A song of celebration

A hymn for the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

Cave with icon — Cave beneath St Nicholas Church, Beit Jala, where Nicholas is believed to have stayed when in the Holy Land
Photo: SNS/Rosenthal

Saint Nicholas icon in St Nicholas Church, Beit Jala, Palestine
Photo: SNS/Rosenthal

Refrain
A song of celebration
Saint Nicholas we sing
Our hopes and aspirations
For peace with justice ring

Our Advent call awakens
Christ's people to prepare
To love and serve those needing
Our prayers and gifts of care

Refrain

To Palestine you traveled
Christ's footsteps there to trace
A cave your visit hallows
Your ways we now embrace

Refrain

To Bethlehem you bring us
We pray for those who dare
To share the Christmas story
The burdens that they bear

Refrain

O blessed saint, remind us,
To be like you, that we
May give and in that giving,
the Christ Child truly see.

Refrain

Text: James Rosenthal, 2009
Tune: St Theodulph (Valet will ich dir geben) 76 76 D

Musical Notation PDF

Written for the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem who make Saint Nicholas Day their special appeal for children in the Diocese of Jerusalem. Used by permission.