Angels! Angels!! Angels!!!

From the earthy maid Margaret singing higly pigly, we soar to the heavenly realms and such glorious words and music are given to us in three very familiar and joyous Christmas carols.

Angels from the Realms of Glory has four stanzas, each addressed to a different group of worshippers - vs. 1 Angels, vs.2 Shepherds, vs. 3 Sages and vs. 4 Saints, with the following chorus: "Come and worship, Come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King."
The author has an interesting background:
"Other than Issac Watts and Charles Wesley, probably no writer has contributed more to the development of Christian hymns than James Mortgomery, a London journalist who championed the cause of the poor and downtrodden, as well as foreign missions. It is fitting that the music was composed by a blind organist, Henry Smart, the designer and builder of some of England's finest organs and one of the outstanding musicians of his day." from Great Songs of Faith (Tyndale).
I found the 4th vs. very exciting as, at the moment, I'm reading through The Revelation:
"Saints, before the altar bending, Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending, In His temple shall appear:
Come and worship, Come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King."
Sing along here: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/f/afrglory.htm

A traditional French carol, Angels We Have Heard on High, has one of the best loved and oft sung refrains in the carol library. The words of the refrain "Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo" are translated: "Glory to God in the highest, Glory to God in the highest." Choirs, particularly the sopranos, really take a deep breath and sing the refrain all in one long phrase.
Luke 2:17-20 records that the shepherds, after seeing the babe in the manger, were amazed (I'll bet they were!!) and returned "glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen." We, too, should continue the Christmas season by sharing this Good News and go to our workplaces, homes, schools "glorifying and praising God" for all we have heard and seen.
This carol has 4 beautiful and simple verses and all are followed by that thrilling refrain:http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/n/angelswe.htm

Hark! the Herald Angles Sing is usually included in most programs of carol singing and most folks can sing, at least, the first verse and the refrain. And what is it that those herald angels are singing? "Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" And then we are instructed to "With the angelic host proclaim, 'Christ is born in Bethlehem!' "
The second verse has an interesting description of the newborn King - "Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity". And then in vs 3 "the heaven-born Prince of Peace" and "the Sun of Righteousness" and ends with this tremendous phrase:
"Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, 'Glory to the newborn King!' "

And who wrote this Christmas hymn which is packed full of theology? Charles Wesley, the hymn writing brother of John Wesley, the great Methodist preacher. Charles (mentioned above) Wesley is responsible for over 6,000 hymn texts. This link will have 2 more, rarely sung, verses also packed with glorying names for the newborn King:
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/h/a/hhangels.htm

I hope you can take the time to scroll down each of the above sites because you will see a beautiful piece of artwork, depicting the Christmas carol on canvas. The woodcut for the Wesley hymn is charming. And then, go ahead and join the heavenly choirs, raising your voice to the heavens in Praise and Joy.
"Worship Christ, the newborn King!" "Gloria in excelsis Deo!" "Glory to the newborn King!"