HYMNBLOG

The Adoration of the Magi, 1510, by Hieronymus Bosch Tune and text: Philip Nicolai (1556-1608) 1 How lovely shines the Morning Star! The nations see and hail afar the light in Judah shining. O David's son of Jacob's race, my Bridegroom and my King of grace, f or you my heart is pining. Lowly, holy, great and glorious, O victorious Prince of graces, filling all the heav'nly places. 2 O highest joy by mortals won, true Son of God and Mary's son, the highborn King of ages! In y

Text: Gracia Grindal Tune: James Clemens   Slaughter of the Innocents. Breughel REFLECTION Every time there is a school shooting, images and sounds of Herod’s slaughter of the innocents come to mind. Cruel and senseless, pure evil. King Herod hears from the wisemen that a king has been born in the neighborhood, in his realm, and he wants to kill him. Temporal power is fleeting and tyrants do everything in their powers to keep it. When fighting against divinity, however,

Merry Christmas! Here is an old blog on Christmas bells! https://www.hymnfortheday.com/post/hymn-280-i-heard-the-bells-on-christmas-day-kling-no-klokka

Read about the history of Christmas celebrations with Joy to the World as the hymn. Merry Christmas! Notice the ox and donkey who know what is going according to Isaiah https://www.hymnfortheday.com/post/hymns-for-christmas-eve-joy-to-the-world-a-thousand-christmas-candles-gleam-nu-tändas-tusen-juleljus

Text: Gracia Grindal Tune: Rusty Edwards (For reason of copyright I cannot print the text here, but you can see it on the Links below) Joseph and the angel. Alexander Ivanov 1855 REFLECTIONS The Matthew account of the birth of Jesus starts with the angel speaking to Joseph in a dream. The news he hears changes his life for good. Now, instead of breaking his engagement with Mary, he will marry her and become her, and her son’s, protector. He will provide for her and Jesus

The Visitation by Giotto Text: The Venerable Bede (673-735)       Tune: Winchester New 1 The great forerunner of the morn, The herald of the Word, is born; And faithful hearts shall never fail With thanks and praise his light to hail. 2 With heav'nly message Gabriel came,T hat John should be that herald's name, And with prophetic utt'rance told His actions great and manifold. 3 Though not yet born, John gave aright His witness to the coming Light; And Christ, the Sun of all t

(1803-1887) Text: James Montgomery 1771-1854                                   Tune: George Webb (1803-1877) John the Baptist 1. Hail to the Lord's Anointed, great David's greater Son! Hail in the time appointed, his reign on earth begun! He comes to break oppression,t o set the captive free; to take away transgression, and rule in equity. 2. He comes with succor speedy to those who suffer wrong; to help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong;t o give them songs for s