O Little Town of Bethlehem

"O Little Town of Bethlehem" has been my favorite Christmas carol for as long as I can remember. I figured out why as the unfortunate events of 2020 spilled out bucket by bucket from January through December. It's because "O Little Town of Bethlehem" focuses, not on the magnificence, the joy and grandeur associated with the entry of Jesus Christ, but on the stillness required by Each and Every One-of-us-at-a-time who chooses to kneel in reverence at His cradle, His cross and His empty tomb to receive His "unspeakable gift." 2 Cor. 9:15

"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 wond’ring 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."

Text: Phillips Brooks, 1835–1893

Music: Lewis H. Redner, 1831–1908

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