Common Praise ‎#63a

63a. O little town of Bethlehem

1 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.

2 O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King,
and peace to men on earth.
For Christ is born of Mary;
and, gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.

3 How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given!
so God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming;
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.

4 O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin, and enter in:
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels,
the great glad tidings tell:
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel.

Text Information

• First Line: O little town of Bethlehem
• Author: Phillips Brooks, 1835-1893
• Meter: DCM
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2000
• Scripture:
  Ephesians 3:17
  ;
  Galatians 4:19
  ;
  Isaiah 57:15
  ;
  Isaiah 66:19-20
  ;
  Job 38:7
  ;
  Luke 2:6-16
  ;
  Matthew 1:23
  ;
  Micah 5:2
• Topic: Christmas; Chirstimas Midnight

Tune Information

• Name: FOREST GREEN
• Harmonizer: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958
• Meter: DCM
• Key: F Major
• Copyright: Harmony © Oxford University Press. From "The English Hymnal"