General Chat

What Child Is This What child is this, who, laid to rest On Mary's lap, is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary! So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, Come peasant king to own Him, The King of kings, salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone Him. Raise, raise the song on high, The Virgin sings her lullaby: Joy, joy, for Christ is born, The Babe, the Son of Mary!

The Kerry Christmas Carol Brush the floor and clean the hearth, And set the fire to keep, For they might visit us tonight When all the world's asleep. Don't blow the tall white candle out But leave it burning bright, So that they'll know they're welcome here This holy Christmas night. Leave out the bread and meat for them, And sweet milk for the Child, And they will bless the fire, that baked And, too, the hands that toiled. For Joseph will be travel-tired, And Mary pale and wan, And they can sleep a little while Before they journey on. They will be weary of the roads, And rest will comfort them, For it must be many a lonely mile From here to Bethlehem. O long the road they have to go, The bad mile with the good, Till the journey ends on Calvary Beneath a cross of wood. Leave the door upon the latch, And set the fire to keep, And pray they'll rest with us tonight When all the world's asleep.

What a lovely thread. Thank you. Joy - I adore Do You Hear What I Hear. Am singing along to it now and it's bringing a tear to my eye. Soppy mare that I am. Not doing my board cred any good. But what the heck. Got this picture in my head of who recorded it but can't think of his name..... wasn't Perry Como was it? Aileen xxx

Yes, Aileen - Perry Como, Anne Murray, the Carpenters, Destiny's Child.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes I love thee Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And be by my side until morning is nigh Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay Close by me for ever and love me, I pray Bless all the dear children in thy tender care And fit us for heaven to live with thee there. (Forgive my absence from choir practice - have been to London on family business) Angela

Morning folks, I see the carols are going well - well done! The brandy butter tastes all right as well, have asked the vicar to lock it away now until Christmas Day! OK, here's my next offering: Behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen. O arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is upon thee. The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising; and they shall call thee the city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen. O arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is upon thee. Lift up thine eyes round about and see, they gather themselves together; and they shall come, thy sons from afar, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen. O arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is upon thee. Then shalt thou see and flow together, and thy heart shall be enlarged; the abundance of the sea is converted unto thee, and the nations shall come unto thee. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen. O arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is upon thee. The sun shall no more go down, neither shall the moon withdraw itself; but the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen. O arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is upon thee.

And here's a more traditional one: Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid; star of the east, the horizon adorning, guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. Cold on His cradle the dew-drops are shining; low lies His head with the beasts of the stall: angels adore Him, in slumber reclining, maker and monarch, and Saviour of all. Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion, odours of Edom, and offerings divine; gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean, myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine? Vainly we offer each ample oblation; vainly with gifts would His favour secure; richer by far is the heart's adoration; dearer to God are the prayers of the poor. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid; star of the east, the horizon adorning, guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Here's another one: Child in the manger, infant of Mary, outcast and stranger, Lord of all! Child who inherits all our transgressions, all our demerits on Him fall. Once the most holy child of salvation, gentle and lowly lived below; now as our glorious mighty Redeemer, see Him victorious over each foe. Prophets foretold Him, infant of wonder; angels behold Him on His throne; worthy our Saviour of all our praises; happy for ever are His own.

And finally for today: Come and join the celebration, it's a very special day; come and share our jubilation, there's a new King born today! See the shepherds hurry down to Bethlehem; gaze in wonder at the Son of God who lay before them. Come and join the celebration ..... Wise men journey, led to worship by a star, kneel in homage, bringing precious gifts from lands afar, so Come and join the celebration ..... 'God is with us,' round the world the message bring; He is with us, 'Welcome!' all the bells on earth are pealing. Come and join the celebration, it's a very special day; come and share our jubilation, there's a new King born today!

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.

