Morepork chants Noel, Noel,
Watching as the shadows fade,
Telling with a solemn voice:
Christ is in a manger laid.
from The Birdsong Carol, by Jocelyn Marshall.
Jocelyn , a New Zealand composer, has lived in Hamilton much of her life. Her hymns are written to provide contemporary language and theology in the Aotearoa context.
The Bird Song Carol celebrates our beautiful birds, and can be sung to many familiar tunes, like Loving Shepherd of thy Sheep, Ode to Joy, and Let us with a Gladsome Mind.
Ringers up the bell tower climb,
Sound a merry Christmas peal.
Tell the world that Christ is born,
Sins to pardon, hurts to heal.
Bellbird on the highest branch
Of the crimson rata tree,
Chime the news throughout the bush:
Christ has come to set us free.
Tui like a priest arrayed,
Throat adorned with feathers white,
On the kowhai perch and sing:
Christ brings daylight after night.
Morepork chants Noel, Noel,
Watching as the shadows fade,
Telling with a solemn voice:
Christ is in a manger laid.
Kea from the mountain heights,
Feathers glowing green and red,
Swoops and calls with cheerful cry:
Christ is born as prophets said.
People, all your voices raise
On this joyful summer day;
God in Christ is born once more,
Carols sing and music play.
Words printed with Jocelyn’s permission.
