So quietly he came, God of the spheres
born as a babe, true ‘Superman’ to be:
our Champion to take our place appears
God takes on human form for you and me
to take our guilt, our failure, all our sin
so that new life, eternal, can begin.

Our Substitute, our Rescuer, and he
who could explain, teach of his Father, all
that we had need to understand and see
so that we would repent, for mercy call:
Jesus the loving, gracious humble King
was scorned – few found the joy in knowing Him:
now who will seek, and find the joy in Him,
in knowing Jesus, mighty, loving King?!.

Tune:10 10 10 10 10 10 Finlandia (repeat the last two lines of tune in 2nd verse)

Then violence increased and their Maker few sought
A great flood destroyed all, but Noah had been taught
– he warned, but most laughed. Later Abraham heard
the promise – must teach his descendants God’s Word
and God would bring blessing to all of the nations.
God’s prophets informed, and increased expectations
that one day God’s Saviour would come, loving King
with Light for all people, from sin to redeem.

The people were ready, but some hoped for One
who’d conquer the Romans, the rulers who’d come
with taxes and soldiers; a few were aware
their need was for One who their nature would share
but able to bring them to personal peace
with God, and from guilt and transgressions’ release,
to draw their hearts back and teach justice and love:
some waited this Saviour to come from above.
Tune: 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 Clarendon

Nothing, nothing to be seen.
Only One, true God, who’d been
always, ever and content,
but he chose to make, invent
universe most wonderful,
in it planet earth, soon full,
vegetation carpeting,
man and woman to begin
tending it for him, their King,
but temptation came, and sin.

Happy place then damaged, sad.
They had not obeyed his Word.
Feeling shame and need and lack.
Could they get perfection back?
Told by God they must endure
many troubles, but the cure –
Satan’s downfall – God would bring,
for God’s Son would die for sin.
They must trust he would appear –
wait and teach with godly fear.

Tune: 77 77 77 77 77 Mendelssohn tune of ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’

He offers what we need the most –
sent Jesus here to bear the cost.
He gives us new desires for things
his love and grace in Jesus brings.

So do you want what is the best,
the damaging desires lost?
Those things which we enjoyed at first
were soon disclosed as really worst.

The ways of God are sometimes hard,
and joy for now is sometimes marred
by troubles, yet faith knows support
and in your heart his joy is wrought.

Tune: LM

“Let there be light!” He said, and so
into the dark light shone.
Now he’ll illuminate our hearts
– dark ignorance then gone.

He came into the world as man
to teach, display and save –
from Bethlehem to Calvary
then rose up from the grave.

Creating light, creating stars,
and nebulae immense.
He knows all truth, and thus can give
real insight, life makes sense.

And all his words recorded are
a torch, a lamp to guide,
to counter lies that trip, entrap:
we can in joy abide.

Tune: CM

(based on ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’)

Silent night, special night,
all is dark, comes the Light.
Mary with her first-born child,
by whom we’ll be reconciled.
Saviour sent to redeem. (X2)

Silently, most knew not
sleeping babe, makeshift cot,
held the Gift unique for all,
now awhile for milk must call.
Saviour soon will redeem. (X2)

Simple scene, soon will mean
Herod’s threat, real but yet
Joseph warned, with Jesus fled,
Saviour safe to be our Head:
Teacher died in our stead. (X2)

Tune: “Stille Nacht” by F Gruber, Irregular (tune of ‘Silent night, holy night’ on which this is partly based)

(based on ‘Away in a Manger)
No crib, just a manger to lay down his head,
his mother must place him where cattle had fed.
Though he is the King over all of the earth,
so quiet, so humble, unnoticed his birth.

Like all babies crying for food from his Mum,
but free of bad temper, to save he had come;
He’d suffer so we could be pardoned of sin,
and changed in our hearts, godly life to begin.

For now he is living again on his throne,
and all of my troubles and praying are known.
His Spirit can stay by my side every day,
and fit me for heaven and lead in his Way.

Tune: 11 11 11 11 eg tune of ‘Away in a manger’ on which this is partly based.