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"Gathered Round Your Table"
GATHERED ROUND YOUR TABLE Gathered round your table on this holy eve, Viewing Bethlehem's stable we rejoice and grieve. Joy to see you lying in your manger bed; Weep to see you dying in our sinful stead. Prince of Glory, gracing heav'n e'er time began, Now for us embracing death as Son of Man. By your birth so lowly, by your love so true, By your cross most holy, Lord, we worship you! Bethlehem's Incarnation, Calvary's bitter cross Wrought for us salvation by your pain and loss. Now we fall before you in this holy place. Prostrate we adore you for your gift of grace. With profoundest wonder, we your body take-- Laid in manger yonder, broken for our sake. Hushed in adoration we approach the cup-- Bethlehem's pure oblation freely offered up. Christmas Babe so tender, Lamb who bore our blame, How shall sinners render praises due your Name? Do your own good pleasure in the lives we bring; In your ransomed treasure reign forever King! --Margaret Clarkson (1959), from A SINGING HEART, Hope Publishing Company, 1987. The hymn is included in HYMNAL FOR WORSHIP AND CELEBRATION (Word) in a lovely setting by Tom Fettke under the title "A Communion Hymn for Christmas." Our choir and congregation sing it once each year--as the bread and cup are passed at our Evening Christmas Communion service. Give it a try next year. [May that final stanza be my prayer and yours as we contemplate the scene at the manger: In believing, we are his ransomed treasure, and he is our reigning King. Amen!] ============================================ MORE WORSHIP QUOTES FOR ADVENT & CHRISTMAS ============================================ www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2005-12-06 (“O Come, O Come, Immanuel”) www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=1995-12-20 (C. S. Lewis) www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2004-12-21 (Ambrose and Luther) www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2005-12-20 (Dutch Carol) www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=1996-12-24 (Ulrich Shaffer) www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2002-12-24 (Dudley-Smith) www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2006-12-12 ("The Gift of Gifts") www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2004-12-07 ("Of the Father's Love Begotten") www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2006-12-19 (Spurgeon) www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2006-12-26 (Augustine and Lewis) www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2007-12-18 (Thomas à Kempis) ============================================ Have a great week! Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.wqotw.org www.sbts.edu/icw =========================== WORSHIP QUOTE OF THE WEEK: To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view a complete index of worship quotes, please visit http://www.wqotw.org =========================== |