See this child laid in a manger

See this child laid in a manger, with his father standing by;

Mother resting from her labor gives a warm and weary sigh.

Jesus Christ as infant coming, all creation standing by.

 

See this child brought to the Temple, cradled in his mother's arms.

Hear the cries from nearby strangers to his parents' great alarms.

Prophets name the child as holy, who for us will suffer harms.

 

See this child and family dwelling, knowing not the threat they face.

Sages from the Eastern empires bear him gifts with awe and grace.

Then, by royal rage endangered, must the family find safe space.

 

See this child back in the Temple, asking questions wise and true.

When his parents found him still there, they chastised with much ado,

But he said, "I am my Father's, and his business I must do."

 

See this child back with his family, growing up and growing wise,

Growing in his Father's favor and as well to human eyes.

Let us learn this holy pattern; let his model be our prize.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, December 2023, after passages from Luke 2 and Matthew 2

MUSIC: Tune TRINITY, Peter Cutts, 1983, as found in The Presbyterian Hymnal, 1990. Copyright 1983 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. (not reproduced here due to copyright)

 

 

I don't know why, when I am normally quite proficient at working with public domain tunes, I keep coming back to this one tune that didn't even make it into Glory to God. (It is in the previous 1990 The Presbyterian Hymnal, which is where I first learned it.) This is the third text of mine that has latched onto this tune and refused to let go. The text was provoked by an online discussion of the sometimes-cloying sentimentality of hymns or carols that try to take up Jesus's infancy/childhood, of which we know little. I tried to stick with those things that we do have in scripture, which mostly comes from Luke 2 (with a dash of Matthew 2 thrown in). 

Look who gathers at Christ's cradle!

Look who gathers at Christ's cradle! Who beholds the Savior-child?

See his mother hovering o'er him, by his newborn charms beguiled.

Joseph too, his earthly father, now beholds the scene with glee; 

Humble peasants, willing servants, these the first this child to see!

 

Now we see not only humans gathered at his cradling place; 

Sheep and oxen, God's creation, now behold the infant's face.

Lowing, bleating, hear their chorus wilder than the loudest horn; 

These the first to sing the praises of the Savior newly born.

 

From afar come lowly shepherds, hastening to the place of rest,

Eyes all full of shock and wonder at this sight so plain and blessed;

Hear them tell of angel chorus singing of this holy one;

These the first to bear their witness to this newborn Savior-son.

 

Kings nor princes found this manger; mighty warriors did not come; 

Yet the birth of this child-Savior was for all, not just for some. 

Will you bring your joyous worship? Will you come adore this Son?

All who seek the Lord are welcome; there is room for everyone.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, December 2023.

MUSIC: Tune COPELAND, Michael Corzine, 2000.

I know exactly to "blame" for this hymn. She posted a curious nativity scene image and labeled it "Look who gathers...", which happens to be the incipit of a hymn the church we both attended at the time (I assume she still does) commissioned for the anniversary of its long-time pastor, many years ago.  Of course my brain started writing immediately, and this is the result. I note from Facebook that the hymn took its final-for-now form on the birthday of the pastor honored by the original hymn (the tune name is his name). [Note: I hope the composer will forgive me for using and sharing the tune llike this...]

The Spirit of the Lord our God (Advent 3B)

The Spirit of the Lord our God fell on the prophet's heart, 

Anointing him to bring good news to those once kept apart; 

To bring release to prisoned ones and captive bonds destroy.

Pray for the freeing joy of God; pray for that freeing joy.

 

The Spirit of the Lord did fall out in the wilderness,

On one sent out there to foretell the One who comes to bless;

To preach repentance to the folk, the powerful to annoy.

Seek out the wildsome joy of God; seek out that wildsome joy.

 

The Spirit of the Lord did lead an angel to proclaim

Unto a woman who would bear the Son of God in name; 

She sang of lifting up the low, God's saving to deploy.

Go share the soulful joy of God; go share that soulful joy.

 

The Spirit of the Lord calls us to live this joy today, 

In prayer and gratitude, you see the will of God at play

To sanctify you, keep you sound, your witness to employ.

Now live the saving joy of God; now live that saviing joy.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, December 2023, after Advent 3B verses 

            (Isaiah 61:1, John 1:6-8, Luke 1:46-55, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)

MUSIC: Tune CAROL, Richard Storrs Willis, 1850.

 

 

I suppose it was inevitable that I would revisit some of these Advent hymns. Here a hymn that focused on the epistle reading only (one I still consider a favorite) has a contrast in this text that seeks to touch on multiple readings for Advent 3B (even if the Magnificat is somehow relegated to an *alternate* reading, I will never accept that failure and will incorporate it into every Advent that involves me).

 

 

As years o'ertake us

As years o'ertake us, how our bodies fail and stumble gracelessly!

Our hearts lament what once they were but nevermore again can be. 

We rail and rage against our age and how we ne'er again will know

The vigor of our youthful frame; the strength we knew those years ago.

 

Or yet our minds may be the first to falter as the years go on; 

What once we knew with graceful ease now fails and falters and is gone.

Our memory fades and then evades us, leaving us in doubt and fear

That we might find ourselves still living, yet in vital ways, not here.

 

O great creating God, where are you when our lives are crumbling so?

O Christ, Redeemer, how are we to follow when we cannot go?

O Spirit free, how can we be refreshed and made new in this state?

Or are we bound to be laid low and watch ourselves degenerate?

 

O Three in One, where'er you are, give answer to our failing cry!

How can we serve you in this state, or is there any point to try?

We know that you are faithful to us in whatever we may face,

So Lord, we pray you teach us how to live through this in love and grace.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, November 2023.

MUSIC: Tune YE BANKS AND BRAES, Scottish melody.

This hymn is not for everybody. If it's not for you or if you take offense at it, move on. For those who need it, it is yours.