I. THE BASIC OUTLINE OF THE CHRISTMAS STORY GUITAR CANTATA
ACT 1:
Joy To The World (Instrumental)
ACT 2:
John 1:1- 2
The Word Became Flesh (Vocal)
What Child Is This (Instrumental)
ACT 3:
Luke 1:26-27
Rejoice Highly Favored One (Vocal)
God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen (Instrumental)
ACT 4:
Matthew 1:18
Joseph’s Dream (Vocal)
O Come O Come Emmanuel (Instrumental)
ACT 5:
Luke 2:1-3
Child Of Bethlehem (Vocal)
O Little Town Of Bethlehem (Instrumental)
ACT 6:
Luke 2: 8 - 9
Tidings Of Great Joy (Vocal)
The Herald Angels Sing / Angels We Have Heard On High (Instrumentals)
ACT 7:
Luke 2:15 - 16
The Shepherd Song (Vocal)
Away In A Manger / The First Noel (Instrumentals)
ACT 8:
Matthew 2:1 -2
The Ballad Of The Wise Men (Vocal)
We Three Kings! (Instrumental)
ACT 9:
And I Wonder (Vocal)
ACT 10:
O Holy Night / Silent Night (Vocal and Instrumental)
II. THE LYRICS AND SCRIPTURES
ALL SCRIPTURE QUOTES ARE FROM THE NEW KING JAMES BIBLE
ACT 1: Joy To The World
ACT 2: John 1:1- 2 The Word Became Flesh / What Child Is This
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
THE WORD BECAME FLESH -
Composer Keith Andrew Grim - copyright 1984 and 2010
Verse 1:
You were with God, In the beginning
You have become His Anointed One!
The Word was with God and became flesh
The time of salvation has now begun!
You are the light that shines in the darkness
The light that gives life came to the world
Those who choose to follow Your glory,
Are born of God and now we are free!
CHORUS:
We are not born naturally,
but sown as a righteous seed!
Jesus came to live with us,
Perfect in power and deed, if we believe,
We will receive His mercy!
VERSE 2:
You have come to make the Father known,
Through Your love the truth has now been shown
Lift up our voice with the angels sing
Alleluia to the new born King!
Alleluia, Alleluia
Glory to God in the highest!
Born that we may eternally live
In the fullness of grace new life You give!
REPEAT CHORUS!
ACT 3: Luke 1:26-27 / Rejoice Highly Favored One / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
Rejoice Highly Favored One
Composer Keith Andrew Grim - Copyright August 17, 2011
1. The Angel Gabriel was sent by God above,
To a city called Nazareth in Galilee
To a virgin promised to a man named Joseph
Of David’s house, her name is Mary
Chorus 1: Rejoice highly favored one
Rejoice highly favored one
The Lord is with you!
2. But Mary was troubled by the angel’s words
And she wondered what type of greeting this was
Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God
You shall bring forth a Son, His name is Jesus
REPEAT CHORUS 1
3. Jesus will be great called the Son of the Highest
And of His kingdom, there will be no end
Over the house of Jacob, the throne of His father David
Jesus will reign God will give them to Him
Repeat Chorus 1
4. Mary asked the angel, how can all this be
He said the Holy Spirit will come upon you
The Holy One will be called the Son Of God
For the power of the highest will over shadow you
Repeat Chorus 1
5. In her older years, your cousin Elizabeth
Conceived a son to be the Lord’s messenger (his name is John!)
With God Nothing Is Impossible
Behold the maidservant of the Holy Lord
Let it be done to me according to your word
With God Nothing Is Impossible
Chorus 2: Rejoice highly favored one
Rejoice highly favored one
The Lord is with you!
With God Nothing Is Impossible
ACT 4: Matthew 1:18 / Joseph’s Dream / O Come O Come Emmanuel
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
Joseph’s Dream
Composer Keith Andrew Grim - copyright August 18, 2011
1. Joseph son of David, do not be afraid
To take Mary as your wife.
The Child inside of her, born of the Holy Spirit
Is a Holy life.
You shall call His Name Jesus,
He will save His people from their sins, Amen!
2. Joseph son of David, all of this was done
To fulfill the prophecy
The virgin with a Child, she will bear a Son,
To reign in all glory
They shall call His name Immanuel,
The Holy God is now with us, Amen!
