Caroling101

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Caroling 101

By Lyndi Peacock

Dear Grace Family, During the joyous season of Advent we begin to look for ways to bless those around us---God’s love overflows our hearts! The best method to spread Christmas cheer will always be singing loud for all to hear!

Nothing warms the heart and lifts the spirit quite like a good Christmas carol, and I’ve compiled 14 of the very best ones for us here in this booklet. (Many of them I’ve shortened from versions with up to 8 verses, by the way!)

Included in this publication are simple suggestions for residential and community caroling.

I’ve compiled free online resources as well for these carols including sheet music, recordings, and other material. If you would like to utilize these online resources, please provide me with your email address on the form included at the back of this booklet and turn it in to the Connection Center or the front office.

I pray that you all, church family, will be blessed by the Gospel message of love, joy, peace and hope in these carols as we share them with our neighbors.

Be creative, be bold, and brave the cold! Proclaim His Name!

In Christ’s Love, Lyndi Peacock

Caroling Practice 1. Perhaps select a few of these carols to work on with your group---attempting to sing them all may be daunting!

2. Find a way to get a good starting pitch that works for your group. You can “wing it”, use your voice, or play a pitch on any number of instruments: pitch pipe, your iPhone, tin whistle, guitar, trombone, you name it!

3. Have fun! It’s not about how great your singing is, it’s about loving on our neighbors and carrying the Gospel out into the world as Jesus has commanded us to do!

Residential Caroling 1. Not necessary to call ahead---surprise them!

2. Begin singing BEFORE you knock or ring the doorbell---a group of strangers at one’s door can be unsettling if you don’t know why they’ve come! Singing easily answers the question of “Who are these folks?!”

3. Sing only 1 or 2 carols at each dwelling that greets you. It’s chilly out, and having the door open to welcome carolers is drafty! Short and sweet.

4. Let your faces match the music---JOY! Smiles and singing go together very nicely.

5. Invite the residents to our Christmas Eve services using the following information: Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church 9 S 8th Ave Yakima WA 98902 Christmas Eve Sercices: 5pm Contemporary Worship 9pm Carols&Candles All are welcome! Please join us!

6. It’s fun (but not necessary) to take along small tokens of love and joy to share such as candy canes, baked goods, Christmas cards, little prints of Scripture, bookmarks, etc.

Community Caroling The element of surprise plays a fun role in residential caroling as we surprise people at home. However, it is necessary to plan ahead when caroling in different kinds venues out in the community. We need to make sure that we’ll arrive at an appropriate time for the residents and avoid interrupting important activities. Here are some possible places to share the joy of caroling this season: • Assisted Living Communities • Nursing Homes • Rehabilitation Facilities • Hospitals • Union Gospel Mission • Madison House • Salvation Army This is by no means an exhaustive list---be creative! Simply call the organization you wish to work with and explain that we’d like to come caroling. They will most likely be glad to put you in touch with the appropriate people and give you the information you need.

Please see numbers 4,5, and 6 under Residential Caroling for Community Caroling as well.

When caroling to groups out in the community, it’s often fun to provide the folks with word sheets such as the ones in this booklet so that they can sing along.

If you wish to play an instrument such as piano or guitar to accompany your caroling, sheet music can be found in the Caroling 101 online resources! (Just email Lyndi.Peacock@yakimagrace.com)

Table of Carols Angels We Have Heard on High Away in a Manger The First Noel God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen Go, Tell It on the Mountain!

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Joy to the World O Come, All Ye Faithful O Come, O Come Emmanuel O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Silent Night What Child Is This?

We Three Kings 

Angels We Have Heard on High Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o’er the plain And the mountains in reply Echo back their joyous strain, “Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!” Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

Say, what may the tidings be Which inspire your heavenly song?

“Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!” Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing Come adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King!

“Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!”

Away in a Manger Away in a manger, no crib for His bed The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head The stars in the sky all looked down where He lay The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes I love Thee, Lord Jesus, come down from the sky And stay by my cradle ‘til morning is nigh Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care And take us to heaven to live with Thee there  

The First Noel The first noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter’s night that was so deep Noel! Noel!

Noel! Noel!

Born is the King of Israel!

They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far And to the earth it gave great light And so it continued both day and night Noel! Noel!

Noel! Noel!

Born is the King of Israel!

Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord That hath made heav’n and earth of naught And with His blood mankind hath bought Noel! Noel!

Noel! Noel!

Born is the King of Israel!

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen God rest ye merry, gentlemen Let nothing you dismay Remember Christ our Savior Was born on Christmas day To save us all from Satan’s power When we were gone astray O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy!

