When Christ Was Born in Bethlehem

Above:  Live Nativity Scene, St. Teresa’s Episcopal Church, Acworth, Georgia, December 22, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5824581108495648417/5824871208323557970?banner=pwa&pid=5824871208323557970&oid=114749828757741527421)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1940, of The Episcopal Church

Words (1906) by Laurence Housman (1865-1959)

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1.  When Christ was born in Bethlehem,

Fair peace on earth to bring,

In lowly sate of love he came

To be the children’s king.

2.  And round him, then, a holy band

Of children blest was born,

Fair guardians of his throne to stand

Attendant night and morn.

3.  And unto them this grace was given

A Saviour’s name to own,

And die for him who out of heaven

Had found on earth a throne.

4.  O blessed babes of Bethlehem,

Who died to save our King,

Ye share the martyrs’ diadem,

And in their anthems sing.

5.  Your lips, on earth that never spake,

Now sound the eternal word;

And in the courts of love ye make

Your children’s voices heard.

6.  Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Child,

Make thou our childhood thine;

That we with thee the meek and mild

May share the love divine.