Riding out across the desert

Celebrate; Prepare the way of the Lord; Riding out across the desert; Peace to you; Silver star; O Little town; Little drummer boy; Hark the herald; Christmas is here; Child in a manger born; The gift; Unto us a child is born; Thorns in the straw; Look to the skies; No room at the inn; See amid the winters snow; Joy to the world; Turn down the lights.

Riding out across the d-e-sert, travelling over sandy plains,Comes a com-pan-y of wise men,moving stead-il-y along their way.

Leaving all their friends be-hi-nd them,guided by a star so bright,Now they've got to keep on go-ing,must not let the star get out of sight.

Ri-ding through the d-e-sert, gently the wise men go,Onward to the King, who, waspromised long ago;

But they don't know where they're going to f-ind himThere's many towns to search, so they'll keep on following the star,For it will take them to his place of birth.

Wise men on their desert j-our-ney,travelled many miles so far,Though they're getting tired and wear-y, town of Bethlehem is not too far.

How they long to worship J-e-sus,and honour him with royal gifts,Hearts are full of joy and won-der,as they're searching for the new born King.

Ri-ding through the d-e-sert, gently the wise men go,Onward to the King, who, waspromised long ago;

But they don't know where they're going to f-ind himThere's many towns to search, so they'll keep on following the star,For it will take them to his place of birth. END

Prepare the way of the Lord

The king is coming, a voice is callingPrepare the way of the Lord

God comes among us, behold his gloryPrepare the way of the Lord

Get ready for joy, Get ready for loveThe Christmas hope Immanuel is coming to us

Get ready for truth, Get ready for lifeThe long awaited saviour king is soon to arrive

The ancient prophets foretell his comingPrepare the way of the Lord

The Christmas angels resound in singingPrepare the way of the Lord


Get ready for truth, Get ready for lifeThe long awaited saviour king is soon to arrive

Instrumental – WATCH

WATCH People, get readyPeople, get readyPrepare the way of the Lord

People, get readyPeople, get readyPrepare the way of the Lord

People, get readyPeople, get readyPrepare the way of the Lord (hold)


Get ready for truth, Get ready for lifeThe long awaited saviour king is soon to arriveRepeat


Get ready for truth, Get ready for lifeThe long awaited saviour king is soon to arriveEND

Joy to the World

Joy to the world the Lord has comeLet earth receive her kingLet e-ev-vr-ry hear-ar-artPre pare-are Hi-im roo-oo-oomAnd hea ven and na ture singA-nd hea ven and na ture singA-nd hea-ven, and he-ea-ven, and na-ture sing

Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns!Let men, their songs, employ;While fie-lds a-nd fl-o-ods, rocks, hi-lls a-nd pla-i-nsRepeat the sounding joy,Repeat the sounding joy,Re-peat, repeat, the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and graceAnd makes, the na-tions proveThe gl-or-ies o-o-of His ri-ght-eous-n-essThe wonders of His loveThe wonders of His loveThe won-ders, the wo-on-nd-ers, of His loveEND

Child in a manger born

Child in a manger born,Lies in a cattle stall.Safely He’s sleeping,Mary is keeping close beside her baby so small.

Angels watch over Him,Softly their praises sing.Voices ascendingJoy never-endingGlory be to Jesus the King!

And God in the heavens above,Looks down with a heart full of love.

Leaving their flocks behind,Shepherds have come to findJesus the Saviour,Lord of all ages,Here within the stable tonight.


Wise men from far and wide,Kneel at the baby’s side.Gazing in wonder,Praising the Son whoCame to Earth to lay down his life.


SOLOChild in a manger bornI want to know you moreKnow you are near meLove you more dearlyJesus, my Lord.END

Celebrate

All around the world it’s Christmas time Everywhere resounds with joy-ful sing-ing

People join together from afarEvery land and every tongue rejoicing.

