As our family was singing Christmas carols tonight, I felt a stirring within my
heart thinking about the birth of the Savior!
It made me look into a little background info on one of the hymns we sang....
O Little Town of Bethlehem
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Rector Phillips Brooks (1835-1903) of Philadelphia,
wrote the words to O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1868,
following a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He was inspired
by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine especially
at night time hence the lyrics of O Little Town of Bethlehem.
His church organist Lewis Redner (1831-1908) wrote the
melody to O Little Town of Bethlehem. Redner was
Brooks’ organist at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The tune came to him on
Christmas Eve, and was first sung the next day.
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth!
How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is giv’n;
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.
Where children pure and happy pray to the blessèd Child,
Where misery cries out to Thee, Son of the mother mild;
Where charity stands watching and faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, and Christmas comes once more.
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
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I hope that you have a song in your heart this Christmas season!
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