On Christmas Morn

Pre-Dawn Sky, originally uploaded by Pat's Pics36 - limited internet next few months.


I

Now the King Immortal

Comes to claim His own,—

Shepherds at their watch by night,

Hail the glory of the light—

They, and they alone.

II

Heralds from the heaven-land,

Tell His Advent clear;—

Where the sound of hurrying feet?

Where the crowds come forth to greet?

Where the loyal cheer?

III

Angels, on the night winds

Have their carols thrown,—

Theirs, the music rapturous, sweet,

Theirs, the songs the Monarch greet,

Theirs, and theirs, alone.

IV

Ah, the silent night hours,

Ah, the slumberers, prone,—

Mortals wake, arise, adore,

Angels, shepherds, honours pour,

They, and they, alone.

V

Jesu, King Immortal,

Mount thy rightful throne;

Loyal hearts their plaudits pour,

Heavenly choirs in songs adore,

They, not they alone.


--from Hymns from the Morningland by John Brownlie

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Sun Beam

Sun Beam, originally uploaded by Ian Lambert.



PASSIONTIDE

I

O Light, resplendent of the morn

On golden pinions upwards borne,

That usherest in the day;

We rise responsive to the call,

As night removes her dusky pall,

And speeds her flight away.

II

O Light, that, from the Father’s face,

Shone on our world with winning grace,

When darker night prevailed;

We rise to greet Thine Advent bright,

All hail! majestic in Thy might,

When darkness is assailed.

III

O let my soul Thy rising see;

From every cloud my vision free,

And on my pathway shine;

Then shall my course, in safety trod,

Lead ever nearer to my God,

The source of light divine.

IV

O Jesus, Morn of better day,

Thou Light of lights, Whose gladsome ray

Gives light, and life, and cheer;

Light to my soul, and life impart,

And fill with joy my inmost heart,

And scatter night and fear.


--from Hymns from the Morningland by John Brownlie

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Ah! Angels Hailed That Morning Bright

Photo credit: chrchr_75

I

He came because the Father willed,

And from the midst of heaven’s renown,

The promise to our world fulfilled,

And won a kingdom for His crown.

II

He came because He willed to bear

The burden that His love imposed;

And all our lot of sorrow share,

Until the day in darkness closed.

III

Ah! angels hailed that morning bright,

And in the heavens their carols sung;

But God Himself was hid in night,

When sin and death their arrows flung.

IV

But not to sink beneath their power,

The God-man girt Him for the fray;

And from the darkness of that hour,

There sprang the light of endless day.

V

And wounded souls the triumph knew;

Fresh courage to the faint was given;

And e’en the dead to life anew,

Rose in the glorious might of heaven.

VI

For sin was crushed, and death was slain;—

All hail, the great victorious Son,

Who mounts the throne of heaven again,

To rule the kingdom He has won.


--from Hymns from the Morningland by John Brownlie

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Nativity

Nativity, originally uploaded by Perfesser.


I

Hail to the King, Who comes in weakness now,

No wreath of gold encircleth His brow,

Lowly His state,—in lowly worship bow;

Hail to the King!

II

Born of His Maiden Mother, pure as snow,

Son of our God, begotten long ago,

Ere yet the stream of time began to flow;

Hail to the King!

III

Nowhere was found a shelter for His head,

Humble He lay, e’en where the oxen fed,

No couch nor crib, a manger was His bed;

Hail to the King!

IV

Herdsmen were there who heard the angels sing;

Wise men from far who myrrh and incense bring,

No other hand bestowed an offering;

Hail to the King!

V

Hail to the King! O Christ upon Thy throne,

Look on the souls which Thou didst make Thine own,

When by Thy Birth and Death Thou did’st atone;

Hail to the King!


--from Hymns from the Morningland by John Brownlie

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Advent

Small Crater Sunrise 2 - Negev - Israel, originally uploaded by Yayo_M (Avi Morag).


I

Hark! upon the morning breezes,

In the darkness, ere the waking,

Music sweet the senses pleases,

Soft upon the stillness breaking;—

“Glory, Glory!” this the singing,

Welcome to Immanuel bringing.

II

Shepherds at their watch beholding

Angels clad in glistening whiteness,

Heard the wondrous news unfolding

’Mid that dazzling scene of brightness;—

“Glory, Glory!” peace, and kindness,

Light is breaking on our blindness.

III

Glorious morn! The sun uprising,

Shone upon a world rejoicing;

God is with us, truth surprising;

List to song the message voicing,—

“Glory, Glory!” ages told it,

Heavenly voices now unfold it.

IV

God adored, our nature wearing!

Ah, such condescending meekness!

Stooping to a world despairing,

Full of pity for our weakness;—

“Glory, Glory!” praises swelling,

God hath made with man His dwelling.


--from Hymns From the Morningland by John Brownlie

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And Greet the Light

Photo credit: .Andrew Dunn.

