Musical offering for the twelfth day of Christmas

January 5, 2026

Have you heard the sound of the angel voices
Ringing out so sweetly, ringing out so clear?
Have you seen the star shining out so brightly
As a sign from God that Christ the Lord is here?
Have you heard the news that they bring from heaven
To the humble shepherds who have waited long?
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels sing their joyful song.

He is come in peace in the winter’s stillness,
Like a gentle snowfall in the gentle night;
He is come in joy, like the sun at morning,
Filling all the world with radiance and with light.
He is come in love as the child of Mary;
In a simple stable we have seen his birth.
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels singing, peace on earth.

He will bring new light to a world in darkness,
Like a bright star shining in the skies above;
He will bring new hope to the waiting nations,
When he comes to reign in purity and love.
Let the earth rejoice at the Savior’s coming,
Let the heavens answer with the joyful morn:
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels singing, Christ is born!

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Musical offering for the eleventh day of Christmas

January 4, 2026

A spotless rose is blowing,
Sprung from a tender root,
Of ancient seers’ foreshowing,
Of Jesse promised fruit;
Its fairest bud unfolds to light
Amid the cold, cold winter,
And in the dark midnight.

The rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing
In Mary, purest maid;
Through God’s great love and might
The blessed babe she bore us
In a cold, cold winter’s night.

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Musical offering for the tenth day of Christmas

January 3, 2026

Angels from the realms of glory,
Hear our joyful song below;
For tonight we sing the story
Heard by shepherds long ago.
Though at first they trembled, fearing,
Wondrous tidings bid them rise;
Heavenly hosts then bright appearing
Sang these praises in the skies:
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Peace on earth good will to men!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hasten now to Bethlehem!

All good souls who’ve gone before us,
Hear the ancient Christmas lay;
On this night we join in chorus,
Love came down this Holy Day.
He awaits us in the manger
Smiling there in purest white.
Unto us He is no stranger,
But Creator, Life, and Light.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Peace on earth good will to men!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hasten now to Bethlehem!

Heaven and nature here abiding,
Hear the chimes of ages ring;
Woods and rivers shout glad tidings,
Tell the wonders of your King.
Mountains cry aloud forever,
Solid rocks now weep for joy;
Sun, moon, stars all sing together.
Let this song our hearts employ:
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Peace on earth good will to men!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hasten now to Bethlehem!

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Musical offering for the ninth day of Christmas

January 2, 2026

Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed,
The world is sleeping,
Holy Star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.

Sleep, sleep, sleep,
‘Tis the eve of our Savior’s birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
Close your eyes,
Let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
‘Tis the eve of our Savior’s birth.

Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number
Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.

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Musical offering for the eighth day of Christmas

January 1, 2026

He is born, the divine Christ child,
Play the musette and the bagpipe merrily;
He is born, the divine Christ child,
Sing we all of the Savior mild.

Through long ages of the past
Prophets long have foretold His coming;
Through long ages of the past,
Now the time has come at last.

He is born, the divine Christ child,
Play the musette and the bagpipe merrily;
He is born, the divine Christ child,
Sing we all of the Savior mild.

O how lovely, O how pure
Is this perfect child of heaven;
O how lovely, O how pure
Gracious gift to humankind.

He is born, the divine Christ child,
Play the musette and the bagpipe merrily;
He is born, the divine Christ child,
Sing we all of the Savior mild.

Jesus, Lord of all the world,
Coming as a child among us;
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
Grant to us Thy heavenly peace.

He is born, the divine Christ child,
Play the musette and the bagpipe merrily;
He is born, the divine Christ child,
Sing we all of the Savior mild,
Sing we now the divine Christ child!

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Musical offering for the seventh day of Christmas

December 31, 2025

‘Twas in the moon of wintertime
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead.
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wandering hunters heard the hymn:
Jesus your King is born! Jesus is born!
In excelsis gloria!

Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender babe was found;
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapped His beauty round.
And as the hunter braves drew nigh,
The angel song rang loud and high:
Jesus your King is born! Jesus is born!
In excelsis gloria!

The earliest moon of wintertime
Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory
On the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt
With gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born! Jesus is born!
In excelsis gloria!

O children of the forest free,
O sons of Manitou,
The holy child of earth and heaven
Is born today for you!
Come kneel before the radiant boy
Who brings you beauty, peace and joy:
Jesus your King is born! Jesus is born!
In excelsis gloria!

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Musical offering for the sixth day of Christmas

December 30, 2025

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace of earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

–Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Musical offering for the fifth day of Christmas

December 29, 2025

I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun;
I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth,
At Bethlehem I had my birth.

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
But they would not dance and they wouldn’t follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
They came with me and the dance went on.

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame;
The holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high,
And they left me there on a cross to die.

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;
It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I’d gone,
But I am the dance, and I still go on.

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

They cut me down and I leapt up high;
I am the life that will never, never die.
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he.

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

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Joy to the world!

December 28, 2025

Image

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Musical offering for the fourth day of Christmas

December 28, 2025

Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story,
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds in the field abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the Infant Light.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Sages, leave your contemplations;
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations,
Ye have seen His natal star.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear.
Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne;
Gather all the nations to Him,
Every knee shall then bow down.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

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