Advent Calendar 1.6

Week One: Hope: Day Six

This is another of my favorite Christmas carols.  I once made a quilt with this theme (based on the carol).  The quilt was never quite finished and is currently in Illinois, so I don’t have a picture of it.  But it had hills in the background, houses in the foreground with lighted windows, a silent street, and over all, in the night sky, shone a huge star.  Someday–probably after my military “gig” is over–I hope to finish it.

This is a very calm, meditative hymn.  I love the message of it.  Jesus, our hope, our gift has been given to us to redeem us from our sins.  O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.

Micah 5:2

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.

(You can hear it here.)

O Little Town of Bethlehem

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.

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

How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is giv’n;
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

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!