Four completely different style Advent/Christmas songs today: an early music sound, a gentle folk song, a street-corner salvation band, and even a sing-a-long with the words on the screen.
NCH #101 Comfort, Comfort O My People
NCH #105 Gentle Joseph, Joseph Dear
NCH #106 My heart Sings Out With Joyful Praise
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
- I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to all. - I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th’unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to all. - Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to all. - And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to all.” - Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth God sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to all.”
copyright: public domain Words: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1864.; modified Music: ‘Waltham (Calkin)’ John B. Calkin, 1872.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 