Hymn: Once in royal David's city

Once in royal David's city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
in the manger for a bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

Jesus came to earth from heaven,
who is God and Head of all,
Sheltered in a rustic stable,
cradled in a common stall;
With the poor and meek and lowly
lived on earth our Savior holy.

And through all his wondrous childhood
Jesus honored and obeyed,
Loved and watched the tender mother
whose strong arms a cradle made.
So, like Jesus, we should be
serving God obediently.

Jesus is our childhood's pattern,
daily like us lived and grew,
Jesus, little, weak, and helpless,
tears and smiles and comfort knew.
Jesus felt the pain of sadness,
and the joyous lift of gladness.

We at last shall meet our Savior,
fount of God's redeeming grace,
For the Child so dear and gentle
reigns within a glorious place;
Leading all God's children on
to the heaven where saints have gone.

Music: Irby Henry Gauntlett (19th C)
Words: Cecil Frances Alexander (19th C)