Star in the East

Aravis selected this in church yesterday. The words are just gorgeous. Our song leader encouraged us to sing the whole thing, saying, "We don't have to be in a hurry." Exactly. Let's settle in and soak up the meaning of Christ coming to Earth.

Hail the blest morn, see the great Mediator,
Down from the regions of glory descend!
Shepherds, go worship the Babe in the manger,
Lo, for His guard the bright angels attend.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining;
Low lies His bed with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore Him, in slumbers reclining,
Wise men and shepherds before Him will fall.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,
Odors of Eden, and off'rings divine,
Gems from the mountain and pearls from the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine?

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Vainly we offer each earthly oblation,
Vainly with gold we His favor secure;
Richer by far is the heart's adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Low at His feet we in humble prostration
Lose all our trouble and sorrow and strife;
There we receive His divine consolation,
Flowing afresh from the fountain of life.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

He is our Friend in the midst of temptation,
Faithful supporter Whose love cannot fail,
Rock of our refuge, and Hope of salvation,
Light to direct us thru death's gloomy vale.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Star of the morning, thy brightness, declining,
Shortly must fade when the sun doth arise;
Beaming, refulgent, His glory eternal
Shines on the children of love in the skies.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Reginald Heber (1783-1826)