THE FRIENDLY BEASTS

Jesus our brother strong and good Was humbly born in a stable rude. And the friendly beasts around him stood Jesus our brother, strong and good. I, said the donkey, shaggy and brown, I carried his mother uphill and down I carried his mother to Bethlehem town. I, said the donkey, all shaggy and brown. I, said the cow, all white and red I gave him my manger for his bed I gave him my hay to pillow his head. I, said the cow, all white and red I, said the sheep, with curly horn, I gave him my wool for His blanket warm He wore my coat on Christmas morn. I, said the sheep, with curly horn. I, said the camel, yellow and black, Over the desert, upon my back, I brought Him a gift in the Wise Men's pack. I, said the camel, yellow and black. I, said the dove, from the rafters high I cooed him to sleep so He should not cry We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I I, said the dove, from the rafters high. Thus all the beasts, by some good spell In the stable dark were glad to tell Of the gift they gave Emmanuel The gift they gave Emmanuel

O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, Come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, born the King of angels; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal, Lo, he shuns not the Virgin's womb; Son of the Father, begotten, not created; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle, Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze; We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger, We would embrace Thee, with love and awe; Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly? O come, let us adore Him x3 Christ the Lord. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be glory giv'n; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. O come, let us adore Him x3 Christ the Lord.

AWAY IN A MANGER
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh. 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.

JOY TO THE WORLD

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.

SILENT NIGHT
Silent night, Holy night. All is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, Holy night. Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar; Heav'nly hosts sing "Alleluia. Christ the Savior is born. Christ the Savior is born." Silent Night, Holy Night. Son of God, love's pure light. Radiant beams from Thy Holy Face. With the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. Silent night, holy night, Wondrous star, lend thy light With the angels let us sing Alleluia to our King Christ the Savior is here, Jesus the Savior is here!

CHRISTMAS CAROL
BY SARA TEASDALE

The kings they came from out the south, All dressed in ermine fine, They bore Him gold and chrysoprase, And gifts of precious wine. The shepherds came from out the north, Their coats were brown and old, They brought Him little new-born lambs -They had not any gold. The wise-men came from out the east, And they were wrapped in white; The star that led them all the way Did glorify the night. The angels came from heaven high, And they were clad with wings; And lo, they brought a joyful song The host of heaven sings. The kings they knocked upon the door, The wise-men entered in, The shepherds followed after them To hear the song begin. And Mary held the little child And sat upon the ground; She looked up, she looked down, She looked all around. The angels sang thro' all the night Until the rising sun, But little Jesus fell asleep Before the song was done.

The Adoration of the Shepherds by Rembrandt, 1646

Nativity by Giotto, 1320

The Adoration of the Shepherds by Mattias Stom, 1640

Nativity by Rembrandt, 1654