♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ♪ Joy to the world, the Lord is come ♪ ♪ Let earth receive her king ♪ ♪ ♪ Let every he-a-art prepare Him ro-o-om ♪ ♪ And heaven and nature sing ♪ ♪ And heaven and nature sing ♪ ♪ And heaven and heaven and nature sing ♪ ♪ >> ♪ 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 ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ♪ I heard the bells on Christmas Day ♪ ♪ Their old, familiar carols play ♪ ♪ And wild and sweet the words repeat of peace of earth, goodwill to all ♪ >> ♪ But in despair, I bowed my head ♪ ♪ "There is no peace on earth," I said ♪ ♪ "For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, goodwill to all" ♪ >> ♪ I heard a cry on Christmas Day ♪ ♪ Another soul has slipped away ♪ ♪ With millions dead, there's grief instead ♪ ♪ Of peace on earth, goodwill to all ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ♪ Was Jesus born on Christmas Day to take the sting of death away?

♪ ♪ Does God recall each sparrow's fall and give new breath, new life to all?

♪ >> ♪ Then pealed the bells more loud and deep ♪ ♪ "God is not dead, nor doth God sleep ♪ ♪ The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, goodwill to all" ♪ ♪ I heard the bells on Christmas Day ♪ ♪ Their old, familiar carols play ♪ ♪ And wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, goodwill to all ♪ >> ♪ Lullaby my child, my little, tiny child ♪ ♪ Lullaby, lu-li-li-lay ♪ ♪ Lullaby my child, my little, tiny child ♪ ♪ Now you are gone away ♪ >> ♪ Oh, sisters, too, how may we do, for to preserve this day?

♪ ♪ These poor younglings for whom we do sing ♪ ♪ Lullaby, lu-li-li-lay ♪ >> ♪ Herod the King in his raging charged he hath this day ♪ ♪ His men of might in his own sight all baby boys to slay ♪ >> ♪ Lullaby my child, my little, tiny child ♪ ♪ Lullaby, lu-li-li-lay ♪ ♪ Lullaby my child, my little, tiny child ♪ ♪ Now you are gone away ♪ ♪ Lullaby my child, my little, tiny child ♪ ♪ Lullaby no grief can stay ♪ >> ♪ Lullaby my child, my little, tiny child ♪ ♪ Oh, to have one more day ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Long ago, in the country outside of Bethlehem, shepherds were awake in the night.

They were the poorest of poor, hired to work the night shift during the dangerous hours, when wild animals and thieves were most likely to strike.

But on this night, it wasn't the cry of a wolf that made them afraid.

An angel appeared to them.

God's glory lit the sky around them.

And they were terrified.

But the angel said, "Do not be afraid.

I have good news, news of great joy for everyone.

This very day a Savior has been born; the Messiah, the Lord.

This is the sign to show you it is true: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a feeding trough."

♪ Meanwhile, Wise Men, Magi from a country far East, arrived in Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the baby born to be the King of the Jewish people?

We saw His star rise in the heavens and have journeyed a long way to worship Him."

♪ As news about the Magi spread, King Herod and everyone in the city were troubled.

Herod demanded the religious leaders tell him exactly where the Messiah was to be born.

They searched the ancient scrolls of the prophets and replied, "From Bethlehem in Judea will come a ruler who will shepherd the people."

♪ But Herod was cunning.

He asked the Magi exactly when the star appeared, then dismissed them, saying, "Go!

Find the child and report back to me so that I may worship Him, too."

♪ When the Magi found Jesus and Mary and Joseph, they bowed down and offered extravagant gifts -- gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And because they'd been warned in a dream not to tell Herod, they left Bethlehem in secret.

♪ Then, another angel appeared, this time to Joseph, saying, "Get up!

Get up now!

Take the child and His mother and escape to Egypt.

Stay there until I tell you because Herod is coming to kill the child."

♪ When Herod realized he'd been tricked by the Magi, he was furious.

He called upon his army and commanded them to kill every baby boy, two years and younger, in Bethlehem and all the surrounding area.

And so the words spoken by the prophet Jeremiah were fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning.

Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because they are no more."

♪ And so with angels, joy, prophecies, a baby, and women weeping for their children, thus begins "The Tidings."

