Scripture Verse

Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2

Introduction

portrait
Richard W. Adams
1952–

Words: Ri­chard W. Ad­ams, De­cemb­er 11, 2017. In­spired by O As­ton­ish­ing Grace, by Charles Wes­ley, Hymns for the Na­ti­vi­ty of Our Lord, 1745.

THANK GOD FOR BETHLEHEM
© 2017–2019 Richard W. Adams
cc-license

Music: Ly­ons, at­trib­ut­ed to Jo­hann M. Hay­dn (1737–1806). Ar­ranged by Will­iam Gar­di­ner, Sac­red Me­lo­dies (Lon­don: 1815) (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
St. John’s Anglican Church
Darlinghurst, New South Wales

Lyrics

Astonishing grace:
A race so defiled,
So buried in sin,
Can be reconciled!
For God all is possible,
No cause too high;
See Wisdom and Love
To His creatures draw nigh.

The Spirit of God
Contends with our will,
Our obstinate pride,
Yet Love sought us still;
He stooped down from Heaven,
Assumed flesh and bone,
Laid hold of our nature,
And joined to His own.

Immanuel came down,
The world to redeem,
Our God in the flesh,
The Savior supreme;
Our sins to forgive and
Our souls wash in blood,
So man may again be
United to God!

O glorious hope,
To see face to face;
Sing Bethlehem’s praise,
Hosannas to grace!
Such love beyond measure,
What mercy so mild,
O wonder of wonders,
That God was a child!