Let Earth Receive Her King

Having kicked Covid to the curb 2 months ago, this past week Gracie took on influenza and pneumonia. She started coughing on Sunday and by Tuesday she was in the hospital. A 95-year old doesn’t mess around with those two ailments! We are grateful that she never had to be put on oxygen and that her vitals remained strong. She was discharged on Saturday and is now convalescing at home! Thanks for your continued prayers.

Today’s video, then is from a year ago. Blessings.

On this second Sunday of Advent, Gracie has chosen the following two hymns to share with you: Joy to the World, the Lord is Come, and O Little Town of Bethlehem.

Lyrics (via hymnary.org):

JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME, by Isaac Watts

1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
let ev’ry heart prepare him room
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.

2 Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3 No more let sins and sorrows grow
nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.

4 He rules the world with truth and grace
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.

O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM, by Phillips Brooks
1 O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by;
yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

2 For Christ is born of Mary,
and, gathered all above
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King
and peace to all the earth.

3 How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.

4 O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray,
cast out our sin and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Immanuel!