Again, too many good Christmas hymns out there, even just in public domain.

If you are following along in the Lutheran Service Book, there is a one-note rhythm change in the second line and a difference in the key, but the text is still usable.

The third hymn starts out with the first verse in German, then all three verses in English.

We are thankful for the feedback from the podcast and are glad you’ve made it part of your routine. Merry Christmas.

All My Heart Again Rejoices

1. All my heart again rejoices
   As I hear Far and near
   Sweetest angel voices.
   “Christ is born,” their choirs are singing
   Till the air Everywhere
   Now with joy is ringing.
2. Hear the Conqueror has spoken,
   Now the foe, Sin and woe,
   Death and hell are broken.
   God is man, man to deliver;
   And the Son Now is one
   With our blood forever.
3. Should we fear our God’s displeasure,
   Who, to save, Freely gave
   His most precious Treasure?
   To redeem us He has given
   His own Son From the throne
   Of His might in heaven.
4. See the Lamb, our sin once taking
   To the cross, Suff’ring loss,
   Full atonement making.
   For our life His own He tenders,
   And His grace All our race
   Fit for glory renders.
5. Softly from His lowly manger
   Jesus calls One and all,
   “You are safe from danger.
   Children, from the sins that grieve you
   You are freed; All you need
   I will surely give you.”
6. Come, then, banish all your sadness,
   One and all, Great and small;
   Come with songs of gladness.
   We shall live with Him forever
   There on high, In that joy
   Which can vanish never.

Now Sing We, Now Rejoice

1. Now sing we, now rejoice,
   Now raise to heaven our voice;
   He from whom joy streameth
   Poor in a manger lies;
   Not so brightly beameth
   The sun in yonder skies.
   Thou my Savior art!
   Thou my Savior art!
2. Come from on high to me;
   I cannot rise to Thee
   Cheer my wearied spirit,
   O pure and holy Child;
   Through Thy grace and merit,
   Blest Jesus, Lord most mild,
   Draw me unto Thee!
   Draw me unto Thee!
3. Now through His Son doth shine
   The Father’s grace divine.
   Death o’er us had reigned
   Through sin and vanity;
   He for us obtained
   Eternal joy on high.
   May we praise Him there!
   May we praise Him there!
4. Oh, where shall joy be found?
   Where but on heavenly ground?
   Where the angels singing
   With all His saints unite,
   Sweetest praises bringing
   In heavenly joy and light.
   Oh, that we were there!
   Oh, that we were there!

Silent Night, Holy Night

Stille Nacht, heilege Nacht!
Alles schläft, einsam wacht
Nur das traute, hochheilege Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh.

1. 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.
2. 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!
3. Silent night! Holy night!
   Son of God, love’s pure light
   Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
   With the dawn of redeeming grace,
   Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
   Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

There are just too many good Advent hymns out there for four weeks of Time Out, so we did three more.

Kudos to the LSB (and LW?) committee for cleaning up pietistic language and using promise language: for example, changing “He may shield us” in 345 to “He will shield us.” I have to be honest, some of the TLH lyrics made me cringe.

341, Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

1. Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!
   Behold, the King of Glory waits;
   The King of kings is drawing near,
   The Savior of the world is here.
   Life and salvation He doth bring,
   Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing:
   To God the Father raise
   Your joyful songs of praise.
2. A righteous Helper comes to thee,
   His chariot is humility,
   His kingly crown is holiness,
   His scepter, pity in distress,
   The end of all our woe He brings;
   Therefore the earth is glad and sings:
   To Christ the Savior raise
   Your grateful hymns of praise.
3. How blest the land, the city blest,
   Where Christ the ruler is confessed!
   O peaceful hearts and happy homes
   To whom this King in triumph comes!
   The cloudless Sun of joy is He,
   Who comes to set His people free.
   To God the Spirit raise
   Your happy shouts of praise.
4. Fling wide the portals of your heart;
   Make it a temple set apart
   From earthly use for Heav’n's employ,
   Adorned with prayer and love and joy.
   So shall your Sov’reign enter in
   And new and nobler life begin.
   To God alone be praise
   For word and deed and grace!
5. Redeemer, come and open wide
   My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide!
   O enter with Thy grace divine;
   Thy face of mercy on me shine.
   Thy Holy Spirit guide us on
   Until our glorious goal is won.
   Eternal praise and fame
   We offer to Thy name.

345, Hark! a Thrilling Voice is Sounding

1. Hark, a thrilling voice is sounding!
   “Christ is nigh!” we hear it say;
   “Cast away the works of darkness,
   All you children of the day!”
2. Startled at the solemn warning,
   Let the earth-bound soul arise;
   Christ, her Sun, all sloth dispelling,
   Shines upon the morning skies.
3. See, the Lamb, so long expected,
   Comes with pardon down from heaven.
   Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
   One and all, to be forgiven.
4. So, when next He comes in glory
   And the world is wrapped in fear,
   He will shield us with His mercy
   And with words of love draw near.
5. Honor, glory, might, dominion,
   To the Father and the Son,
   With the everlasting Spirit,
   While eternal ages run!

347, Comfort, Comfort Ye My People

1. Comfort, comfort, ye My people,
   Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
   “Comfort those who sit in darkness,
   Mourning ‘neath their sorrows’ load.
   Speak ye to Jerusalem
   Of the peace that waits for them;
   Tell her that her sins I cover
   And her warfare now is over.”
2. Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
   Blotting out each dark misdeed;
   All that well deserved His anger
   He no more will see or heed.
   She hath suffered many a day,
   Now her griefs have passed away;
   God will change her pining sadness
   Into ever-springing gladness.
3. Hark, the herald’s voice is crying
   In the desert far and near,
   Calling sinners to repentance
   Since the Kingdom now is here.
   Oh, that warning cry obey!
   Now prepare for God a way;
   Let the valleys rise to meet Him
   And the hills bow down to greet Him.
4. Make ye straight what long was crooked,
   Make the rougher places plain;
   Let your hearts be true and humble,
   As befits His holy reign.
   For the glory of the Lord
   Now o’er earth is shed abroad,
   And all flesh shall see the token
   That His Word is never broken.