Words and Music by Phillips
Brooks and Lewis H. Redner
Redner was Brooks’ organist at Holy
Trinity Church. The tune came to him on Christmas Eve,
and was first sung the next day. Brooks wrote about his
horseback journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, where he
assisted with the midnight service on Christmas Eve, 1865:
I remember standing in the old church in
Bethlehem, close to the spot where Jesus was born, when
the whole church was ringing hour after hour with splendid
hymns of praise to God, how again and again it seemed
as if I could hear voices I knew well, telling each
other of the Wonderful Night of the Savior’s birth.
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!
