The Angel of the Lord beheld

The faith of Abraham

And said, “Since you have not withheld

Your only son from me

Your seed will be as countless sands:

Your offspring bless Earth’s distant lands.”

Refrain:

Rejoice, rejoice! The angel’s word

Has been fulfilled in Christ our Lord.

Let us believe, this Christmas eve,

The wonders we have heard.

An angel of the Lord appeared

While Zechariah served

And said, “Fear not! your prayer is heard.

Your wife shall bear a son.

By John will many be restored;

He’ll smooth a pathway for the Lord.”

The angel known as Gabriel

Appeared at Mary’s side

And said, “Hail, favored maiden, hail!

You are to bear a son.

The Lord will give him David’s throne

As Son of God he shall be known.”

An angel of the Lord drew near

To Joseph in a dream:

“Take Mary home and have no fear!

Her child is of the Lord.

From sin your people he’ll reclaim

And Jesus, Savior, be his name.”

An angel of the Lord shone bright

On shepherds in the field;

And said, “Good news I bring this night

And joy to all the world!

For Christ the Lord was born today

And wrapped in cloth and cribbed in hay.”

© 1998 Dan Graves CCLI # 7080612

This carol has been set to music by Mary Rose Jensen and can be heard, and the score downloaded, at https://www.scoreexchange.com/scores/192422.html .

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Contemplate the story of the Incarnation day-by-day throughout the season of Advent in our latest publication, The Grand Miracle. Based on the writings of C. S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, George MacDonald, Dorothy Sayers, and others, each day’s reading offers a fresh look at the birth of Christ through the eyes of a modern author. Scripture, prayer, and full-page contemplative images complete each entry. 28 days, 64 pages. Preview the Devotional here.

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