It Begins In Bethlehem

Shepherds lying on a hill
The night was silent, all was still
They watched their flock of grazing sheep
And tried hard not to fall asleep

When, bright and white, an angel came
To light the night, a fiery flame
The shepherds trembled where they lay
The angel said, "Don't be afraid"

"Sing praise to God and give him glory
And celebrate his wondrous story
Of love and joy and peace to men
For it begins in Bethlehem"

"The news is good, the news I bring
Good news to make you leap and sing
Good news for people everywhere
Good news of joy for all to share"

"Good news, for God has kept his word
And sent his saviour, Christ the Lord
The one he promised he would send
Is born this day in Bethlehem”

"Sing praise to God and give him glory
And celebrate his wondrous story
Of love and joy and peace to men
For it begins in Bethlehem"

"And this will be a sign for you
This is how you'll know it's true
You'll find a baby wrapped in cloth
Sleeping in a cattle trough"

The angel, then, was joined by more
Six and twelve and twenty-four
And then too many more to number
A heaven-choir, loud as thunder

"Sing praise to God and give him glory
And celebrate his wondrous story
Of love and joy and peace to men
For it begins in Bethlehem"

And so the angels left that place
Just like they'd come, without a trace
Except for all they sang and said
Which echoed in the shepherds heads

"Let's go to Bethlehem and see"
The shepherds all, as one, agreed
They found the baby where he lay
Asleep upon a bed of hay

They told them what the angels said
Then Mary smiled and raised her head
A secret hid there, in her eyes
For she was not one bit surprised

So back they went to sheep and hill
No longer silent, hardly still
But singing loud like angels bright
Of all that they had seen that night

"Sing praise to God and give him glory
And celebrate his wondrous story
Of love and joy and peace to men
For it begins in Bethlehem"