3. Joseph son of David, aroused from his sleep,
Obeyed the Holy Lord
He took Mary as his wife, and on a blessed night
The Son of God was born!
You shall call His Name Jesus,
He will save His people from their sins,
They shall call His name Immanuel,
The Holy God is now with us, Amen!
ACT 5: Luke 2:1-2 Child Of Bethlehem / O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Luke 2:1 - 2
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
Child Of Bethlehem
Composer Keith Andrew Grim - copyright August 21, 2011
1. Joseph journeyed with his wife Mary
From Nazareth down to Bethlehem
Caesar Augustus declared a census
Everyone returned to their own land
2. Mary delivered her first born Son
While in the little town of Bethlehem
And then she laid Him in a manger
There was no room for them in the inn
CHORUS: Child of Bethlehem, Savior of the world
Laid in a manger on this Holy night!
Child of Bethlehem, Savior of the world
Bring us goodness and light!
ACT 6: Luke 2: 8-9 Tidings Of Great Joy / Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Angels We Have Heard On High
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Tidings Of Great Joy!
Composer Keith Andrew Grim - copyright August 22, 2011
1. Do not be afraid, I bring tidings of great joy!
Born to you today is a blessed baby boy!
In the city of David, A Savior is born!
In the city of David, Christ the Lord!
Do not be afraid I bring tidings of great joy!
2. This will be the sign, you will find a baby
Wrapped in swaddling clothes, in a manger He will be!
Glory to God in the highest, the multitude of angels said,
And on the earth, peace and goodwill to men!
ACT 7: Luke 2:15 - 16 The Shepherd Song / Away In A Manger / The First Noel
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
The Shepherd Song
Composer - Keith Andrew Grim - copyright August 28, 2011
1. The shepherds went to find the little baby Boy,
Lying in the manger, they were filled with joy
After they saw the little baby Boy,
they told everyone they were filled with joy!
2. The people, marveled, at the words they said,
About the Savior in the manger bed!
Mary pondered these things in her heart,
and the shepherds were the first to start,
To praise the new born King!
ACT 8: Matthew 2:1 -2 / The Ballad Of The Wise Men / We Three Kings!
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
The Ballad of the Wise Men
Composer Keith Andrew Grim copyright September 6, 2011
1. Traveling from the East in their caravan
All the wise men came to Jerusalem
Where is He who is born, the King of the Jews,
We saw His bright star, now we spread the news,
We have come to worship Him!
2. King Herod was troubled, by the words they said,
And so was everyone in Jerusalem.
He called the scribes and priests, and he asked of them
Where the Christ is born, they said in Bethlehem.
CH: Bethlehem, O Bethlehem, is the town the prophets said, Where the Christ will be born!
Bethlehem, O Bethlehem, A shepherd will arise,
He will be Christ the Lord!
3. Herod met the wise men, very secretly,
to determine, when they first did see
The bright star shining in their own homeland,
And then he sent them to Bethlehem
Search carefully for the Child!
4. When you find the young Child, bring back word to me,
That I may worship, in His majesty!
The wise men left the king, they followed the star,
They saw in the East, they traveled so far!
CH: Bethlehem, O Bethlehem, is the town the prophets said,
Where the Christ will be born!
Bethlehem, O Bethlehem, A shepherd will arise,
He will be Christ the Lord!
5. The star led the wise men, ‘til it came and stood,
Where the young Child was, they knew this was good!
When they came in the house, where the young Child lived,
They gave Him treasure, and they worshiped Him
CHORUS 2: Rejoice, O Rejoice
We bring frankincense, myrrh, and gold!
Rejoice, O Rejoice
Let the prophecy unfold
Rejoice, O Rejoice,
we worship the king of Kings
Rejoice, O Rejoice
A brand new song we sing
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!
6. The wise men were warned, In a divine dream
Don’t return to Herod, so they left for their country, by another way!
ACT 9: And I Wonder
And I Wonder -
Composer Keith Andrew Grim - copyright December 9, 2009
Bridge: And I Wonder how much joy was there, on that first Christmas day,
And I Wonder how bright was the star, that lead the Wise Men on their way,
And I Wonder how the shepherds felt, when the angels all appeared,
And I Wonder if Mary and Joseph knew, our redemption now is here.
ACT 10: O Holy Night - 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 Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior 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 "