Here’s a contemporary hymn text for Christmas from Timothy Dudley-Smith. You might try
singing it to LASST UNS ERFREUEN (All Creatures of Our God and King). http://www.hymnary.org/tune/lasst_uns_erfreuen
If your congregation is more accustomed to singing in a contemporary style, why not use David Crowder’s setting of that tune (All Creatures of
Our God and King)? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cObXwn-EgGY
Hear How the Bells of Christmas Play
Hear how
the bells of Christmas play!
Well may
they ring for joy and say,
O praise him! Alleluia!
God has
fulfilled his promised word,
born is our
Saviour and our Lord,
O praise
him! O praise him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Let all the
waiting earth rejoice,
lift every
heart and every voice,
O praise him! Alleluia!
Sing now
the song to angels given,
Glory to
God in highest heaven!
O praise
him! O praise him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
As through
the silence of the skies
shepherds
in wonder heard arise,
O praise him! Alleluia!
So may we
hear again with them
songs in
the night at Bethlehem,
O praise
him! O praise him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
All nature
sang at Jesus' birth,
Hail the
Creator come to earth!
O praise him! Alleluia!
Sun, moon
and shining stars above,
tell out
the story of his love,
O praise
him! O praise him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Hear how
the bells of Christmas play!
Well may
they ring for joy and say,
O praise
him! O praise him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Come now to
worship and adore,
Christ is
our peace for evermore,
O praise him! Alleluia!
~ written by Timothy Dudley-Smith, and published in Beneath a Travelling Star. Words copyright © 1987 Hope Publishing
Company. If you use this hymn in worship, be sure to report it on your CCLI
license. Text reprinted here by
permission.
