GLORIA
Gloria!
Birth moans
in strawed stable.
The King has come,
his lusty wailing
rends dark night.
Gloria!
Birth bloody
as his death,
the King has come.
His reality
mouth and mother's
breast.
Gloria!
Birth starlit in musked
air,
The King has come,
God swaddled in human
need.
Gloria!
Jesus Son of God Most
High.
Gloria in Excelsis Deo!
Gloria!
LADY LAUD YOUR SON
Lady laud your son.
Cast down your golden crown and worship him,
born a babe in stable laid,
who walked the hills of Galilee
with fisher folk and tax collectors
made of them a warrior band,
shocked the scribe and Pharisee
not less than priest and Sadducee.
No simple man, nor plain was he.
He has the power to call forth you and me.
Lady laud your son
whose death pierced your own soul
with grief too sharp to bear
fulfilling prophet's words in temple court
so long ago. Proud mother of a little babe
with head bowed down,
you contemplate the way
he cast down the mighty from their thrones.
Lady laud your son.
You have given once again
as you have given many times before.
Resurrection joy, ascension parting mingled in your breast.
The old ways of holding him can never be again.
Lady laud your son.
Cast down your golden crown and worship him
in the circle of the saints, his sisters, brothers,
all your children now, all crowned like you
God-bearer, now for ever blessed
held in warm embrace by glad hearts everywhere.
Lady laud your son.
The Winding Centuries
Have Come and Gone
The winding centuries
have come and gone
Still the Christmas song
goes on and on.
Some have loved the
Babe, some still hate him;
Christmas joy is for
hearts that welcome him.
Peace on earth, the
thronging angels sing,
Throughout the heavens
hear the merry chorus ring.
Simple shepherds on the
hill rejoice to hear
The news that Almighty
God has drawn near.
But Herod on his throne
feels a deadly chill;
Any who threaten his
power he will kill,
Wife, or son, or even
little baby child.
There is no safety for
child or mother mild.
Now Herod is dead; the years have come and gone;
Only Christ will come with the breaking of the
dawn.
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