Tuesday, January 15, 2008

O Little Town of Bethlehem

In honor of Christmas, here is an old carol with some new verses
(the third is my favorite):

1. 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.

2. When lives of humble service preach
The Good News to the poor,
When troubled minds or bodies find
A welcome at our door,
When healing hearts and hands lift
The lowly from the dust,
Then ring the bells and sing Noels:
For Christ is born in us.

3. No longer dreamless, Bethlehem,
You bear the wounds of war;
Can words of peace make conflict cease,
When freedom is no more?

No! Therefore work for justice,
Let swords thrust none apart.
When all are free, the world may see
Christ born in every heart!

Verse 1: Phillips Brooks, 1868
Verse 2: John Becker
Verse 3: Rae E. Whitney

Here's the website from which they came: Carols with Justice