A day, a day of glory!
A day that ends our woe!
A day that tells of triumph
Against our vanquished foe!
Yield, summer’s brightest sunrise,
To this December morn:
Lift up your gates, ye princes,
And let the Child be born!

With Gloria in excelsis
Archangels tell their mirth:
With Kyrie elëyson
Men answer upon earth:
And angels swell the triumph,
And mortals raise the horn,
Lift up your gates, ye princes,
And let the Child be born.

He comes, His throne the manger;
He comes, His shrine the stall;
The ox and ass His courtiers,
Who made and governs all:
The “House of Bread” His birth-place,
The Prince of wine and corn:
Lift up your gates, ye princes,
And let the Child be born.

Then bar the gates, that henceforth
None thus may passage win,
Because the Prince of Israel
Alone hath entered in:
The earth, the sky, the ocean
His glorious way adorn:
Lift up your gates, ye princes,
And let the Child be born.

Fling wide the door, unbar the gate;
The King of glory comes in state;
The Lord of lords and King of kings,
The Savior of the world who brings
His great salvation to the earth.
So raise a shout of holy mirth
And praise our God and Lord,
Creator, Spirit Word.

He is the rock of our belief,
The heart of mercy’s gentle self.
His kingly crown is holiness;
His scepter is his loveliness;
He brings our sorrows to an end.
Now gladly praise our king and friend,
And worship him with song,
For saving us from wrong.

O, happy towns and blessed lands
That live by their true king’s commands,
And blessed be the hearts he rules,
The humble places where he dwells.
He is the rightful Son of bliss
Who fills our lives and makes us his,
Creator of the world,
Our only strength for good.

Come, Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ;
Our hearts are open wide in trust.
Oh, show us now your lovely grace,
Upon our sorrows shine your face,
And let your Holy Spirit guide
Our journey in your grace so wide.
We praise your holy name,
From age to age the same.

Lift up your heads, eternal gates!
Unfold, to entertain
The King of glory; see!
He comes, with His celestial train.

Who is this King of glory—who?
The Lord, for strength renowned;
In battle mighty; o’er His foes
Eternal Victor crowned.

Lift up your heads, ye gates! unfold
In state to entertain
The King of glory; see! He comes
With all His shining train.

Who is this King of glory—who?
The Lord of hosts renowned:
Of glory He alone is King,
Who is with glory crowned.

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates,
Behold the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near,
The Savior of the world is here;
Life and salvation doth He bring,
Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing:
We praise Thee, Father, now!
Creator, wise art Thou!

The Lord is just, a Helper tried,
Mercy is ever at His side,
His kingly crown is holiness,
His scepter, pity in distress,
The end of all our woe He brings;
Wherefore the earth is glad and sings:
We praise Thee, Savior, now,
Mighty in deed art Thou!

Oh blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the Ruler is confessed!
Oh happy hearts and happy homes
To whom this King in triumph comes!
The cloudless Sun of joy He is,
Who bringeth pure delight and bliss:
O Comforter divine,
What boundless grace is Thine!

Fling wide the portals of your heart,
Make it a temple set apart
From earthly use for Heaven’s employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy;
So shall your Sovereign enter in,
And new and nobler life begin:
To Thee, O God, be praise,
For word and deed and grace!

Redeemer, come! I open wide
My heart to Thee—here, Lord, abide!
Let me Thy inner presence feel,
Thy grace and love in me reveal,
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on
Until our glorious goal is won!
Eternal praise and fame
We offer to Thy Name.

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
Behold, the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near;
The Savior of the world is here!

A Helper just He comes to thee,
His chariot is humility,
His kingly crown is holiness,
His scepter, pity in distress.

O blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the Ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
To whom this King in triumph comes!

Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple, set apart
From earthly use for heaven’s employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.

Redeemer, come, with us abide;
Our hearts to Thee we open wide;
Let us Thy inner presence feel;
Thy grace and love in us reveal.

Thy Holy Spirit lead us on
Until our glorious goal is won;
Eternal praise, eternal fame
Be offered, Savior, to Thy Name!

Ye gates, lift your heads, the glad summons obey,
Ye doors everlasting, wide open the way.
The King of all glory high honors await,
The King of all glory shall enter in state.

