Tune VU 69 (Away in the Manger)

A baby called Jesus was born long ago;
Delight of his parents was boundless, we know;
The birth of a baby can bring special joy;
The stars dance with gladness for each girl and boy.

The stable, the manger, the cattle nearby
Are parts of the picture we see, if we try;
And Jesus is smiling; we look at him there;
In praise we all offer a thanksgiving prayer.

Yes. Jesus is with me. He promised to stay
With all this world’s children to love us each day;
He always is loving and his tender care
Will follow us closely and always be there.

*Original lyrics for ‘Away in the manger’ are by an author unknown

I support very much the call to ‘create new memories’ for Christmas and I believe the place to begin is with children. However, one of the best known children’s Christmas carols is ‘Away in the Manger’, and this much loved carol has many wrong messages imbedded in the words. The second verse of the traditional words speak of Jesus ‘looking down from the sky’ and the last verse has Jesus up in heaven and the singer requesting him to ‘fit us for heaven to live with you there’. I believe my third verse takes the dualism and the ‘away’ Jesus out and replaces it with the Biblical teaching of very last verse of Matthew – ‘And I will be with you always, to the end of the age’. This surely is the Gospel.