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

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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.

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

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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!