Tag: K. W. Osbeck

  • SILENT NIGHT! HOLY NIGHT!

    Amazing Grace Joseph Mohr, 1792–1848English translation by John F. Young, 1820–1885 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: He is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11) When this beloved hymn was written by two humble church leaders for their own mountain village parishioners, little did they realize how universal its…

  • I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

    Amazing Grace Henry W. Longfellow, 1807–1882 And He will be their peace. (Micah 5:5) The cruel miseries caused by the Civil War greatly distressed the beloved American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. With heaviness of spirit he put his thoughts into words to create this fine carol. Since he was the most influential American poet of…

  • GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN, REJOICE

    Amazing Grace Latin carol, 14th centuryTranslation by John M. Neale, 1818–1866 Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones. (Isaiah 49:13) As this sprightly carol reminds us, Christmas should be the most joyous season of the…

  • WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE

    Amazing Grace Words and Music by John H. Hopkins, 1820–1891 And when they were come into the house, they [the wise men] saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11) Each…

  • WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS

    Amazing Grace Nahum Tate, 1652–1715 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11) In the spring of the year, the lambing season, shepherds in ancient times would sit all night beside their flocks, watching for wolves or other dangers and even feeding orphan…

  • WHILE BY OUR SHEEP

    Amazing Grace German carol, Translated by Theodore Baker, 1851–1934 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:20) It was a cold, clear night. The stars twinkled above and an air of peaceful serenity settled calmly over the…

  • THERE’S A SONG IN THE AIR!

    Amazing Grace Josiah G. Holland, 1819–1881 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God … (Luke 2:13) What a beautiful scene is drawn for us in this joyful Christmas hymn! As we visualize once more the glorious chorus of angels, the brilliant star, and Mary watching over her babe…

  • IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR

    Amazing Grace Edmund H. Sears, 1810–1876 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests. (Luke 2:13) The peace of Christmas, proclaimed by the heavenly chorus, is one of God’s greatest…

  • THE FIRST NOEL

    Amazing Grace English carol, before 1823 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. (Luke 2:8) Although no Christmas season would be complete without the melodious singing of this tuneful carol, very little is known about its origin. It is believed to have had its rise…

  • HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

    Amazing Grace Charles Wesley, 1707–1788 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me One who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times. (Micah 5:2) Christmas carols as we know them now were abolished by the English Puritan…