Hymns on Sunday, 21 December 2025

This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. Sing along to favourite carols including Hark! The herald angels sing, O holy night, and Joy to the world. Photo: Public Domain SONG: HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING Artist: Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge Words/Music: Charles Wesley/Felix Mendelssohn Recording: Chandos CHSA 5096) Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled." Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th' angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem." Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King! Christ, by highest heaven adored: Christ, the everlasting Lord; Late in time behold him come, Offspring of the favoured one. Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; Hail, th'incarnate Deity: Pleased, as man, with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel! Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King! Hail! the heaven-born Prince of peace! Hail! the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die: Born to raise the son of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!" SONG: O HOLY NIGHT Artist: Elora Festival Singers, Michael Bloss (organ) Words/Music: Placide Cappeau trans John Dwight/Adolphe Adam Recording: Naxos 8.573421 O, holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees, oh, hear the angel voices! O, night divine, O, night when Christ was born! O, night divine, O, night, oh, night divine! Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here came the wise men from Orient land. The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger, In all our trials born to be our Friend! He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger. Behold your King; before Him lowly bend! Behold your King; before Him lowly bend! Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His Gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother, And in His Name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy Name! Christ is the Lord! O, praise His name forever! His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim! His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim! SONG: STAR-CHILD, EARTH-CHILD Artist: New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir Words/Music: Shirley Murray/Carlton Young Recording: NZ Hymnbook Trust 941001 Star-Child, earth-Child, go-between of God, love Child, Christ Child, heaven's lightning rod, Refrain: This year, this year, let the day arrive when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive! Street child, beat child, no place left to go, hurt child, used child no one wants to know, Refrain: Grown child, old child, mem'ry full of years, sad child, lost child, story told in tears, Refrain: Spared child, spoiled child, having, wanting more, wise child, faith child, knowing joy in store, Refrain: Hope-for-peace Child, God's stupendous sign, down-to-earth Child, Star of stars that shine, Refrain: SONG: I TE WHARE KUAO (AWAY IN A MANGER) Artist: Hatea Kapa Haka, David Tapene (dir) Words/Music: Anon/Kirkpatrick arr David Tapene Senior Recording: Hatea Kapa Haka 2023 I te whare kūao Kore moenga e Takoto ā Ihu Te Ariki nui Tīramarama mai Te Whetū mura Ki runga i-a Ihu E moe tonu nei. Be near me, Lord Jesus I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever And love me, I pray Bless all the dear children In Thy tender care And take us to Heaven, To live with Thee there. SONG: IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR Artist: Musica Sacra, Indra Hughes (dir) Words/Music: Trad/Arthur Sullivan Recording: Atoll ACD 207 It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold; “Peace on the earth, good will to men, From heav’n’s all gracious king.” The world in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing. Still through the cloven skies they come With peaceful wings unfurled, And still their heavenly music floats O’er all the weary world; Above its sad and lowly plains, They bend on hovering wing, And ever over its Babel sounds The blessèd angels sing. Yet with the woes of sin and strife The world has suffered long; Beneath the angel strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong; And man, at war with man, hears not The love-song which they bring; O hush the noise, ye men of strife And hear the angels sing. For lo! the days are hastening on, By prophet-bards foretold, When with the ever circling years Comes...

Hymns on Sunday, 21 December 2025

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