Merry Christmas from HBC Dover

Paul Gerhardt was a 17th century German Lutheran minister who was also known as a prolific author of hymn texts. As you celebrate Christmas this year, consider this text which highlights the key notions of the glorious incarnation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Come, your hearts and voices raising,

Christ the Lord with gladness praising;

Loudly sing His love amazing,

Worthy folk of Christendom.

Sin and death may well be groaning,

Satan now may well be moaning;

We, our full salvation owning,

Cast our every care away.

See how God, for us providing,

Gave His Son and life abiding;

He our weary steps is guiding

From earth's woe to heav'nly joy.

Christ, from heav'n to us descending

And in love our race befriending,

In our need His help extending,

Saved us from the wily Foe.

Jacob's Star in all its splendor

Beams with comfort sweet and tender,

Forcing Satan to surrender,

Breaking all the pow'rs of hell.

From the bondage that oppressed us,

From sin's fetters that possessed us,

From the grief that sore distressed us,

We, the captives, now are free.

Oh, the joy beyond expressing

When by faith we grasp this blessing

And to Thee we come confessing,

That our freedom thou hast wrought!