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ♪ Comfort, joy, and glory, the shining angels sing ♪ ♪ Good news of God's good pleasure, of hope and peace they bring ♪ ♪ In human blood and water, as tender flesh is torn ♪ ♪ A woman cries in anguish, and Jesus Christ is born ♪ ♪ Songs of hope and prophecy in shepherds' hearts will ring ♪ ♪ As gentle, kind compassion descends through angel wings ♪ ♪ But fierce is incarnation ♪ ♪ It is a sword He brings ♪ ♪ And we at times must follow His steps of suffering ♪ ♪ ♪ Too wonderful for mortal mind is our Redeemer's birth ♪ ♪ A song severe and exquisite proclaims to us our worth ♪ ♪ It soars in angel melodies that Mary's spirit sings ♪ ♪ Yet finds its perfect harmony in Rachel's sorrowing ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Comfort, joy, and glory, the shining angels sing ♪ ♪ Good news of God's good pleasure, of hope and peace they bring ♪ ♪ In human blood and water, as tender flesh is torn ♪ ♪ A woman cries in anguish, and Jesus Christ is born ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ♪ Sing Christmas songs for Rachel's sons, who perish as Messiah comes ♪ >> ♪ And pray for their mothers, who watched their babies smothered or snatched by soldiers from their arms and pierced with the sword ♪ ♪ O little town of suffering, raise high your songs of sorrowing ♪ ♪ Lord, hear the voice of Bethlehem, of women mourning children ♪ ♪ A cry of pain uncomforted because they are no more ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ♪ When I sleep, I dream of him ♪ ♪ I suckle him upon my breast ♪ ♪ I dandle him upon my knees ♪ ♪ I soothe him as he rests ♪ ♪ When he was but few days old, we placed his life in Yahweh's arms ♪ ♪ We prayed God's face to shine on him, to keep him from all harm ♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪ ♪ [ Vocalizing continues ] ♪ >> ♪ Remember, Lord, our human flesh, so lovely, frail, and close to death ♪ ♪ How easily we perish ♪ ♪ We cling to those we cherish ♪ ♪ If you withhold your breath, your love, then we can live no more ♪ ♪ Sing Christmas songs for Rachel's sons, who perish as Messiah comes ♪ ♪ How blessed are these little ones, who died mistook for Yahweh's son ♪ ♪ How blessed to play a part within the coming of the Lord ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ When I sleep, I dream of him ♪ ♪ I suckle him upon my breast ♪ ♪ I dandle him upon my knees ♪ ♪ I soothe him as he rests ♪ ♪ When he was but few days old, we placed his life in Yahweh's arms ♪ ♪ We prayed God's face to shine on him, to keep him from all harm ♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪ ♪ ♪ [ Vocalizing continues ] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ Vocalizing continues ] ♪ ♪ ♪ Though You take my life away, though You take the ones I love, still I place my hope in You ♪ ♪ I cling to You in love ♪ ♪ Though You take my life away, though You take the ones I love, still I place my hope in You ♪ ♪ I cling to You in love ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Sing Christmas songs for Rachel's sons, who perish as Messiah comes ♪ ♪ And pray for their mothers, who watched their babies smothered or snatched by soldiers from their arms and pierced with the sword ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ♪ In Egypt Mary cries ♪ ♪ She's crying for her sisters ♪ ♪ She holds her baby tight and speaks to Him in whispers ♪ ♪ In sorrow Mary weeps ♪ ♪ She's frightened by its fierceness ♪ ♪ She feels a mighty sword ♪ ♪ Into her soul it pierces ♪ ♪ How could there be good in little children dying?

♪ ♪ How could there be good?

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ In Egypt Mary dreams of Moses in the rushes, of Isaac on a hill, of rams caught in the brushes, of Father Abraham upon his faithful wander ♪ ♪ In Egypt Mary wakes, and in her heart she ponders ♪ ♪ How could there be good in You, my child, dying?

♪ ♪ How could there be good?

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ In Egypt Mary cries ♪ ♪ She's crying for her sisters ♪ ♪ She holds her baby tight and speaks to God in whispers ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ♪ What are the tidings?

♪ ♪ What are the tidings?

♪ ♪ What are the gifts God knows we will need?

♪ ♪ What are the tidings?

♪ ♪ What are the tidings?

♪ ♪ What are the gifts God knows we will need?

♪ ♪ Not triumph, not treasure, not power, not pleasure ♪ ♪ Not safety, not danger, not judgment, not anger ♪ ♪ What are the tidings?

♪ ♪ What are the tidings?

♪ ♪ What is the news God knows that we need?

♪ ♪ What are the tidings?

♪ ♪ What are the tidings?

