Angels We Have Heard on High

A Traditional French Carol

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome 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

               On Christmas Eve it seems appropriate to think of the Shepherds who tended their flocks the night Jesus was born. We gather in the evening for worship, often darkening our churches and singing by candlelight.

               The refrain that is repeated through the hymn is Latin. It means, “Glory to God in the highest,” a quotation of Luke 2:14, part of the angels’ song. We join in this hymn of praise because we, too, have heard the good news that the newborn King is Christ the Lord. God has come to save us!

Prayer

               Glory be to God! You have come to save us! Pour Your Spirit out on us as we celebrate Jesus’ birth and rejoice that our Savior was willing to become one of us, even to the point of being born! Fill our worship services tonight with wonder and awe at what You have done and how You have saved us, and let our speaking and singing be empowered by faith in Jesus. Amen.