Heart and Voice » Kevin Hartnett

O Holy Night – new lyrics

kenboer — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:39:53 +0000

I’ve always loved O Holy Night as a song, but have always wished that the lyrics talked a little more about what Christ came to do. We decided to use it in our Christmas Production at Covenant Life this year, and so we asked Kevin Hartnett, our resident poet, if he would write a new verse or two. Here’s what he wrote. Below I’ve posted the original verse 1, and then Kevin’s additional two verses. You could use just one of them if you wanted, depending on your arrangement (that’s what we’re doing this year – having a soloist sing the original verse 1, and then Kevin’s next verse).

Verse One (Placide Cappeau, trans. John S. Dwight)

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Verse Two (Kevin Hartnett)

Humbly He lay, Creator come as creature,
Born on the floor of a hay-scattered stall.
True Son of God, yet bearing human feature,
He entered earth to reverse Adam’s fall.
In towering grace, He laid aside His glory,
And in our place, was sacrificed for sin.
Fall on your knees! O hear the gospel story!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Verse Three (Kevin Hartnett)

Come then to Him Who lies within the manger,
With joyful shepherds, proclaim Him as Lord.
Let not the Promised Son remain a stranger;
In reverent worship, make Christ your Adored.
Eternal life is theirs who will receive Him;
With grace and peace, their lives He will adorn.
Fall on your knees! Receive the Gift of heaven!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

This song is also posted at a permanent page.

He Rose to Set Us Free

kenboer — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 19:22:57 +0000

I’ve posted a new song by Kevin Hartnett, my wife, and myself titled “He Rose to Set Us Free.” It’s a children’s song for Easter.

Audio and sheet music download

VERSE 1
Let joyful songs of thankfulness
Fill every heart today!
For God, in love, devised a plan
To take our sins away!

CHORUS
He rose up from the grave that day,
He rose for all to see!
He died to take the sinner’s place,
He rose to set us free!

VERSE 2
To pay for sins, men had to die,
Our sinless God had said,
But he sent down His perfect Son
To take our place instead.

VERSE 3
It was a most amazing plan
That Christ should die for me;
And to declare God’s work complete
He rose to life again!

Are You Looking for the Savior

kenboer — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 21:53:56 +0000

I’ve posted a new song, titled “Are You Looking for the Savior,” which I wrote with my friend Kevin Hartnett. It tells the story of Simeon and Anna, and asks whether we are looking for the Savior with eager expectation, as they were.

You can get the audio and sheet music at the song’s permanent page.

VERSE 1
Old Simeon would wake each day
To think about the Lord.
He knew that God had promised that
Their land would be restored.
The Spirit also made a wondrous guarantee:
That he would surely live until
The promised Christ he’d see.

CHORUS
Are you looking for the Savior?
Do you know Him – the Promised One?
All of hist’ry points to Jesus
He is God’s redeeming Son

VERSE 2
Sweet Anna worshipped God as well
Within the temple there.
She sought to know His heart and mind
By fasting and through prayer.
And when she saw the child
Began to sing His praise,
For God provided Jesus to
Redeem the nation’s ways.

VERSE 3
Let every heart now look to God
To see what He has done:
His promise of a Savior was
Fulfilled by His own Son.
The name of Jesus Christ
Be joy to every ear!
The sinless Son laid down His life
So sinners can draw near.

ALTERNATE VERSE 3 (FOR ADVENT)
Do you then think of God like this
Or long to know His will?
Do you commit to fast and pray
His purpose to fulfill?
O let us sing His praise
And speak of what He’s done -
To save a world enslaved in sin
God gave His precious Son