♪ ♪ See how the Lord our tenderness esteems ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Comfort and joy ♪ ♪ Comfort and joy ♪ ♪ Comfort and jo-o-o-o-o-o-o-y ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Over this cruel world, over pain and disease ♪ ♪ Over our hardened hearts still today Rachel weeps ♪ ♪ Dear to God are her tears, for they season the earth ♪ ♪ Training our hearts to hear the tidings of Jesus' birth ♪ ♪ Rachel, O lovely one, wake our souls from their sleep ♪ ♪ Soften our hearts of stone, Rachel, teach us to weep ♪ ♪ Rachel, teach us to weep ♪ ♪ Rachel, teach us to weep ♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪ ♪ [ Vocalizing continues ] ♪ ♪ ♪ In the valley at night, in the shadow of death, God is waiting for you to give comfort and rest ♪ ♪ In the place of distress, true compassion is learned ♪ ♪ In the fires of pain, all but good will be burned ♪ ♪ God is near those who weep ♪ ♪ God is near those who fear ♪ ♪ In the weakness of pain, God's own voice we can hear ♪ ♪ In the weakness of pain, God's own voice we can hear ♪ ♪ In the weakness of pain, God's own voice we can hear ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I am loving and strong ♪ ♪ You are chosen and blest ♪ ♪ I am with you in life ♪ ♪ I am with you in death ♪ ♪ You are precious to me ♪ ♪ I am faithful and true ♪ ♪ I have called you by name ♪ ♪ I will not forsake you ♪ ♪ Long before you were born, knit in that secret place ♪ ♪ My eyes held you in love ♪ ♪ I knew all of your days ♪ ♪ Every day of your life, I will shepherd you through ♪ ♪ Mighty angels at night are encamped around you ♪ ♪ I have conquered the dark, all its evil withstood ♪ ♪ All your struggles and pain, I will work to your good ♪ ♪ All your struggles and pain, I will work to your good ♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪ ♪ [ Vocalizing continues ] ♪ ♪ ♪ Neither death, neither life, neither triumph or pain ♪ ♪ Neither darkness or light, neither sunshine or rain ♪ ♪ Neither angels on high, neither demons below ♪ ♪ Neither future or past, nor the powers of the foe ♪ ♪ Shall keep you from my love ♪ ♪ You are locked in my grace ♪ ♪ Now and forevermore in my loving embrace ♪ ♪ Now and forevermore in my loving embrace ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ♪ Songs of hope and prophecy in shepherds' hearts will ring ♪ ♪ As gentle, kind compassion descends through angel wings ♪ >> ♪ But fierce is incarnation ♪ ♪ It is a sword He brings ♪ ♪ And we at times must follow His steps of suffering ♪ ♪ Too wonderful for mortal minds is our Redeemer's birth ♪ ♪ A song severe and exquisite proclaims to us our worth ♪ ♪ It soars in angel melodies that Mary's spirit sings ♪ ♪ Yet finds its perfect harmony in Rachel's sorrowing ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Comfort, joy, and glory, the shining angels sing ♪ ♪ Good news of God's good pleasure, of hope and peace they bring ♪ ♪ In human blood and water, as tender flesh is torn ♪ ♪ A woman cries in anguish, and Jesus Christ is born ♪ ♪ All glory to the Father, all glory to the Son ♪ ♪ All glory to the Spirit, who makes our spirits one ♪ ♪ May we be blest with Christmas joy today and all our lives ♪ ♪ And may all suffering hallow us to love and follow Christ ♪ ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ ♪ A-a-men ♪ ♪ ♪ A-a-men ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause continue ] [ Cheers and applause continue ] ♪ ♪ ♪ Come, Thou long-expected Jesus ♪ ♪ Born to set Thy people free ♪ ♪ From our fears and sins release us ♪ ♪ Let us find our rest in Thee ♪ ♪ Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art ♪ ♪ Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart ♪ ♪ We were bruised, but Jesus healed us ♪ ♪ Faint were we from many a fall ♪ ♪ Sight was gone and fears possessed us ♪ ♪ But He freed us from them all ♪ ♪ Days of darkness still come over us ♪ ♪ Sorrow's path we often tread ♪ ♪ But the Savior still is with us ♪ ♪ By His hand we're safely led ♪ ♪ Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king ♪ ♪ Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring ♪ ♪ By Thine own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone ♪ ♪ By Thine all-sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ 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 ♪ ♪ ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] >> Thank you so much for coming.

We wish you tidings of comfort and joy this season.

Thank you for coming.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> ♪ Over this cruel world... ♪ >> If you've enjoyed "The Tidings Cantata," an HD copy of the full concert is available for $29.95.

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For more information about "The Tidings Cantata," including how you or your group can access the master score for performance, visit us at TheTidingsCantata.com.