It’s that time of year: the weather has gotten colder, the lights have gone up, and the Christmas music has been playing for some time now. It’s a season of celebration, especially the celebration of the birth of Christ, our Savior come to earth. At this point, your children or students are antsy for the festivities to begin and to open their presents. But before that, take this time to remind them of the greatest gift we have ever received, the gift of God’s Son, born for us. Here are our top children’s hymns for Christmas from One and All Rejoice to encourage the children in your life in their worship of Jesus.
From Heaven Winging
The Christmas hymn “From Heaven Winging” (OAR 179) is a soft tune with four stanzas; it is a gentle and easy song for children to learn. The hymn begins with the angels rejoicing in Christ’s birth, a reminder of the long-expected birth of a Savior. The remaining stanzas share the story of why Jesus was born for us and reminds us of how He humbly came to earth as a baby. Each stanza repeats the phrase “Gloria! Gloria!”—words of celebration for the king.
God’s Son so lowly,
Infant so holy.
Gloria! Gloria!
Join we the chorus—
God’s love is for us.
Gloria! Gloria!
To Us a Child Is Born
One of the greatest points in the Christmas story is that Jesus Christ was born and came into this world the same way we did. A newer Christmas hymn, “To Us a Child Is Born” (OAR 181), shares the story of the shepherds coming to see the infant Christ after the angels sang to them that their Savior was born. Remind children that we can feel the same joy as the shepherds as they sing:
To us a Child is born,
To us a Son is given.
This Christmas we receive
The blessed gift of heaven.
Take this one step further and remind them that while we celebrate Christ’s birth every year at Christmas, we can also celebrate His coming each and every day!
In the Bleak Midwinter
Images of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in a stable on that wintery night are what children will have seen in Christmas images. This is the image that hymn text writer Christina Georgina Rossetti also shares in the hymn “In the Bleak Midwinter” (OAR 184). With this hymn, children can be reminded that even as the bleak midwinter continues on, with the ground as hard as stone and the bitter frost covering everything, there is still a warm hope in the birth of their Savior on Christmas.
Come Rejoicing, Praises Voicing
Rejoice with countless generations of Christians this Christmas with the hymn “Come Rejoicing, Praises Voicing” (OAR 186). As they sing about beautiful images of the angels rejoicing and the nations seeing their promised Savior’s birth, your students can be reminded of the traditions Christians have continued through the centuries of worship.
Unabated
For Him waited
Many generations;
Him now proudly
Angels loudly
Praise the Hope of nations.
Connect this rejoicing across generations by asking the children what traditions in church they do that their parents and grandparents have done before them. Maybe this is having a children’s Christmas service or decorating the sanctuary for the season. Remind them that this celebration is a joyous occasion for Christians in all times and all places.
Sing children’s Christmas hymns with young ones today by ordering copies of One and All Rejoice.
