“CHRISTMAS GIFTS”
Words by Neil Stanford
Music by JFW, based on a Chinese hymn-tune

What are the gifts that I can bring
This Christmas Day, unto our King ?
The wise men’s gifts of long ago
were Gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Why not these very gifts of old –
Sweet perfume, oil and pure gold ?

I’ll bring to Christ, my Comforter,
A pure and golden character.
I’ll bring to him, as Christians should,
The perfume of deep gratitude.
And lay before him lovingly
The oil of heavenly charity.

These are the gifts that I can bring,
This Christmas Day, unto our King.
These are the gifts that I shall bring,
On Christmas Day unto our King !

“THE WISEMEN’S GIFTS”
Words from Matthew 2 arr. by JFW
Music by JFW

See they come, the Wisemen, saying,
“Where is he that is born the King of the Jews ?
For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.”

When they had departed, the star in the east
went on before them, over where the child lay.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they came into the house
they fell down and worshipped the child.
And when they had opened their treasures they presented him gifts –
gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

That’s why Christmas is a time when we all love to give,
in honour of him who taught us how to pray.
We bring our gifts of joy to the altar of Truth
and there we place them, knowing
that our lives are blessed by the Father and Mother of all,
who gave to us the greatest gift –
who gave us our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Who will be a wise man,
bearing gifts to the Christ-child on Christmas day ?

“THINK OF THE WONDER”
Words by Helen and Thomas Gould (from C. S. Sentinel) [Used with permission]
Music by JFW

Think of the wonder in their eyes,
Those shepherds taken by surprise
And told to go to Bethlehem !
Silently they left their sheep,
This most sacred trust to keep;
Followed, scarcely knowing why,
The star that beckoned from the sky.
Silently down the night they passed
Until they reached the town at last.
Ah, the wonder that they felt
As by his crib the shepherds knelt;
And never guessed, or ever knew,
What it would mean to me and you.

Oh, could they know what it has meant
To feel their wonder still unspent
As we seek daily what he taught
Whom they, that night, so humbly sought;
And through the Comforter to find
The truth that blesses all mankind,
Who tread their pathway through the night
To reach at length eternal light.

“WHAT SHALL I RENDER ?”
Psalm 116 arr. by George Irish/JFW
Music by JFW, based on a Caribbean tune

What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits ?
What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me ?
I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon His name;
I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.

How shall I pay my vows to God before His people here ?
How shall I pay my vows to God before His people gathered here ?
I will offer gifts of thanksgiving and call upon His name;
I will offer gifts of thanksgiving and call upon the name of the Lord.
I’ll render praises to the Lord for all His benefits;
I’ll render praises to the Lord for all His benefits to me !

“THE BEATITUDES”
Words from Matthew 5 arr. by JFW
Music by JFW

And seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up into a mountain.
And when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying –
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom
Blessed are the sorrowing, for they shall find joy.
Blessed are the meek, for all the earth they inherit.
Blessed are the hungry for truth.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart; they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, God calls them His children.
Blessed be all these by our God !
Blessed are the people who are persecuted for righteousness;
theirs is the kingdom of heaven for ever.
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you;
great is your reward in heaven.

Blessed are the poor in spirit etc.
Blessed are all these by our God.

“CHRISTIANS, REJOICE !”
Words and music by John F Wilson

(For Easter) Christians rejoice; Christians, give voice !
This is the day when we celebrate the raising
of our Saviour the Lord, Jesus the Christ,
Who for our sakes was crucified and rose again.
Sing of our hope, sing of our faith,
sing of the love that rolled the heavy stone away.
Free of the fear, free of the pain,
free of the sorrow, giving God the honour due.
And it is here, here on this earth,
we can rejoice to see the worth
of God’s dear son, on this great day,
when we can sing, “Jesus Christ is truly risen.”
Now on this day, we truly say we are blessed.
Christians rejoice; Christians, give voice !
We greet the risen Christ on Easter Day !

(For Christmas) Christians rejoice; Christians, give voice !
This is the day when we celebrate the coming
of our Saviour the Lord, Jesus the Christ,
Who for our sakes was crucified and rose again.
Come with your gold, come with your myrrh,
come with your incense to anoint the holy infant.
All of the world honours the day
marking the advent of the healer of mankind.
And it is here, here on this earth,
we can rejoice to see the worth
of God’s dear son, on this great day,
when we can sing “Jesus Christ is born among us.”
Now on this day, we truly say we are blessed.
Christians rejoice; Christians, give voice !
We greet the new-born Christ on Christmas Day !