Cel-e-brate, everybodyWelcome him, the king of gloryHope is here, the saving oneLove has come for us

Dance and sing, come adore himShout for joy, bow before himTell the world of all he’s doneLove has come for us

Raise a prayer of praise this Christmas timeSaying thank you for the gift of Jesus

A perfect life of love and sacrificeBorn to die and raised to life to save us

Cel-e-brate, everybodyWelcome him, the king of gloryHope is here, the saving oneLove has come for us

Dance and sing, come adore himShout for joy, bow before himTell the world of all he’s doneLove has come for us

Cel-e-brate, ev-’ry-bodyCel-e-brate, ev-’ry-body…

Cel-e-brate, everybodyWelcome him, the king of gloryHope is here, the saving oneLove has come for usDance and sing, come adore himShout for joy, bow before himTell the world of all he’s doneLove has come for us. END

Silver Star

SOLO

Silver star__, shining out over BethlehemLead worshipers from afar,Inspiring and guiding themThey look for the infant king,With their gifts they will honour himAnd love in their hearts they bring,True service to offer him

Holy night__, for a pilgrim to journey throughO traveller, seek the light,That welcomes and beckons youYou come to the brink of heaven,To the gateway of paradiseFor you has the child been given,On you shall the sun arise

Silent sky__, full of wonder and mysteryThe splendour of God most high,The mantle of majestyYet God lays aside his crown,O give praise to the mighty LordAnd for our release comes down,O welcome the living word

END

O Little Town

O little town o-of B-e-e-e-thlehem,How still we see you l-i-i-i-ie!

A-bove your deep and dr-ea-m-less sleepTh-e si-lent stars g-o-o by-y-y:

Yet in the dark str-ee-ts shiningIs everlasting light;The hopes and fears of all the yearsAre met in you to-night.

For Christ is born of M-a-a-ry;And, gath-ered all a-a-bove,

While mortals sleep, the a-a-n-gels keepTheir watch of wond’ring l-o-ve.

O morning stars to-getherProclaim the ho-l-y birth,And praises sing to God the King,And peace to men on earth.

How si-lent-ly, how si-i-ilently,The won-drous gift i-i-is g-i-i-iven!

So, God imparts to h-u-u-man heartsThe bless-ings of H-i-is h-ea-ven.

No ear may hear His coming;But in this world of sin,Where meek souls will receive Him, stillThe dear Christ en-ters in.

O holy child of B-e-e-thlehem,De-scend to-oo us we-e-e pr-ay-ay;

Cast out our sin and en-en-enter in;Be born i-i-in us to-oo-day.

We hear the Christmas angelsThe great glad tidings tell;O come to us, abide with usOur Lord Em-man-uel.END

Peace to you

SOLO (1 of 3)Peace to you___We bless you now in the name of the

Lord.

Peace to you___We bless you now in the name of the

Prince of Peace

Peace to you___

(2 of 3)Peace to you___We bless you now in the name of the Lord.

Peace to you___We bless you now in the name of the Prince of Peace

Peace to you___

(3 of 3)Peace to you___We bless you now in the name of the Lord.

Peace to you___We bless you now in the name of the Prince of Peace

Peace to you___. Peace to you___.Peace to you______. END

Christmas is here

Christmas is here__, another year en-ding

Candles are burn-ing and fires a-light

Carols are sung, presents are gi-venRe-mem-ber-ing tales of that first holy night

God’s blessing this ChristmasTo you and your loved onesMay you know peace and joy that He brings

Look on to the new yearAnd all it will offerFor our hopes and our longings and dreams

Hear sleigh bells ring__, listen to singing

Pro-claim-ing the won-der-ous gift come to earth

Fam’lies and friends, gather togetherFor this is the season of our saviour’s birth

God’s blessing this ChristmasTo you and your loved onesMay you know peace and joy that He brings

Look on to the new yearAnd all it will offerFor our hopes and our longings and dreamsEND

Unto us a child is born

Unto us a child is born,Unto us a son is given.He shall reign in all the earth,He will be called Emmanuel!


Angel voices sing,Hallelujahs ring,For today in BethlehemThe love of God has come to men,The Saviour of the world is Christ the King___!

Leave your cares aside,Seek and you will find,For today in BethlehemThe love of God has come to men,The Saviour of the world is Jesus Christ___!

Come let us adore,Now and evermore.For today in BethlehemThe love of God has come to men,The Saviour of the world is Christ the Lord___!


