Immanuel
The angels wait with joyful anticipation,
darkness covers the earth
the glory of God is hidden
veiled within a virgin womb.
O come O come Immanuel,
God with us.
The shepherds, simple, hardy men,
guard their flocks in the hills
below them Bethlehem sleeps
unaware of eternity unfolding.
O come O come Immanuel,
God with us.
Above them the stars shine on
cold and bleak from afar,
Yet the one who made those stars
was to be born in a stable dark.
O come O come Immanuel,
God with us.
A child is born, a son is given
and the world is changed forever,
all heaven above rejoices,
below, the darkness trembles.
O come O come Immanuel,
God with us.
Now the eternity of longing ended,
sings forth from the angel host;
“Glory to God in the highest,
on earth peace to men of God’s will”.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
has come to thee, O Earth!
© Catherine Davies 2005
Sheep on The Holy Island of Lindisfarne
A Christmas Reflection
Come and see the babe sleeping so quietly, softly slumbering in a bed of straw. See the man silent before his accusers tormented with a crown of thorns
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord
Come and see the shepherds bowing low leaving their sheep in the fields.
See, bowed under the cross so cruel, the paschal lamb climbing the hill
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord
Come see a child cradled with love in his maiden mother’s arms.
See the mother weeping as she holds the broken body of her beloved son.
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord
Come see the star brightly lighting the way to the infant king.
See the darkness that falls on the world as the “King of the Jews” expires
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord
Come hear the angels singing their praises as God’s only son is born.
Hear God’s son cry in death’s agony Father, why have you forsaken me?
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord
Come see a virgin’s joy at the birth of her blessed, innocent, child.
Witness satan and death’s defeat as the Lord of life dies.
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord
Come hear the words of the innkeeper sorry, no room for you here.
Listen- In my house are many rooms I go to prepare yours for you.
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord
Few saw his first coming in Bethlehem unknown to the rest of the world.
None shall miss Jesus’ glory when he returns to judge mankind
Then all shall adore him, Christ the Lord.
Come Lord Jesus, come.
© Catherine Davies 2005
- Cross at the Priory, Holy Island of Lindisfarne