Morning All, Bit short on the tenors & basses, I think. Never mind, here's the next one: Come, watch with us this Christmas night; our hearts must travel far to darkened hills and heavens bright with star on shining star; to where in shadowy silence sleep the fields of Bethlehem, as shepherds wake their watch to keep and we will watch with them. Who would not join the angel-songs that tell the Saviour's birth? The Lord for whom creation longs has come at last to earth; the fulness of the Father's love is ours at Bethlehem, while angels throng the skies above and we will sing with them. Who would not journey far to share the wisdom of the wise, and gaze with them in wonder where the world's Redeemer lies? The Lord of all the lords that are is born at Bethlehem, and kings shall kneel beneath His star and we will bow with them. Lift every heart the hymn of praise that all creation sings; the angel host its homage pays, the shepherds and the kings. For earth and sky with one accord, O Child of Bethlehem, are come to worship Christ the Lord and we will come with them.

See him lying on a bed of straw; Draughty stable with an open door, Mary cradling the babe she bore; The prince of glory is his name. Oh, now carry me to Bethlehem To see the Lord appear to men; Just as poor as was the stable then, The prince of glory when he came. Star of silver sweep across the skies, Show where Jesus in the manger lies. Shepherds swiftly from your stupor rise To see the Saviour of the world. chorus Mine are riches from your poverty, From your innocence, eternity; Mine, forgiveness by your death for me, Child of sorrow for my joy. chorus Angels, sing again the song you sang, Bring God’s glory to the heart of man; Sing that Bethl’em’s little baby can Be salvation to the soul. chorus

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. With sorrow brought by sin and strife the world has suffered long, and, since the angels sang, have passed two thousand years of wrong; for man at war with man hears not the love-song which they bring; O hush the noise, you men of strife, and hear the angels sing! And those whose journey now is hard, whose hope is burning low, who tread the rocky path of life with painful steps and slow; O listen to the news of love which makes the heavens ring! O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing! And still the days are hastening on - by prophets long foretold - when with the passing of the years comes round the age of gold; when earth and heaven renewed shall see the Prince of Peace, their King; and all the earth repeat the song which now the angels sing.

Unto us is born a Son, King of quires supernal: See on earth his life begun, Of lords the Lord eternal. Christ, from heaven descending low, Comes on earth a stranger; Ox and ass their owner know, Becradled in the manger. This did Herod sore affray, And grievously bewilder, So he gave the word to slay, And slew the little childer. Of his love and mercy mild This the Christmas story; And O that Mary's gentle child Might lead us up to glory. O and A, and A and O, Cum cantibus in choro, Let our merry organ go, Benedicamus Domino

Coventry Carol Lullay, Thou little tiny Child, By, by, lully, lullay. Lullay, Thou little tiny Child. By, by, lully, lullay. O sisters, too, how may we do, For to preserve this day; This poor Youngling for whom we sing, By, by, lully, lullay. Herod the King, in his raging, Charged he hath this day; His men of might, in his own sight, All children young, to slay. Then woe is me, poor Child, for Thee, And ever mourn and say; For Thy parting, nor say nor sing, By, by, lully, lullay.

O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight For Christ is born of Mary And gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love O morning stars together Proclaim the holy birth And praises sing to God the King And Peace to men on earth How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven. No ear may his His coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him still, The dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem Descend to us, we pray Cast out our sin and enter in Be born to us today We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell O come to us, abide with us Our Lord Emmanuel

Awdrey, great minds think alike. I was thinking this afternoon that I would put that one up next! However, here is my alternative offering: O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny From depths of Hell Thy people save And give them victory o'er the grave Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height, In ancient times did'st give the Law, In cloud, and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel Angela

Away in a manger, No crib for a bed The little Lord Jesus Laid down His sweet head The stars in the bright sky Looked 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, Until morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever And love me I pray Bless all the dear children In Thy tender care And fit us for heaven To live with Thee there

this is silent night in spanish NOCHE DE PAZ (una de las letras) ¡ Noche de paz, noche de amor! Ha nacido el niño Dios en un humilde portal de Belén sueña un futuro de amor y de fe viene a traernos la paz: viene a traernos la paz: Desde el portal llega tu luz y nos reune en torno a ti ante una mesa de limpio mantel o en el pesebre María y José en esta noche de paz: en esta noche de paz:

Thanks Marnie - that's lovely. (Was beginning to think I was singing solo!) Angela