Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Nov 12, 2012

Christmas Song: The Debut (to "Jingle Bells")

Here’s a new song for Christmas from Rev. Christine Sobania’s Freshly Squeezed Liturgy blog. It’s set to the tune of Jingle Bells.

Rev. Sobania writes: I wrote it a few years ago, and it was featured on the favorite Moravian Church publication known as "the bulletin back." I am often requested to share the words with others, so here they are. Celebrate!

The Debut
(to the tune of Jingle Bells)

Refrain
In this crowd sing out loud: Glory to the One!
God has made things personal by sending us the Son.
In this crowd sing out loud: Glory! Allelu!
Celebrate the birth of Christ --the day of his debut.

Stanza 1
The faithful waited long for God to intervene--
To rule with power and might, to give them what they dreamed.
What a big surprise! The Savior was a child!
The Christmas story goes to show God’s plans are really wild!
Refrain

Stanza 2
God’s love is for all, there can be no doubt.
The poor, the weak, the small--no one is left out!
The reason Jesus came: God wanted to be near;
God wanted to draw close to us, and that is why we cheer!
Refrain

~ written by Rev. Christine Sobania Johnson on her blog, Freshly Squeezed Liturgy.  http://freshlysqueezedliturgy.blogspot.com/

Christmas Song: Hear How the Bells


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.

For many other new song texts for Christmas, visit Hope Publishing Company’s Online Hymnody website. http://www.hopepublishing.com/html/main.isx?sitesec=40.1.0.0

Praise & Worship Songs for Christmas


Here are some contemporary Praise & Worship songs suitable for use during the Christmas season.  If you have suggestions for other songs, let me know and I’ll add them.

For contemporary Praise & Worship songs for Advent, see this post:
Angels from the Realms of Glory, Steven Curtis Chapman 2
Angels Sing Their Songs Tonight, Noel & Tricia Richards
Angels We Have Heard on High, Josh Wilson, Jeff Pardo
Angels We Have Heard on High, arr. Chris Tomlin
Blessing and Honour, Vicky Beeching, Jonny & Sarah MacIntosh
Born in Bethlehem, Third Day
Born Where the Shadows Lie, Margaret Becker
Came the Light, Mark Niedzwiedz
Celebrate the Child, Michael Card
Christmas Angels, Michael W. Smith
Emmanuel, Raymond Badham
Emmanuel, Reuben Morgan
End of Exile, Evan Wickham
Follow the Light, Marc Byrd, Sarah Hart
From the Squalor (Immanuel), Stuart Townend
Glory in the Highest, Chris Tomlin
Glory to God, Brenton Brown, Terry Butler
Hallelujah, Darlene Zschech
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, arr. Tomlin, Gilder, Cash
Here is Our King, David Crowder Band
Higher, Mia Fieldes
Immanuel, Michael Card
Immanuel, Stuart Townend
Joy Has Dawned, Keith and Kristyn Getty
Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy) Ed Cash, Chris Tomlin
Joyful (The One Who Saves) Jason Ingram, Brenton Brown
Joyful, Joyful Casting Crowns
Let the World Sing Gloria, Jeremy Bose, Bryan Brown, Sarah Hart
Let Us Adore, Reuben Morgan
Light Has Come, Charlie Hall
Light of the World, Matt Redman
Look to the Skies (Worship the King), Graham Kendrick, David Peacock
Love Came Down, Bryn Haworth
Love Comes Down, Matt Maher, Michael Gungor
My Soul Magnifies the Lord, Chris Tomlin
Newborn King, Jeff Pardo, Bryan Brown
O Come, All Ye Faithful, Frederick Oakley, arr. Chris Tomlin
O Come, Be Born Again, Jennifer Martin
O Come Let Us Adore Him, Hillsong
O Holy Night, Placide Cappeau, arr. Chris Tomlin
O Rejoice, Mia Fieldes
Offering, Paul Baloche
On Christmas Day, Matt Osgood
Our King Has Come, Hillsong Live
Redemption Song, Adie
Servant and King (Love come down), Eoghan Heaslip, David Ruis
Sing, Josh Wilson, Jeff Pardo
The King Has Come, Eoghan Heaslip,
You Spoke, Ken Riley, Matt Redman
Unto Us, Reuben Morgan, Harrison Wood
We Adore You, Paul Baloche
What Kind of Throne, Joel Payne
What Love Has Done, Kate York, Sarah Hart
Winter Snow, Audrey Assad