What King of all glory is this that ye sing?
The Lord, strong and mighty, the conquering King.
Ye gates, lift your heads, and His summons obey,
Ye doors everlasting, wide open the way.

The King of all glory high honors await,
The King of all glory shall enter in state.
What King of all glory is this that ye sing?
Jehovah of Hosts, He of glory is King.

Tell it to every kindred and nation,
Tell it far and near;
Earth’s darkest night will fade with the dawning,
Jesus will soon appear.

Refrain

Hail Him the King of glory,
Once the Lamb for sinners slain;
Tell, tell the wondrous story,
“Jesus comes to reign.”

Nations again in strife and commotion,
Warnings by the way;
Signs in the heavens, unerring omens,
Herald the glorious day.

Refrain

Children of God look up with rejoicing;
Shout and sing His praise;
Blessèd are they who, waiting and watching,
Look for the dawning rays.

Refrain

Jesus, King of glory, throned above the sky,
Jesus, tender Savior, hear Thy children cry.
Pardon our transgressions, cleanse from our sin,
By Thy Spirit help us heav’nly life to win.

Refrain

Jesus, King of glory, throned above the sky,
Jesus, tender Savior, hear Thy children cry.

Help us ever steadfast in the faith to be:
In Thy Church’s conflicts fighting valiantly.
Loving Savior, strengthen these weak hearts of ours,
Through Thy cross to conquer crafty evil powers.

Refrain

When the shadows lengthen, show us, Lord, Thy way;
Through the darkness lead us to the heavenly day;
When our course is finished, ended all the strife,
Grant us, with the faithful, palms and crowns of life.

Refrain

Ye gates, lift up your heads on high;
Ye doors that last for aye,
Be lifted up, that so the King
Of glory enter may.
But who of glory is the King?
The mighty Lord is this;
E’en that same Lord that great in might
And strong in battle is—
E’en that same Lord that great in might
And strong in battle is.

Ye gates, lift up your heads on high;
Ye doors that last for aye,
Be lifted up, that so the King
Of glory enter may.
But who is He that is the King
Of glory? Who is this?
The Lord of hosts, and none but He
The King of Glory is—
The Lord of hosts, and none but He
The King of Glory is.

King of glory, King of peace,
I will love Thee;
And that love may never cease,
I will move Thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
Thou hast heard me;
Thou didst note my working breast,
Thou hast spared me.

Wherefore with my utmost art
I will sing Thee,
And the cream of all my heart
I will bring Thee.
Though my sins against me cried,
Thou alone didst clear me;
And alone, when they replied,
Thou didst hear me.

Seven whole days, not one in seven,
I will praise Thee;
In my heart, though not in Heaven,
I can raise Thee.
Small it is, in this poor sort
To enroll Thee:
E’en eternity’s too short
To extol Thee.

The King of Glory standeth beside the heart of sin;
His mighty voice commandeth the raging waves within;
The floods of deepest anguish roll backward at His will,
As o’er the storm ariseth His mandate, “Peace, be still.”

At times, with sudden glory, He speaks, and all is done;
Without one stroke of battle the victory is won,
While we, with joy beholding, can scarce believe it true
That e’en our kingly Jesus can form such hearts anew.

O Christ, Thy love is mighty; long suffering is Thy grace;
And glorious is the splendor that beameth from Thy face.
Our hearts upleap in gladness when we behold that love,
As we go singing onward, to dwell with Thee above.

The Lord and King of all things
But yesterday was born;
And Stephen’s glorious offering
His birth-tide shall adorn:
No pearls of orient splendor,
No jewels can he show;
But with his own true heart’s blood
His shining vestments glow.

Come, ye that love the martyrs,
And pluck the flowers of song,
And weave them in a garland,
For this our suppliant throng;
And cry, “O thou that shinest
In grace’s brightest ray,
Christ’s valiant protomartyr,
For peace and favor pray!”

Thou first of all confessors,
Of all the deacons crown,
Of every following athlete,
The glory and renown:
Make supplication, standing
Before Christ’s royal throne,
That He would give the kingdom,
And for our sins atone!