St. Nicholas
 St Nicholas Center Collection |
A follower of Jesus, by persecution torn,
Was Nicholas the Bishop, to noble parents born.
Forsaking wealth and power, he gave to all in need,
The bread to fill their bodies, God's love their souls to feed.
He taught the Gospel simply so all could understand,
Through his kind ministrations faith flourished in the land.
And when three guiltless victims would perish by the sword
He freed them in a moment, obedient to his Lord.
Three girls too poor to marry he gave three bags of gold,
Their weddings were a blessing from Nicholas, we're told.
His robe a bishop's crimson, our Advent patron lives,
In life of all who follow, in heart of each who gives.
Text: Luci Shaw, 30 November 2003
Tune: EWING 76 76 D
Musical notation PDF
or Traditional English Carol, The Holly & the Ivy
Musical notation PDF here and here
Copyright © 2003 Luci Shaw, used by permission of the author
Written for the choir at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Bellingham, Washington, St. Nicholas was first sung in Advent 2003
Mp3 files courtesy of Jennifer Wolfe and the Hope College Music Department.