A Christmas Communion-- Musical Settings and Texts by Mike Rayson

TUNE: O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
Unto this holy table, the Lord is calling near
All you who earnestly repent, of sin are welcome here
So let us live together, and peace let us profess
Therefore, God’s people, lets prepare, our hearts as we confess

O God our God of mercy, hear these our prayers this day
We have not loved you with our hearts, our lives we turned away
We’ve failed to be obedient, we have not done your will
O God we’ve broken your law and against your love rebelled.

We have not loved our neighbors, we have not loved the lost
Their cries have fallen on our ears yet we have brushed them off
Forgive us Lord, forgive us, come set us free from sin
And set us free, obedient, with joyous hearts, Amen

My friends I bid you joy and peace, good news to set you free
While we were hopeless, lost in sin, Christ died for you and me
That proves God’s love toward us, in Jesus name I say
Child, you have been forgiven, He offers you the same.

TUNE: AWAY IN A MANGER
The Lord God be with you
And also with you
Come lift up your hearts
We lift them up to
our God,  we give glory, our thankful hearts raise
It’s right and a good thing to give thanks and praise

TUNE: IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
It is a good and joyful thing
To sing of your faithfulness
We offer up our thankful hearts
Creator of heaven and earth
You formed us in your image Lord
Your breath gave life to dust
And though we turned our love from you
Your love stayed true to us

You loosed the chains that bound our feet
And claimed us as your own
You made a covenant promise that
We’d never be alone
And through your people and prophets still
You word rings loud and long
So with the saints of old and new
We sing this ancient song

TUNE: ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy
God of power and God of might
Heav’n and earth proclaim your wonder
Glory to the Lord on high
                Loud Hosanna’s, Loud Hosanna’s
                Glory to the Lord on high
Blessed is the one who cometh
In the name of God he rides
Saints and sinners raise your voices
Glory, glory, is our cry
Loud Hosanna’s, Loud Hosanna’s
Glory to the Lord on high

TUNE: THE FIRST NOEL
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took the bread
Gave thanks, and broke it as he said..
“Take eat, take eat, my body is given”
For you, take eat, the bread of heaven
                Remember me, remember me
                Given for you, remember me
Then after they ate, he took the cup
Gave thanks to you and offered it up
Drink this, drink this, the wine of my blood
Poured out for all, a cleansing flood
                Remember me, remember me
                Come, drink this cup and remember me
And so as we, remember again
Your mighty act of grace through your Son
In praise and thanks, and in union with Christ
We’re a holy and living sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia.

TUNE: ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
Let us all in one accord, sing the mystery of our Lord
Christ has died, and Christ has ri’sn
Christ will come again
Gloria, in excelsis deo
(repeat)

TUNE: O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
Pour out your Spirit, on your gathered people
Pour out your Spirit on this bread and wine
May they be for us, the body and the blood of Christ
                That we may be in this world
                That we may be in this world
                That we may be in this world
                The body of Christ
By your Spirit, make us one with Jesus
One with each other and one with the world
Until he comes, and reigns o’er us victorious
                And we will be his body
                And we will be his body
                And we will be his body
                The body of Christ
Through your Son Jesus, with the Holy Spirit
Here in your holy church all honor is yours
Glory to God, Glory in the highest
                O Come let us adore him
                O Come let us adore him
                O Come let us adore him
                Christ the Lord.



Image Credit: Freefoto.com. Used by permission under a Creative Commons License.


The Rev. Mike Rayson, OSL, is pastor of St Paul UMC, Brighton, IL 
& founder of Mike Rayson International Ministries.

He grants permission for use and publication of this resource by congregations for worship and educational uses. It may not be sold or used for other purposes without written permission.  You may reach Mike for additional permissions via email at: pastormike@stpaulumcbrighton.com