It's beginning to look a lot like...[insert holiday here]
I'll be off to my parents' house for the three core days of Christmas; whilst my family is and raised me humanist, we have always treated Christmas as a time for togetherness with family and friends.
May you all have a peaceful and joyful time, be you celebrating Christmas, the last day of Hanukkah, a belated Yule or other - even if only the annual Paid Day Off Work.
Last year I posted the lyrics to one of the most stirring and emotional carols, O Holy Night. This year I have chosen a song that I originally learned as a single verse in the first year of primary school (we weren't up to long songs that didn't involve green bottles on walls). Later on, I knew it as the Ashwell Carol and enjoyed not just the extra verses, but also adding in my own harmonisations. The lyrics were written by a man of gentle faith, Rector of St. Mary's in Ashwell, the Rev. John Catterick.
Angels in the skies are singing
Trumpets summon, loud and shrill.
God His purpose is fulfilling
Peace on Earth, to men goodwill.
Chorus:
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Pax per aedes hominum.
Adoramus, adoramus
Adoramus Dominum.
From celestial realms descending,
To the manger-bed for throne,
Christ the Lord to man is coming,
To the earth, to save his own.
Born a babe of gentle mother,
He declares his love to men,
Let us then, above all other,
Praise him, as the angels then.
Shepherds hasten, praise outpouring,
Echoing the heavenly lay;
To the crib they come, adoring,
Homage to the Child to pay.
Join we then in acclamation,
Welcoming the Saviour King;
‘God is love’ his proclamation,
May our own in echo ring:
May you all have a peaceful and joyful time, be you celebrating Christmas, the last day of Hanukkah, a belated Yule or other - even if only the annual Paid Day Off Work.
Last year I posted the lyrics to one of the most stirring and emotional carols, O Holy Night. This year I have chosen a song that I originally learned as a single verse in the first year of primary school (we weren't up to long songs that didn't involve green bottles on walls). Later on, I knew it as the Ashwell Carol and enjoyed not just the extra verses, but also adding in my own harmonisations. The lyrics were written by a man of gentle faith, Rector of St. Mary's in Ashwell, the Rev. John Catterick.
Angels in the skies are singing
Trumpets summon, loud and shrill.
God His purpose is fulfilling
Peace on Earth, to men goodwill.
Chorus:
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Pax per aedes hominum.
Adoramus, adoramus
Adoramus Dominum.
From celestial realms descending,
To the manger-bed for throne,
Christ the Lord to man is coming,
To the earth, to save his own.
Born a babe of gentle mother,
He declares his love to men,
Let us then, above all other,
Praise him, as the angels then.
Shepherds hasten, praise outpouring,
Echoing the heavenly lay;
To the crib they come, adoring,
Homage to the Child to pay.
Join we then in acclamation,
Welcoming the Saviour King;
‘God is love’ his proclamation,
May our own in echo ring: