RFA presents the annual Walk to Bethlehem Holiday Event on December 12th, featuring caroling, holiday presentations and a traditional holiday pageant. This event is free; FMI call 207-864-5000. RFA Staff Photo

The Rangeley Friends of the Arts will present the 41st Annual “Walk to Bethlehem” on Sunday, December 12th.  Join friends and neighbors caroling through the snowy streets followed by a family-oriented Christmas presentation of music and drama highlighting the talent of local young people. The event ends with a traditional nativity pageant where a local family with a newborn will portray the holy family.

The “Walk” will begin at the Rangeley Inn at 5:30 PM with the reading of Caesar Augustus’ decree that all people must return to the city of their birth. The community is invited join in as costumed nativity figures lead the procession of carolers through the town. Instead of distributing printed carol books, all of the song lyrics will be available online at rangeleyarts.org/caroling-lyrics. Participants can print it out in advance or use their phone/device during the walk. (Or bring this page from the Rangeley Highlander)

The Walkers reach the Church of the Good Shepherd at approximately 6 PM where the holiday program takes place. At the conclusion of the event, everyone is invited to share in the holiday spirit at the reception held downstairs in the Undercroft. Current covid protocols will be recommended for attendees.

JOY TO THE WORLD
Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart
Prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods,
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, Repeat, the sounding joy.

HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING
Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Refrain:
Glo-ori-a, In excelsis de-o. Glo-ori-a, In excelsis de-o
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song? (Refrain)
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, The newborn King (Refrain)

OH, COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
Oh, come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
Refrain:
Oh, come, let us adore Him, oh, come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation,
Sing all ye citizens of heav’n above
Glory to God in the Highest
(Refrain)

WE THREE KINGS
We three kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
Chorus: O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
Born a king on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign. Repeat Chorus

O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep,
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and, gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth.
And praises sing to God the King.
And peace to men on earth

AWAY IN A MANGER
Away in a manger, No crib for His bed

The little Lord Jesus, Lay down His sweet head
The stars in the sky, Look down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus, Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing, The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus, No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, Look down from the sky
And stay by my side, ‘Til morning is nigh

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, And love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children, In Thy tender care
And take us to Heaven, To live with Thee there

THE FIRST NOEL
The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!

And by the light of that same star
Three Wise Men came from country far,
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!

WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
What Child is this, Who laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
CHORUS: This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.
CHORUS-

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come Peasant, King to own Him
The King of Kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
CHORUS-

DECK THE HALLS
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
‘Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol
Fa la la la la, la la la la

See the blazing yule before us
Fa la la la …
Strike the harp and join the chorus…
Follow me in merry measure…
While I tell of Yuletide treasure…

Fast away, the old year passes…
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses…
Sing we joyous all together…
Heedless of the wind and weather…

GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray
CHORUS: Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
CHORUS-

From God our Heavenly Father,
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
CHORUS-

O CHRISTMAS TREE
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
Your boughs so green in summertime
Stay bravely green in wintertime
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches!

O Giving Tree, O Giving Tree,
You fill our hearts with wonder.
O Giving Tree, O Giving Tree,
You fill our hearts with wonder.
On Christmas day you stand so tall,
Affording joy to one and all.
O Giving Tree, O Giving Tree,
You fill our hearts with wonder.

SILENT NIGHT
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, All is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so Tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia!
Christ the Saviour is born! Christ the Saviour is born!

Silent night, Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord at thy birth; Jesus Lord at thy birth.

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