From God, our heavenly Father A blessed angel came And unto certain shepherds Brought tidings of the same How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by Name O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy!

Now to the Lord sing praises All you within this place And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace This holy tide of Christmas All other doth deface O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy!  

Go, Tell It on the Mountain!

Go, tell it on the mountain!

Over the hills and everywhere!

Go, tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born As shepherds kept their watching O’er silent flocks by night Behold, throughout the heavens There shone a holy light Go, tell it on the mountain!

Over the hills and everywhere!

Go, tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born The shepherds feared and trembled When lo! Above the earth Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Savior’s birth Go, tell it on the mountain!

Over the hills and everywhere!

Go, tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born Down in a lowly manger Our humble Christ was born And brought us God’s salvation That blessed Christmas morn Go, tell it on the mountain!

Over the hills and everywhere!

Go, tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies With the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored Christ, the everlasting Lord Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a virgin’s womb Veiled in flesh the Godhead see Hail the incarnate Deity Pleased as man with men to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace Hail the Sun of Righteousness Light and life to all He brings Risen with healing in His wings Mild He lays His glory by Born that man no more may die Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Joy to the World Joy to the world! The Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King!

Let every heart prepare Him room And heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing And heaven, and heaven and nature sing!

Joy to the word! Our Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ While fields and floods Rock, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy Repeat the sounding joy Repeat, repeat the sounding joy!

He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love And wonders of His love And wonders, wonders of His love!  

O Come, All Ye Faithful O come, all ye faithful Joyful and triumphant O come ye, o come ye To Bethlehem Come and adore Him Born the King of angels O come let us adore Him O come let us adore Him O come let us adore Him Christ the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels Sing in exultation O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above Glory to God, all glory in the highest O come let us adore Him O come let us adore Him O come let us adore Him Christ the Lord Yea Lord, we greet Thee Born this happy morning O Jesus, to Thee be all glory given!

Word of the Father Now in flesh appearing O come let us adore Him O come let us adore Him O come let us adore Him Christ the Lord  

O Come, O Come Emmanuel O come, o come Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel O come, thou Dayspring Come and cheer Our spirits by thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death’s dark shadow put to flight Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel O come, thou Wisdom From on high And order all things far and nigh To us the path of knowledge show And cause us in her way to go Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel O come, Desire of Nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind Bid thou our sad divisions cease And be Thyself our King of Peace Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel

O Holy Night O holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth Long lay the world in sin and error pining ‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!

O night divine, o night when Christ was born O night divine! O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand So led by the light of a star sweetly gleaming Here came the wise men from the Orient land The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger In all our trials, born to be our friend He knows our need He guardeth us from danger Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend

O Little Town of Bethlehem O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight For Christ is born of Mary And gathered all above While mortals sleep the angels keep Their watch of wondering love The morning starts together Proclaim the holy birth And praises sing to God the King And peace to men on earth How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given So God impart to human hearts The blessing of His heaven No ear may hear His coming But in this world of sin Where meek souls will receive Him still The dear Christ enters in O holy Child of Bethlehem Descend to us, we pray Cast out our sin and enter in Be born in us today We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell O come to us, abide with us Our Lord, Emmanuel

Silent Night Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright ‘Round yon virgin, mother and child Holy infant, so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace Silent night, holy night Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia Christ the Savior is born!

Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night Son of God, love’s pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With our God’s redeeming grace Jesus, Lord at thy birth Jesus, Lord at thy birth

What Child Is This?

What child is this, who laid to rest On Mary’s lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King!

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing Haste, haste to bring Him laud The babe, the son of Mary Why lies He in such mean estate Where ox and lamb are feeding?

Good Christian, fear, for sinners here The silent Word is pleading This, this is Christ the King!

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing Haste, haste to bring Him laud The babe, the son of Mary So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh Come peasant and king to own him The King of Kings salvation brings Let loving hearts enthrone Him This, this is Christ the King!

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing Haste, haste to bring Him laud The babe, the son of Mary

we Three Kings We three kings of orient are Bearing gifts, we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder star O star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to thy perfect Light Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain Gold I bring to crown Him again King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign O star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to thy perfect Light Glorious now, behold Him arise King and God and sacrifice “Alleluia, alleluia!”

Sounds through the earth and skies O star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to thy perfect Light

christmas carols!

Caroling 101 Online Resources: Sheet Music, Recordings, Videos & More!

Would you like to receive links to Caroling 101 resources via email?

Name: ___________________________________ Email: ___________________________________ Return this form to the Connection Center or Office.

You will receive confirmation from Lyndi.Peacock@ yakimagrace.com