Show me the manger, Show me where life begins again Show me the manger, Show me where hope and peace come breaking in Show me the shelter and the family and the faces and the dawn Of untidy love that's forever, forever from now on Once I've seen the manger, How could I ever turn away? Show me the angels, Show me a hint of what Heaven can do Show me the star now, Show me a flash of forever shining through Show me the beauty and the glory and the music and the flame Show me the power of the promise and the power of the Name Once I've seen the glory, How could I ever turn away? Show me the baby, Though I don't begin to understand How such an ordinary baby Could be God becoming man Could he be born to live to die to live again? To be the life, be the way, be the truth, be the plan Once I've seen the baby How could I ever turn away? Show me the manger, show me the family, Show me the angels, show me the star now But once I've seen the Saviour, I will never turn away.

What child is this who laid to rest On Mary's lap is sound asleep While hearts and eyes more strong and true Than are his own safe vigil keep Fierce lovers, two, embrace this wonder Nothing to do but curl shoulder to shoulder And whisper... Let him sleep for now Let him sleep for now Soon enough the road will rise to meet him where he stands Let him sleep for now Let him sleep for now Let him sleep for now we know what a child is this Curled up in Mary's circling arm Hearing her heart beat his name Feet that have never touched the ground Voice yet unheard that time will never tame Eyes closed that never closed before Eternal watcher, now watched unknowing With whispers... Let him sleep.....

Why so woeful, one I love With the sky so full above With the stars at touching height Come with me on Christmas night Don't you shiver, though it's cold All you need's my hand to hold Be the world all wrong or right Come with me on Christmas night Let's go stand up on the hill and see Just how nice a frosty kiss can be Then shut the door and leave the frost outside And see if kisses melt in firelight Wine and time and you and me And everything we dream to be And all the promise in my eyes A promise born on Christmas night Hope and wonder, one I love With the sky so full above With the stars at touching height Come with me on Christmas night

Don't be afraid, Zechariah, to hold onto hope I know you're full of doubt right now and faded dreams But the prophet said the Child to come will make old things new He's the one true hope, the Everliving Word Zechariah, don't be afraid to carry on Don't be afraid, faithful Joseph, to stand up strong I know you feel betrayed right now and you fear the shame But the prophet said the Child to come will be sold out and scorned And he'll show forgiveness in the face of hate Faithful Joseph, don't be afraid, Open your heart Don't be afraid, good Mary, to walk this road I know you don't have the strength and you don't know how But the angel said the Child to come will work wonders with God's own hand Nothing is impossible, but you must believe Have courage Mary, don't be afraid, trust in me Don't be afraid, weary shepherds, to leave where you are I know you live lonely with the sun and under the stars But the angels sang of glory and a future and of peace Told you where it is and how to know Lonely shepherds, don't be afraid, Come to me

I have a little manger scene I unpack every year, I put it on the mantle way up high Safe from puppy dogs, little hands and wrestling adolescents, That might break a piece and make me want to cry I've had that little manger scene of china and of glaze, Since I was just a kid of 4 or 5 For years and years I looked at it believing every line, 'Cause it made the ancient story come alive It makes me sentimental, Though I know it didn't happen quite that way A little poetic license is OK. In my little manger scene Mary's got blue eyes, she's dressed in silk and satin like a queen Joseph's beard is neatly trimmed, just like his fingernails, And everybody's handsome and serene The swaddled baby's smiling up at three wisemen standing guard, So noble, not a sunburn, wart or frown They're just hanging with the shepherds who are kneeling squeaky clean On golden straw carpeting the ground It's all sleek and smooth and shining, Tho' I know it wasn't quite like that, don't you? The truth is not quite so pretty, but it's true I bet Mary, she was saddle sore and Joseph couldn't sleep The wisemen smelled like camels and the shepherds smelled like sheep And the stable smelled like cattle and the things that cattle do The baby woke up hungry every morning, half past two But our Mary, she's no chinadoll, she's a fighter through and through, Joseph knows he has a job to do There isn't any stopping them, there isn't any doubt, Together they will see this journey through. 'Cause she, she was a warrior, he was her strong right arm, In a battle that they couldn't comprehend That baby was a treasure who would ransom all the world, They'd carry him until he took his stand. Even though Mary, she was saddle sore and Joseph couldn't sleep The wisemen smelled like camels and the shepherds smelled like sheep And the stable smelled like cattle and the things that cattle do The baby woke up hungry every morning, half past two And the straw got into everything, your shoes and in your hair In the food and in the beds and on your nerves and everywhere So if in my little manger scene, they look a little glazed A bit of poetic license is OK. 'Cause I know it didn't happen quite that way.

Christmas play for the thousandth time A store bought doll lying in the straw Bed-sheeted shepherds walk down the main aisle Following a cardboard star But just when it seems we've seen it all Our callous hearts are caught by surprise We look all around for people have found The expectations in the childrens' eyes Another year, another Christmas Another shepherd watched his flocks by night It's good to be home Another family get together Shortbread, pudding, Christmas cake Sleigh rides, parties, playing carols Shopping done before it's too late The fireplace glow, the people we know And those who just each year are seen The babies, the old, the stories are told While snow reflects the lights of red and green Another year, another Christmas Another Hark the herald choir sings It's good to be home The stockings are hung, the 12 days are sung The Christmas cards were mailed last week The presents are wrapped, our energy's sapped The turkey's served we'll pray and then we'll eat Another year, another Christmas Another first Noel the angel said It's good to be home The preacher reads the words from the gospel And then Isaiah chapter nine The baby will become a king And reign until the end of time A manger, a desert, a temple, a cross Five thousand fed, calmed angry seas Wonderful, counselor, mighty God Eternal Father, Prince of Peace Until the day there is no Christmas Another Thou art worthy at His throne It's good to be home.

Here we go again, Around the sun One more turning, one more trip 'Cause we, that's you and me And our family tree Are sailing on this heavenly ship There's room for us, there's room for more There's room to grow and dance and roar Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise him all creatures here below Praise him above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost When you shed a tear, Sorrow or fear My hand will reach, take hold of yours When I miss a step, You see me slip You'll reach and pull me back on board And there's time for us, there's time for more There's time to grow and dance and roar 'Round and round but always straight ahead We're in this boat together like the Captain said Some days we will be standing sigh by sigh Some days we will be dancing hip to hip to hip to hip to hip Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise him all creatures here below Praise him above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost