Christmas Hymn

O Baby Born in Bethlehem

by Beth Rice Luttrell

Read this hymn as a poem or sing it to one of the familiar tunes listed below.

1. O baby born in Bethlehem,
We sing about your birth:
You came to bring abundant life
And justice to the Earth;
To bring the gospel to the poor,
To help the blind to see;
You came to heal the broken heart
And set the captive free.

2. O baby born in Bethlehem,
Injustice still is strong;
And we who strive to do your will
Must learn to fight the wrong.
The greedy still oppress the poor,
The hungry cry for bread;
And countless weary seek, in vain,
A place to lay a head.

3. O baby born in Bethlehem,
You grew to change the Earth;
So may we grow in heart and mind,
Respecting human worth;
All Earth's resources let us share,
Rejecting waste and greed,
That we may find, as love demands,
Enough for every need.

4. O baby born in Bethlehem,
We bring this gift to you:
We pledge to stand for right and good
As you would grow to do;
To speak for those who have no voice,
To shield the poor and weak,
To bring good news about your birth
To all who justice seek.

Luke 4:18

Meter: C.M.D. (Common Meter Double) 8.6.8.6.D - CAROL: It Came upon the Midnight Clear; CONSOLATION; ELLACOMBE: Hosanna, Loud Hosanna; FOREST GREEN; KINGSFOLD; MARIAS LOVSÅNG; MATERNA: O Beautiful, for Spacious Skies; NOEL; TALLIS' THIRD TUNE

Reprinted by permission from Sing Justice! Do Justice! A Collection of New Hymns and Songs with Familiar and New Tunes, published by Selah Publishing Co. The collection is available from Alternatives at 1-800-821-6153. For permission to reprint and a catalog of Selah's music, call 1-800-852-6172.

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