Prayers and Poems for December

I Will Keep Christmas
Cradle Song at Bethlehem
Winter Joys
The Child of Glory

I Will Keep Christmas

I will keep Christmas in the cold hedgerow,
With red, shining holly and winter snow.
I will keep Christmas far from any town
On the frosted side of the windswept down.

Stars will be candles of sweet silver fire,
Swinging at midnight over tree and spire,
Waves will be booming bells and break the air,
With glory and greeting and winged prayer.

I will keep Christmas alone and away,
Praising the Lord of all on Christmas Day.
  P A Ropes

Cradle Song at Bethlehem

Oh! hush Thee, oh! hush Thee, my Baby so small,
The ass hath her crib and the ox hath his stall,
They shelter Thee, Baby, from Heaven above,
Oh! Hush Thee, oh! Hush Thee, my Baby, my love.

Oh! Hush Thee, oh! Hush Thee, my Baby so small,
Dim is the light from the lamp on the wall,
Bright in the night sky shineth a star,
Leading the Kings who come from afar.

Oh! Hush Thee, oh! Hush Thee, my Baby so small,
Joseph is spreading the straw in the stall,
Soon wilt Thou sleep in the nook of my arm
Safe from all trouble and danger and harm.
   E J Falconer

Winter Joys

White stars falling gently,
 Softly down to earth,
Red fires burning brightly
 In the warm and cosy hearth.

White trees changed to elfin-and,
 By red sun’s dazzling glow,
Little robin redbreasts
 Hopping in the snow.

Happy children’s voices,
 Shouting loud with glee,
Oh! The joys of winter
 Are wonderful to me.
  Dorothy Gradon

The Child of Glory

The Baby of joy,
Mary’s Baby-boy,
Was born in the stall
 The King of all;
To the waste he came
And suffered our blame;
Who to him are near
 Are counted dear.

He saw with his eye
That in straits we lie;
Heav’n opened in love
 Our head above:
Christ came to our view,
The Spirit so true,
His crown our defence
 Drawing us hence.

O make our hope strong,
Make happiness long,
In might keep us here
 Loyal and near,
Our Lamp thou alight,
With the virgins bright
Who sing the new song
 In glory-throng.
 From Poems of the Western Highlanders

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