, Words to a Kings Processional

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What Starts in a Shed, Becomes our Lord in Heaven

This is truly a traditional church Christmas hymn. It starts off slow and solemn and builds majestically to the last chorus as we welcome the birth of the baby Jesus. It is like this with Advent. The season of Advent starts off quiet, barely a whisper. But as the last week approaches the climax is in sight.

The history of “Once in Royals Davids City” dates back to 1919 when Arthur Henry Mann, an organist wrote the piece as a processional hymn for the service at Kings College Cambridge. It is still sung with a young boy singing the first verse acapella as the choir joins in the second and building to a crescendo.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT3cfXd3Shk[/embedyt]

This Christmas hymn is not as popular with contemporary artists, but when it is performed by Jonathan and Charlotte, (finalists in 2012 Britains Got Talent) the operatic version is simply breathtaking.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYOqV3zdG10[/embedyt]

Once in Royal Davids City Sheet Music

Once in Royal Davids City, Words to a Kings ProcessionOnce in Royal Davids City, Words, and Music

Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed
There 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, oppressed and wholly
Lived on earth our Savior holy

For He is our childhood’s pattern
Day by day like us He grew
He was little weak, and stable
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 along
To the place that He is gone

Weekly Advent Readings: Thursday, 3rd Week Advent

Today’s Reading John 20: 24 -29

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 42: 1-25:  Revelation 9: 1-12