Best Loved Christmas Carols, Readings and Poetry. Martin ManserЧитать онлайн книгу.
woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
This old English carol is traditionally sung as the main dish (a wild boar’s head) is brought in during the Christmas feast at Queen’s College, Oxford. It has remained in use, sung to a tune written as late as 1901, despite the fact that wild boars became extinct in England by the end of the seventeenth century.
The boar’s head in hand bear I,
Bedecked with bays and rosemary;
And I pray you my masters be merry,
Quot estis in convivio.
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino.
The boar’s head, as I understand,
Is the bravest dish in all the land
When thus bedecked with a gay garland;
Let us servire cantico.
Our steward hath provided this
In honour of the King of Bliss,
Which on this day to be served is
In Reginensi Atrio.
Anonymous
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning
This carol was written by Reginald Heber, the Anglican vicar of the small Shropshire village of Hodnet, on Epiphany Sunday, 1811. His inspiration was Matthew 2:1–12, the Gospel reading for that particular day. The carol became widely popular, being taken up with particular enthusiasm by Methodists, Baptists and Presbyterians. Heber went on to serve as Bishop of Calcutta, where he eventually died. His other compositions include the hymn ‘Holy, holy, holy’.
Hail the blest morn! See the great Mediator
Down from the regions of glory descend!
Shepherds, go worship the Babe in the manger!
Lo! For his guard the bright angels attend.
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid!
Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining,
Low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore him, in slumber reclining,
Wise men and shepherds before him do fall.
Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Odours of Edom and off’rings divine,
Gems from the mountain and pearls from the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?
Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gold would his favour secure;
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
Reginald Heber (1783–1826)
This song, with its catchy tune, is one of the more popular of relatively recently introduced Christmas songs. It invites a fresh response to Jesus Christ as Saviour.
See Him lying on a bed of straw,
A draughty stable with an open door;
Mary cradling the babe she bore –
The prince of glory is His name.
O now carry me to Bethlehem
To see the Lord of love again:
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!
Angels sing again the song you sang,
Sing the glory of God’s gracious plan;
Sing that Bethlehem’s little baby can
Be the saviour of us all.
Mine are riches, from your poverty,
From your innocence, eternity;
Mine forgiveness by your death for me,
Child of sorrow for my joy.
Michael Perry (1942–96)
Words: Michael Perry © Mrs B Perry/Jubilate Hymns Used by permission
This Christmas song is a popular contemporary carol and a frequent choice for children and families to sing during the festive season.
Come and join the celebration.
It’s a very special day.
Come 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.
Wise men journey,
Led to worship by a star,
Kneel in homage,
Bringing precious gifts
From lands afar.
‘God is with us,’
Round the world the message bring.
He is with us.
‘Welcome!’ all the bells
On earth are peeling.
Valerie Collison (b.1933)
Permission has been sought.
This carol recalls the simplicity of the Christmas message: that God became a human being and lived among us. He has taken away our sin and redeemed us. He is worthy of our worship, praise and adoration.
Child in the manger,
infant of Mary;
outcast and stranger,
Lord of all:
child who inherits
all our transgressions,