Last year, we finished this hymn just in time for a Christmas Concert. It was originally written in the 700's AD by St. John of Damascus and was translated into English by John Brownlie. I adapted the translation a little and then wrote the music (recording included). The lyrics below read like a hymnbook...

[Verses]
. A--------------- E
1 Bethlehem ---rejoices!
2 Heaven can't contain Him,
3 Now the light arises

. Dadd9---------------A
1 Hark! the voices- -clear,
2 Nor the bounds of earth,
3 In the darkened ---skies,

. E---------------------- f#
1 Singing in the ------starlight
2 Yet, oh glorious ---mystery!
3 Now the proud are humbled

. Dadd9------------------E
1 Close and drawing-- near.
2 The Virgin gives Him birth.
3 The lowly made to-- rise.

[Chorus]
. Aadd9------ E--A
Unto God be glory,
. Dadd9------------E
Peace to men is given
. Aadd9------- Dadd9
At the will of He who reigns
. A----------------------E---Aadd9
From the heights of heaven

Dadd9, E

(C) Thomas Pryde

I realized after doing the recording that I substituted "victory" for "mystery" in the second verse...mystery is better, so I guess I will have to redo the recording sometime...