Advent 4 – A hymn – ‘Like many children’

Advent 4 A hymn - Like many children - God with no throne 
(inspired by Matthew 1: 18-25)...away in a manger?

Like many children, 
mother unmarried, 
born into hardship, 
yet not alone
Jesus, was valued, 
Mary and Joseph, 
nursing the Godhead, 
God with no throne.

Others would name him 
king of a kingdom, 
yet God incarnate 
lay in the straw, 
God in a manger? 
Fodder for cattle?
Parents uncertain, 
no sign of awe?

Soon they would struggle, 
hounded to exile, 
night brought no comfort, 
only one star; 
moment of wonder, 
quietly, no thunder, 
angels would whisper, 
heard from afar.

Andrew Pratt 11/12/2022
Words © 2022 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Metre: 5.5.5.4D
Tune: BUNESSAN (Morning has broken)