Dec 29 Refugees face exploitation – Marjorie Dobson
Category: Hymns
Holy Innocents – New Hymn
For new hymn text – The Crib and the stable are waiting – commentary and link to performance click the link below on or after 28th December – The Crib and the stable are waiting
Also a selection of daily hymns for the whole of Advent and the Christmas season through to January 6th – Epiphany.
An unmarried mother gave birth in a stable
1 An unmarried mother gave birth in a stable, some saw a fulfilment of all they had heard, to others this story, the birth of the Godhead, was more than amazing, was frankly absurd. 2 Some delved into scripture and said that a virgin, was destined to carry a child who would grow to be a Messiah, salvation for nations, and others would question how history could know. 3 So back to the story, now Bethlehem beckons, a carpenter-pawn come to sign for the state, the bureaucrats needing a list for taxation and everyone hurries before it's too late. 4 A legend would grow up of shepherds and magi, no snow at this Christmas beneath a night's sky. A man who would die as a crucified preacher was born with sparse shelter as people passed by. 5 And so came the story of birth in a stable, of Bethlehem's journey, a virgin and child. And lost is the essence, the mystery and wonder, of God born among us abused and reviled. 6 Much later a soldier saw God in this prophet a man who would love to his very last breath the dying, the hopeless, those outside religion, and all those beside who had shared in his death. Andrew E Pratt (born 1948) © 2018 Stainer and Bell Ltd. 12 11 12 11 Tune: STREETS OF LAREDO; ST CATHERINES COURT
Wesley at Christmas
See Martin Clarke’s account of singing especially at Christmas