END

Little drummer boy

SOLO Come__ they told mePa rum pum pum pum

A new born King to seePa rum pum pum pum

Our fin-est gifts we bringPa rum pum pum pum

SOLO To lay before the KingPa rum pum pum pum,rum pum pum pum,rum pum pum pum

So__ to honour HimPa rum pum pum pumWhen we come

Lit-tle babyPa rum pum pum pum

I am a poor boy tooPa rum pum pum pum

I have no gift to bringPa rum pum pum pum

That's fit to give our KingPa rum pum pum pum,rum pum pum pum,rum pum pum pum

Shall__ I play for youPa rum pum pum pumOn my drum

Ma-ry noddedPa rum pum pum pum

The ox and lamb kept timePa rum pum pum pum

I played my drum for HimPa rum pum pum pum

I played my best for HimPa rum pum pum pum,rum pum pum pum,rum pum pum pum

Then__ He smiled at mePa rum pum pum pumMe and my drum

END

Hark the herald

Hark! The her-ald angels si-ng,“Glor-y to the new-born King;Peace on earth, and mer-cy mi-ld,God and sin-ners re-con-ciled!”

Joy-ful, all ye na-tions rise, Join the tri-umph of the ski-es; With angelic host pro-claim,Christ i-is born in Beth-le-hem!Hark! the her-ald angels sing,Glor-y to the new born King!

Christ, by high-est Heav’n a-doredChrist the e-ver-last-ing Lord;Late in time, be-hold Him co-me,Off-spring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the God head see, Hail th’incarn-ate De-i-ty, Pleased as man with man to dwellJe-sus, our Em-man-uel.Hark! the her-ald angels sing,Glor-y to the new born King!

Hail the he'n-born Prince of Pea-ce!Hail the Son of Right-eous-ness!Light and life to all He bri-ngsRis'n with hea-ling in His wings. Mild he lays his glo-ry b-y, Born that man no more may d-ie, Born to raise the sons of EarthBorn to-oo give them se-cond birthHark! the her-ald angels sing,Glor-y to the new born King! END

Thorns in the straw

SOLO – Verse 1Since the day the angel cameIt seemed that everything had changed.The only certain thing, was the child that moved within. On the road that would not end,Winding down to Bethlehem,So far away from home___

Into verse 2

SOLO – Verse 2Just a blanket on the floorOf a vacant cattle stallBut there the child was bornShe held him in her armsAnd as she laid him down to sleepShe wondered – will it always beSo bitter and so sweet

Into Chorus

SOLO – ChorusAnd did she see there___In the straw, by his head, a thorn.And did she smell myrrh___In the air on that starry night.And did she hear an___gels sing not so far away,Till at last the sun___ rose blood-red in the morning sky.

Into Verse 3 (ALL)

ALL – Verse 3Then the words of ancient seersTumbled down the centuriesA virgin shall conceiveGod with us… Prince of PeaceMan of Sorrow – strangest nameOh Joseph there is comes againSo bitter yet so sweet

Into Verse 4 (ALL)

ALL – Verse 4And she watched him through the yearsHer joy was mingles with the tearsAnd she’d feel it all againThe glory, and the shameAnd when the miracles beganShe wondered who is this manAnd where will this all end.

Into Chorus (ALL)

Chorus (ALL)And did she see there___In the straw, by his head, a thorn.And did she smell myrrh___In the air on that starry night.And did she hear an___gels sing not so far away,Till at last the sun___ rose blood-red in the morning sky.

Into Verse 5 (SOLO)

SOLO – Verse 5Til Against a darkening skyThe son she loved was lifted highAnd with his dying breathShe heard him say ‘Father forgive’And to the criminal beside‘Today – with me in Paradise’So bitter yet so sweet.

