Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a Savior,
When half spent was the night.

The shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of glory was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger found Him,
As angel heralds said.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True Man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.

O Savior, Child of Mary, who felt our human woe,
O Savior, King of glory, who dost our weakness know;
Bring us at length we pray, to the bright courts of Heaven,
And to the endless day!

We will be attending and serving at a couple of our Christmas Eve Services today. After the services Katie and Andrew will join us for a quiet Christmas Eve enjoying Dear’s famous Tomato Rice Soup and some Pesto Tortellini, red and green food. Josh and Laura will arrive at our home late after their festivities with Laura’s family. Katie and Andrew can greet them as Dear and I will be fast asleep by then. We will all wake up on Christmas morning here except for Dan, Jamie and Addy and enjoy Christmas day together. Dan, Jamie and Addy will enjoy their first Christmas together as a family in Colville.

Hoping your celebrations will be filled with the love and peace that the Holy Babe in the Manger came to provide.