An Advent Hymn: new words for a familiar tune

December 7, 2017 |

Advent words for Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Listen to the angels sing
News of coming joy they bring
Hopes abandoned are restored
In the ever-birthing Word


Longing hearts and lives are filled
Paths of wonder are rebuilt
Peace drifts softly into place
Carried by the breath of grace
Listen to the angels sing
News of coming joy they bring

Listen for the word of peace
Wars will end and terror cease
No one’s child will be afraid
Broken lives will be remade
Christ has come, will come again
Holy is this in-between
Here we cast our lives in grace
Here we touch the longing-place
Listen for the words of peace
Wars will end and terrors cease.

Listen to the angels sing
News of coming joy they bring
Mary’s yes and Joseph’s dream
Carried Love through lives unseen
It is ours to make a place
To receive the Child of Grace
In the cradle of our lives
God with Us again arrives
Listen to the angels sing
News of coming joy they bring.

©  Catherine Smith, 2017

Posted in Advent, Individuals, Leaders of Faith Community, Resources for Our Gathered Life and tagged , , , ,

About Catherine Smith

A retired minister with the United Church of Canada I’ve grown up in church, been ordained and served communities that are small or in transition. I’ve seen firsthand just how powerful these experiences can be in helping to foster meaningful connections with others and the Other, the mystery that holds us all. My greatest hope is that my writing and this website will help you live well in the big questions that face all of us in this beautiful, aching world.

13 Comments

  1. Shawn Redden on November 27, 2019 at 9:43 pm

    Hi Catherine, Hope it is ok we use this again this year on Sunday Dec 1

    Reply
    • Catherine Smith on November 27, 2019 at 10:00 pm

      Absolutely Shawn; thanks for asking. Almost Advent blessings ~

      Reply
  2. Patty on December 19, 2017 at 5:03 am

    i have included this song for this coming Sunday at Broken Bay Uniting Church [Australia]; . thank you,

    Reply
    • Catherine Smith on December 23, 2017 at 1:09 am

      Thank you for letting me know Patty. Wishing the wonders of Love to you and your faith community.

      Reply
  3. Bev Hombroek on December 18, 2017 at 4:50 pm

    Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  4. Shawn Redden on December 15, 2017 at 2:33 am

    Catherine, with your permission, we would love to sing this Sunday!

    Reply
    • Catherine Smith on December 16, 2017 at 12:20 am

      Certainly Shawn, I love to imagine you all singing it.

      Reply
  5. Kerry Howarth on December 12, 2017 at 12:14 pm

    Love it, Catherine! I am sending this to our minister in hopes we might sing it on Sunday in worship. I will make sure you are given credit 🙂

    Reply
    • Catherine Smith on December 13, 2017 at 12:37 pm

      Thank you Kerry. Advent blessings ~

      Reply
  6. Marilyn on December 7, 2017 at 11:57 am

    So beautiful Catherine! I sang it straight through…inside my head where I can hold a tune. But the words rested deeply in me and filled me with hope.

    Reply
    • Catherine Smith on December 13, 2017 at 12:35 pm

      Marilyn I love the thought of these words resting deeply in you and of them bringing hope. And of your inner singing ~ all graces of Advent.

      Reply
  7. Shirley Childs on December 7, 2017 at 10:18 am

    Thank you Catherine, I would love to sing these words! What a wonderful offering. Shirley Childs

    Reply
    • Catherine Smith on December 7, 2017 at 11:28 am

      Thank you Shirley. I hope you do sing them. Perhaps you can share them with your worship team at church and sing them with your worshipping community or perhaps you can sing them to yourself, a kind of prayer, a tiny Advent practice.

      Reply

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