EPIPHANY

The lyrics of the following traditional hymn beautifully summarize the events and meaning of the  feast of the Epiphany as the story of the first Christmas continues to unfold.

As With Gladness Men of Old

As with gladness men of old

Did the guiding star behold;

As with joy they hailed its light,

Leading onward, beaming bright;

So, most gracious Lord, may we

Ever more your splendor see.

As with joyful step they sped

To that lowly manger bed,

There to bend the knee before

Christ, whom heaven and earth adore,

So may we with hurried pace

Ever seek your throne of grace.

As they offered gifts most rare

At that manger crude and bare;

So may we this holy day,

Drawn to you without delay,

All our costliest treasures bring

Christ, to you, our heavenly king.

Christ, Redeemer, with us stay,

Help us live your holy way;

And when earthly things are past,

Bring our ransomed souls at last

Where they need no star to guide,

Where no clouds your glory hide.

In the heavenly city bright

None shall need created light;

You, its light, its joy, its crown,

You its sun which goes not down;

There forever may we sing

Alleluias to our king.

Text: William C. Dix, 1837 – 1898; alt.

Tune: DIX, 77 77 77; arr. From Conrad Kocher, 1786 – 1872, by William H. Monk, 1823 – 1889