With beauty decked the morn ascends,

And all the earth is bright;

And lo, the sun the darkness rends,

And floods the sky with light.


All hail, Thou Sun of Righteousness,

Upon our night arisen!

May sin no more our souls oppress,

And bind in darksome prison.


Let those that lie in slumber fast,

Because the darkness reigns,

The light behold, and straightway cast

Aside their gloomy chains;


And greet the light that makes them free,

The bounding joy it brings;

And share the calm felicity,

That looks to heaven and sings.


O Jesus Christ, our hearts aglow,

Thy blessed advent hail;

On us Thy healing virtue show,

And o'er our ills prevail.


And let us walk as those whose eyes

Have seen the light of heaven,

Till light shall in our souls arise,

Whence night and gloom are driven.


--from Hymns of the Early Church by John Brownlie

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Seeing the Unseen

Lord, let our eyes the things unseen behold,
And, ’mid the glory that like sunset dies,
Fair to the sight the wondrous bliss unfold
That lives in beauty under cloudless skies.

And let our ears the things unuttered hear,
That silent voices to the soul can tell;
That heart can whisper when a heart is near
Of love that scorns in uttered tones to dwell.

Teach us to know that things unseen are real,
That earth no bloom of fadeless beauty gives,
That far beyond the things that sense can feel,
The joy of being, and of having, lives.

Lord Who hast risen, nor left the world behind,
Daily incline our sense-bound souls to soar,
Till ’mong the things all hidden we may find
Possessions that abide for evermore.

--from Hymns from the Morningland by John Brownlie, tr.

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Lack of Understanding

But Judas Would Not Understand

When Lazarus rose at Christ's command,

And God was glorified of men,

The children cried Hosanna then,

But Judas would not understand.


When seated with Thy chosen band

Thou didst to Thy disciples say

That one, O Christ, would Thee betray,

But Judas would not understand.


The sop revealed the traitor's hand,

In answer to the question made;

They saw by whom Thou wert betrayed,

But Judas would not understand.


The Jews, O Christ, Thy life demand,

'Twas purchased for a price like this--

For silver pieces and a kiss,

But Judas would not understand.


Thou, with Thine own unstained hand,

Didst wash the feet, and humbly teach

That such a task becometh each,

But Judas would not understand.


Watch thou and pray,' was Thy command,

Lest, thoughtless, the disciples fall

Beneath the tempter's bitter thrall;

But Judas would not understand.

--from Hymns of the Greek Church by John Brownlie


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Crown the Lord of Glory

Crown the Lord of glory,

Angels, crown your King;

Saints whose souls He ransomed,

Bring your offering;

Let no voice be silent,

Laud and honour bring.


Crown the Lord of glory,

Once He dwelt below,

Bore the cross of sorrow,

Drank the cup of woe;

Now He reigns triumphant,

Let your praises flow.


Crown the Lord of glory,--

On the earth He wore

Purple robe that mocked Him,

Thorns His brow that tore;

Now His griefs are ended,

Praise Him evermore.


Crown the Lord of glory,

For His work is done;

Crown the King of glory,

God's eternal Son;

In my life enthroned,

Be Thy reign begun!

--from Hymns From The East by John Brownlie

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King of Zion

Behold The King Of Zion Rides

Behold the King of Zion rides,
But not in vain array;
The people wave their goodly palms,
With garments strew the way;
And loud hosannas fill the air
From crowds that, surging, throng;
'Tis meet to honour Him Who rides,
With cheer, and shout, and song.

O Zion of your God beloved,
The day of strife is nigh,
Yet comes He not in armour clad,
And sword upon His thigh;
The weapons of our mighty King
No other hand could wield,
The might of God is in His arm,
The will of God His shield.

See, on the Cross without the wall
The King immortal dies;
Not now hosannas fill the air,
The shouts of hell arise;
But in that hour of triumph deemed,
Satanic might is slain,
For He Who bows the head in death,
Shall rise to life again.

O Zion, hail your mighty King;
Your palms around Him wave;
And strew your garments in the way
Of Him Who rides to save;
And when He mounts His regal throne,
By bloody conflict won,
Give homage to the King of heaven,
God's One Eternal Son.

--from Hymns of the Russian Church by John Brownlie

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God of Light

Thine be the glory, God of Light,
For all the joy from morn that springs;
Oh, may a morn dispel each night,
And bless our lives with beauteous things.

Give us this day the light that dwells
In every heart Thy presence fills;
That night with all its fears dispels,
And life, and hope, and joy instills.

Then shall our nights no darkness bring,
But morn, bright morn, for ever shine;
And when night spreads her dusky wings,
More bright shall be the light Divine.

All praise to Thee, the God of Light;
All praise to Christ, the glorious Son;
And to the Spirit, Lord of might,
Now, and while endless ages run.

--from Hymns of the Early Church by John Brownlie

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