God's Portal; 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' FREE MUSIC BACKING TRACK

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH
MUSIC FOR USE IN MASSES AND SERVICES OF WORSHIP.
Many priests, pastors, and worshipping communities find themselves unable to enjoy a sung Mass or worship service due to any or all of the following factors;
'God's Portal' has been founded, which will make free musical backing soundtracks available.

HOW TO USE;

1. Download the MP3 tracks [or tracks] you wish to use.
2. Each track is of music which is in the public domain, all being over a hundred years old.
3. Use the different musical backings in your church/worship services/ public event to enable congregation/ worshippers to enjoy singing with backing.
4. The usual format is to choose four songs for a Mass or worship Service.
5. These are used in the following way;

• First track or piece of music as an Entrance song [at the beginning of the Mass or Worship Service].
• Second track or piece of music at the Offertory [at a point in the Mass or Worship Service where prayer is offered, and congregants conduct the Offertory according to their usual protocol]
• Third track or piece of music after Communion.
• Fourth track or piece of music at the Recessional [end of the Mass or worship Service.]

Feel free to use these tracks for any worthy purpose.

Artist; Catherine Nicolette Whittle
[50 years experience in music, 40 years experience as church organist and musician.]
Media for this track; Church Organ and Concert Piano
Recording Artist; Jan Louw
Studio; A to Z Music 
Artwork Design; A W

Music Piece 7;
The lyrics to this beautiful Christmas Carol was written by Phillips Brooks [1835-1893], an Episcopal priest, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia.
He was inspired by his visit to Bethlehem in the Sanjak of Jerusalem in 1865.
Louis Redner, organist for the Church, composed the music.
There are various versions of this beloved song. Two are placed below for you to choose from.

'O Little Town of Bethlehem'
Version 1
Lyrics

1. 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.

2. O morning stars, together
    Proclaim the Holy Birth,
    And praises sing to God the King,
    And peace to men on earth;
    For Christ is born of Mary;
    And, gathered all above,
    While mortals sleep, the angels keep
    Their watch of wondering love.

3. How silently, how silently
    The wondrous gift is given!
    So God imparts to human hearts
    The blessings of His heaven.
    No ear may hear His coming,
    But in this world of sin,
    Where meek souls will receive him still,
    The dear Christ enters in.

4. Where children pure and happy
    Pray to the blesséd Child,
    Where misery cries out to Thee,
    Son of the Mother mild;
    Where charity stands watching
    And faith holds wide the door,
    And dark night waits, the glory breaks,
    And Christmas comes once more.

5. O Holy Child of Bethlehem,
    Descend to us we pray;
    Cast out our sin, and enter in,
    Be born in us today.
    We hear the Christmas angels
    The great glad tidings tell:
    O come to us, abide with us,
    Our Lord Emmanuel.


'O Little Town of Bethlehem'
Version 2
Lyrics

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.

 

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

Click into the following link for 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' music backing track
http://cross.tv/143091

With thanks to A W and J Louw