Silent Night

This is the Wednesday, December 3, assignment for the 7th-8th grade English class.

1. Read Luke 3.

2. Read the lyrics to "Silent Night" by Josef Mohr.

Silent Night

by Josef Mohr

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

~*~*~

3. Watch this YouTube video of the song Silent Night, accompanied by scenes from the Jesus movie. If you can't watch it, find a version on CD and listen to it.

4. Copy one verse of the hymn in your best handwriting and draw at least one picture to go with it.

5. Read "The Story of Silent Night, Stille Nacht" by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson. Please note that not all historians agree on the account of how it happened.

6. Watch the German version, Stille Nacht. From a Wikipedia article: It is believed that the carol has been translated into over 300 languages and dialects around the world, and it is one of the most popular carols of all time. It is sometimes sung without musical accompaniment. Although written by Catholics, it is given special significance in Lutheranism. The song was sung simultaneously in English and German by troops during the Christmas truce of 1914, as it was one of the few carols that soldiers on both sides of the front line knew.