Author: Christina Rossetti, 1830-1894 Hymnal: Worship and Rejoice #196 (2003) Meter: Irregular Lyrics: 1 In the bleak midwinter,
frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron,
water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow,
snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter,
long ago.
2 Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away
when he comes to reign:
in the bleak midwinter
a stableplace sufficed
the Lord God incarnate,
Jesus Christ.
3 Angels and archangels
may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim
thronged the air;
but his mother only,
in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the Beloved
with a kiss.
4 What can I give him,
poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb;
if I were a wise man,
I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him:
give my heart. Scripture: Luke 2:8-20 Languages: English Tune Title: CRANHAM
In the Bleak Midwinter