John Wright Follette
(1884-1966)
O Holy night, borne to us on the wings of time,
From out the dark recesses of eternity,
God’s hour, the promise of eternal life and light,
A gleaming jewel rests within thy dark embrace.
O holy hour, the miracle of God is thine,
He clothes Himself with human form and comes to us.
The bud of promise which Jehovah God once spoke
Breaks into bloom and sheds its fragrance o’er the earth.
Tonight the Rose of Sharon rests upon the breast
Of Mary as she holds the little Christ Child close.
God’s hour of promise has not passed but still is ours.
The night is dark, deep shadows clothe the hearts of men,
But still within the manger rude, the glory shines.
O hasten with me, then, and gather at His feet.
This is the hour for which our hungry hearts were made,
We need its light, its mystery and fragrance sweet.
This is God’s hour, a jewel gleaming in the dark,
God bless the Christmas night! God bless the Christmas hour!