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"Exult, O Morning Stars Aflame!"
know that I am a friend and fan of British hymnwriter, Timothy Dudley-Smith, a retired bishop in the Church of England and John Stott’s biographer. Today’s WORSHIP QUOTE is one of his beautiful Christmas texts. Try reading it out loud. EXULT, O MORNING STARS AFLAME! Exult, O morning stars aflame! with all the works of God proclaim the Child of Bethlehem who came for love and love alone. Come earth and air and sky and sea, bear witness to his deity who lived, the Man of Galilee, for love and love alone. By faith behold the Crucified, his arms of mercy open wide, the Lamb of Calvary, who died for love and love alone. Let every eye his glories see, who was, and is, and is to be; who reigns as Christ in Majesty for love and love alone. * (pause) * O world, by strife and sorrow torn, new hope is yours on Christmas morn, the Prince of Peace a child is born, for love and love alone. —Timothy Dudley-Smith, from GREAT IS THE GLORY: 36 New Hymns written between 1993 & 1996, © 1997 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission. For permission to copy or use this hymn, please contact: Hope Publishing Company, 380 S. Main Place, Carol Stream, IL 60188 1-800-323-1049, Fax: (630) 665-3200 Email: permission@hopepublishing.com www.hopepublishing.com [In this wonderful collection of hymn texts, the poet writes these notes about today’s poem: "An invocation to the morning stars appears in verse 2 of Phillips Brooks’ "O Little Town of Bethlehem." The reference comes from Job 38:7 which tells of how when the Lord laid the foundations of the earth "the morning stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy." The text is based on five titles of the Lord Jesus Christ: which are emphasized by the use of capital letters: the Child of Bethlehem, the Man of Galilee, the Lamb of Calvary, the Christ in Majesty, and the Prince of Peace.] A Blessed Christmas to you all. O come, let us adore him! Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.carlstam.org www.sbts.educ |