The 21st Day of Advent

Rejoice in Song: He Is Born (Il est né, le divin Enfant) with Pat-A-Pan (arr. Mark Hayes)

These French carols are sung in revelry at the birth of Christ Jesus, of whose birth had long been foretold. He is Born details the 4000 year wait for a Saviour that had been told long before, and the rejoicing that He had finally come, just as the prophets had told. The singer remarks on the humility of the King of Kings, that He would lower Himself to be born in a cattle stall, straw and hay as bedding, in order to redeem the people. The singer also remarks on the divinity of Christ and that He, though a little baby like you or I, is fully God with might and power, and that only He had the power to reconcile God and man. Pat-A-Pan picks up this theme when we sing, “God and man today become closely joined as flute and drum.” Christ came as the Mediator who restored union between God and man by taking on our sin and serving as the sacrificial Lamb. Pat-A-Pan is the sound to mimic the drum of the singer in celebration!

He is born, the Heav’nly Child,
Oboes play; set bagpipes sounding.
He is born, the Heav’nly Child,
Let all sing His nativity.

‘Tis four thousand years and more,
Prophets have foretold His coming.
‘Tis four thousand years and more,
Have we waited this happy hour.

Ah, how lovely, Ah, how fair,
What perfection is His graces.
Ah, how lovely, Ah, how fair,
Child divine, so gentle there.

In a stable lodged is He,
Straw is all He has for cradle.
In a stable lodged is He,
Oh how great humility!

Jesus Lord, O King with power,
Though a little babe You come here.
Jesus Lord, O King with power,
Rule o’er us from this glad hour.

Willie, get your little drum,
Robin, bring your flute and come.
Aren’t they fun to play upon?
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan;
When you play your fife and drum,
How can anyone be glum?

When the men of olden days
Gave the King of Kings their praise,
They had pipes to play upon.
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan;
And also the drums they’d play,
Full of joy, on Christmas Day.

God and man today become
Closely joined as flute and drum.
Let the joyous tune play on!
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan;
As the instruments you play,
We will sing, this Christmas Day.

The 21st Day of Advent

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