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Savior of the nations, come,
Show yourself, the virgin’s son.
Marvel heaven, wonder earth,
That our God chose such a birth.
Not by human power or seed
Did the woman's womb conceive;
Only by the Spirit's breath
Was the Word of God made flesh.
Mary then was found with child,
Still a virgin, chaste and mild.
God had favored her with grace
To receive the Prince of Peace.
Christ laid down his majesty,
Passed through dark Gethsemane.
Though he left his Father's home,
Christ now sits on God's own throne.
Christ in glory intercede
For your creatures’ suffering need.
Let your resurrecting power
Soon complete the victory hour.
Praise to you, O Lord, we sing.
Praise to Christ, our newborn King!
With the Father, Spirit, one,
Let your lasting kingdom come.
---
Text: Ambrose, 4th cent., and Martin Luther, 1523;
Translation. Calvin Seerveld, 1984
Tune: Enchiridia, circa 16th cent.
Arrangement: Bruce Benedict, 2009
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2. |
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Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear Thy servants when they call.
Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the medicine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruined race.
Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to evening-tide;
Proceeding from a virgin shrine,
The spotless savior so divine.
At Whose dread Name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow
And things celestial Thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.
O Thou Whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From every insult of the foe.
To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honor, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally.
---
Text: Unknown author, 7th Century (Conditor alme siderum)
Translation: Latin to English by John M. Neale, 1852.
Music: Bruce Benedict, 2008
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3. |
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This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears,
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world;
O let me ne'er forget,
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
the battle is not done;
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and heaven be one.
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4. |
Kyrie 2007
02:24
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Kyrie Eleison,
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy on us.
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5. |
Star in the East
04:08
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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.
Refrain
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 dewdrops are shining;
Low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore him, in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Savior of all.
Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Odors of Eden and offerings 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 gifts would his favor secure;
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration;
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
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6. |
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To us a child of hope is born,
To us a Son is giv’n,
Him shall the tribes of earth obey,
Him all the hosts of Heav’n.
Refrain
His pow’r, increasing, still shall spread,
His reign no end shall know,
Justice shall guard His throne above,
And peace abound below.
His Name shall be the Prince of Peace,
Forevermore adorned,
The Wonderful, the Counselor,
The great and mighty Lord.
To us a Child of hope is born,
To us a Son is giv’n,
The Wonderful, the Counselor,
The mighty Lord of Heav’n.
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7. |
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The shepherds had an angel,
The wise men had a star,
But what have I, a little child,
To guide me home from far,
Where glad stars sing together,
And singing angels are ?
Those Shepherds through the lonely night
Sat watching by their sheep,
Until they saw the heavenly host
Who neither tire nor sleep,
All singing ‘Glory, glory’
In festival they keep.
Christ watches me, His little lamb,
Cares for me day and night,
That I may be His own in heaven:
So angels clad in white
Shall sing their ‘Glory, glory,’
For my sake in the height.
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8. |
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Oh holy child, you’ve been made known
A thousand miles into the unknown
A light in the sky, for all mankind
You shined from the deep – dark of space
You shined in the deep – dark of our sin.
Refrain
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to the King
Oh holy light you’ve been made known
From Babylon, with the rising moon
Up to the king of Jerusalem
But not from the throne - of David’s Citadel
But not from a throne - but from a stable
O holy night, you’ve made been known
Where heavenly hosts, and shepherds roam
All to the wonder of his seemless light
You shined from the womb – of prophets long-foretold
You shined from the womb into the night.
Oh holy wrath, oh holy blood
Bethlehem’s cries and Rachel’s breath
Running from His righteous wounds
He came for the peace, of ancient Israel
He came for the peace, for favored men.
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Bruce Benedict Holland, Michigan
Music mostly written, recorded, or produced by Bruce Benedict (Cardiphonia, Hope College, etc)
Bruce Benedict recommends:
Awesome church compilations that I help work on!
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