O Lord Most High, Your plans are wondrous and beyond our understanding!
From eternity You ordained salvation, clothed in the frailty of man.
In the fullness of time, Your Word became flesh,
Dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.
Blessed are You, O God, who chose a humble virgin,
Mary, highly favored, to bear the Light of the world.
Her soul magnified You, and her spirit rejoiced in Your salvation!
For You have regarded the lowliness of Your servant,
And through her, all generations shall call You blessed.
From the courts of heaven to the manger’s hay,
The King of Glory descended to earth.
Not with trumpets nor royal fanfare did He come,
But with the cry of an infant, swaddled in humility and love.
Shepherds keeping watch by night saw the skies split with glory,
The angelic host proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill to men!”
O Lord, how marvelous are the works of Your hands,
That lowly shepherds would first behold the Lamb of God.
Wise men journeyed from afar, guided by the brilliance of a star.
They brought treasures fit for a King:
Gold for His majesty, frankincense for His divinity,
And myrrh, a foreshadowing of His sacrifice.
O Lord, even creation testifies to Your glory,
For the heavens declare the birth of Your Son.
In the town of Bethlehem, as the prophets foretold,
The Bread of Life was laid in a manger.
There was no room for Him in the inn,
Yet the earth could not contain the greatness of His glory!
O God of mercy, You sent Your Son into a world of darkness,
To shine as the true Light that gives life to all men.
The Word who spoke the stars into being
Became an infant, resting in His mother’s arms.
We lift our voices to You, O Lord, in awe and wonder.
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.
His name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
O holy night, O radiant dawn of salvation!
Let the earth rejoice and the heavens proclaim,
For Emmanuel, God with us, has come.
Blessed be the name of the Lord forever!
Amen and amen.