Common Praise (1998) ‎#155

155. From East to West, from Shore to Shore

1 From east to west, from shore to shore,
let every heart awake and sing
the holy child whom Mary bore,
the Christ, the everlasting King.

2 Behold! The world's creator wears
the form and fashion of a slave;
our very flesh our Maker shares,
his fallen creatures all to save.

3 For this how wondrously he wrought!
A maiden, in her lowly place,
became, in ways beyond all thought,
the chosen vessel of his grace.

4 Assenting to the angel's word,
she chose what God the Spirit willed,
and suddenly the promised Lord
that pure and hallowed temple filled.

5 He shrank not from the oxen's stall,
he lay within the manger bed,
and he whose bounty feeds us all
at Mary's breast himself was fed.

6 And while the angels in the sky
sang praise above the silent field,
to shepherds poor the Lord most high,
the one great Shepherd, was revealed.

7 All glory for this blessèd morn
to God, the source of all, is due;
all praise to you, O Virgin-born,
all praise, O Holy Ghost, to you.

Text Information

• First Line: From east to west, from shore to shore
• Title: From East to West, from Shore to Shore
• Author: Caelius Sedulius (5th cent.?)
• Translator: John Ellerton (1826-1893) (alt.)
• Meter: LM
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1998
• Scripture:
  Luke 1:26-38
  ;
  Luke 2:1-20
  ;
  Galatians 4:1-7
  ;
  Philippians 2:5-11
  ;
  Hebrews 2:10-18
• Topic: Christmas; Mary; Epiphany

Tune Information

• Name: PUER NOBIS NASCITUR
• Adapter: Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)
• Harmonizer: George R. Woodward (1848-1934)
• Meter: LM
• Key: D Major
• Source: Trier MS (15th cent.)
• Copyright: Harm. © Mowbray / Cassell plc