END

Look to the skies

Look to the skies, there's a cel-e-brationLift up your heads, join the an-gel songFor our Creator becomes our Savi-our(rest) As a baby born!Angels, amazed, bow in ad-or-a-tion'Glory to God in the highest heaven!'Send the good news out to every nation (rest) For our hope has come

(3&4) Worship the King__ (5&6) Come, see His brightness

Worship the King___His wonders tell

Jesus our King___is born today we

(ALL) Welcome You, Emmanuel

Won-der-ful Coun-se-llor, Migh-ty GodFa-ther for ev-er, the Prince of PeaceThere'll be no end to Your rule of jus-tice (rest)For it shall in-crease__

Light of Your face, come to pierce our dark-nessJoy of Your heart come to chase our gloomStar of the morn-ing, a new day dawn-ing(rest) Make our hearts Your home




(ALL) Welcome You, Emmanuel

Quiet-ly He came as a help-less ba-byOne day in power He will come a-gainSwift through the skies He will burst with splen-dour (rest)On the earth to reignJe-sus, I bow at Your man-ger lowlyNow in my life let Your will be doneLive in my flesh by Your Spi-rit holy(rest) Till Your King-dom comes




(ALL) Welcome You, Emmanuel.END

No room at the inn

No room at the inn!All res-er-vations were made in the Spring.We’re full to the brim,Sorry we can’t let you in.

No room at the inn!We’re fully booked and the party’s in swing.Please, pardon the din,Sorry we can’t let you in.

Mary… Joseph… tell me what your gonna do?

There is… no way… you’ll be get-ting bed and breakfast for 2.

No room at the inn!I’d say your chances are probably slim.We’ve not got a thingSorry we can’t let you in.

No room at the inn!Just take a look at the state that we’re in.Say, where have you beenSorry we can’t let you in.

Mary… Joseph… tell me what your gonna do?

There is… no way… you’ll be get-ting bed and breakfast for 2.

No room at the inn!Everyone’s saying the very same thing.We’d…take anythingSomebody please let us in.

INSTRUMENTAL then

We’ve room at the inn!It would-n’t exact-ly be fit for a KingHere… give me your things… Hope you don’t mind mucking in.

END

The gift

Over two thousand year agoUnder a star lit skyMany e-vents were taking placeAs the ancients had prophesised

And a gift was given from heaven to Earth,The ever lasting lightSo, let us adore the Saviour bornImmanuel, here tonight.

Heavenly hosts of angelsPraising God on highSang of the promised child to comeThe Saviour Jesus Christ


Darkness was over Bethlehem Brightly the star did shineShowing the way to where he layIn a manger for all to find.


Never before in historyHad there been such a sightFor G-od was born in human formFor the s-ake of all mankind

And a gift was given from heaven to Earth,The ever lasting lightSo, let us adore the Saviour bornImmanuel, here tonight.So… END

See amid the winters snow

SOLOSee amid the winter's snow,Born for us on earth below,See the tender Lamb appears,Promised from eternal years.

Hail, thou ever-blessed morn!Hail, redemption's happy dawn!Sing through all Jer-u-sa-lem,Christ is born in Bethlehem.

ALLLo, within a manger liesHe who built the starry skies;He who throned in height sub-limeSits amid the cher-u-bim.


Say, ye holy shepherds, sayWhat your joy-ful news to-day;Where-fore have ye left your sheepOn the lone-ly mountain steep?


As we watched at dead of night,Lo, we saw a wondrous light;Angels sing-ing peace on earthTold us of the Sa-viour's birth.


Sacred in-fant, all div-ine,What a tender love was thine,Thus to come from high-est blissDown to such a world as this.


Teach, O teach us, Holy Child,By Thy Face so meek and mild,Teach us to re-sem-ble Thee,In Thy Sweet hu-mil-ity!


END

Turn down the lights

Turn down the lights and watch the fire glowing.

Colours burn bright and warm

Now is the time for waiting and knowing

Christmas will come with the dawn

Dark is the night and gentle the snowingSilently white it fallsCalm is the sight and soft the wind blowingQuietly come Christmas morn

Into Chorus

Night before Christmas – the world is at homeThis day is over and doneTreasure the moment when everything’s stillSoon Christmas morning will come

Under the tree the presents lie gleamingRibboned and wrapped and signedNo-one can see but everyone’s dreamingThoughts of the secrets inside

Into Chorus

All through the house a slumber is fallingSettle you down to sleepNo need to frown, it soon will be morningAll your surprises will keep

Into Chorus


Repeat


END

Riding out across the desert

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