

Christmas at Westminster: An Evening of Readings and Carols
Special | 55m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
An Evening of Readings and Carols feature traditional standards and new holiday music.
An Evening of Readings and Carols is one of the oldest musical celebrations of Christmas in the United States and boasts more than 450 students from Westminster's renowned choirs and orchestra. Featuring familiar carols and beloved choral works, a diverse array of holiday standards and new premieres, are explored through words and music in this annual tradition.
Christmas at Westminster: An Evening of Readings and Carols is presented by your local public television station.
Distributed nationally by American Public Television

Christmas at Westminster: An Evening of Readings and Carols
Special | 55m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
An Evening of Readings and Carols is one of the oldest musical celebrations of Christmas in the United States and boasts more than 450 students from Westminster's renowned choirs and orchestra. Featuring familiar carols and beloved choral works, a diverse array of holiday standards and new premieres, are explored through words and music in this annual tradition.
How to Watch Christmas at Westminster: An Evening of Readings and Carols
Christmas at Westminster: An Evening of Readings and Carols is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
(triumphant music) ♪ Nowell, Nowell ♪ Nowell, Nowell ♪ Born is the king of Israel ♪ I wonder (pensive music) ♪ As I wander out under the sky ♪ ♪ How Jesus the savior did come for to die ♪ ♪ For poor ord█nry people like you and like I ♪ ♪ I wonder as I wander ♪ Out under the sky ♪ Wandering wandering ♪ Wandering wandering ♪ When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall ♪ ♪ Wandering ♪ With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all ♪ ♪ But high from God's heaven, a star's light did fall ♪ ♪ And the promise of the angels ♪ ♪ It did then recall ♪ Lullaby, lullaby ♪ If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing ♪ ♪ A star in the sky or a bird on the wing ♪ ♪ Or all of God's angels in Heaven to sing ♪ ♪ He surely could have had it ♪ ‘Cause He was the king ♪ Wandering wandering ♪ Wandering wandering ♪ I wonder as I wander out under the sky ♪ ♪ How Jesus the Savior did come for to die ♪ ♪ For poor ord█nry people like you and like I ♪ ♪ I wonder as I wander ♪ Out under the sky - Light a candle in darkness and pierce the gloom.
Light a candle in shadows and love fills the room.
Light a candle amid sadness and stars come to birth.
Light a candle on Christmas and Heaven draws near to earth.
(dramatic music) ♪ Oh come, Oh come, Emmanuel ♪ And ransom captive Israel ♪ That mourns in lonely exile here ♪ ♪ Until the Son of God appear ♪ Rejoice, rejoice ♪ Emmanuel Shall come to thee ♪ Oh Israel ♪ Oh come, thou Rod of Jesse ♪ Free thine own from Satan's tyranny ♪ ♪ From depths of Hell thy people save ♪ ♪ And give them victory over the grave ♪ ♪ Rejoice, rejoice ♪ Rejoice, rejoice ♪ Emmanuel Shall come to thee ♪ Rejoice, rejoice ♪ Oh Israel ♪ Oh come, thou dayspring, come and cheer ♪ ♪ Our spirits by thine advent here ♪ ♪ Disperse the gloomy clouds of night ♪ ♪ And death's dark shadows put to flight ♪ ♪ Rejoice, rejoice ♪ Rejoice, rejoice ♪ Emmanuel Shall come to thee ♪ Rejoice ♪ Oh Israel ♪ Oh come thou Key of David, come ♪ ♪ And open wide our heavenly home ♪ ♪ Make safe the way that leads on high ♪ ♪ And close the path to misery ♪ Rejoice, rejoice ♪ Emmanuel shall come to thee ♪ Oh Israel ♪ Oh come, Oh come, thou Lord of Might ♪ ♪ Who to thy tribes on Sinai's height ♪ ♪ In ancient times did give the law ♪ ♪ In cloud and majesty and awe ♪ Rejoice, rejoice ♪ Emmanuel Shall come to thee ♪ Oh Israel (upbeat music) (singers singing in a foreign language) (singers singing in a foreign language continues) (singers singing in a foreign language continues) (singers singing in a foreign language continues) (singers singing in a foreign language continues) (singers singing in a foreign language continues) (singers singing in a foreign language continues) (upbeat music continues) (buoyant music) (buoyant music continues) (buoyant music continues) (dramatic music) (singers singing in a foreign language) (singers singing in a foreign language continues) (singers singing in a foreign language continues) (singers singing in a foreign language continues) (singers singing in a foreign language continues) (singers singing in a foreign language continues) (singers singing in a foreign language continues) - They told me that when Jesus was born, a star appeared in the Heavens, above the place where the young child lay.
When I was very young and had no trouble believing wondrous things, I believed in the star.
It was a wonderful miracle, part of a long ago story, foretelling an uncommon life.
They told me a super nova appeared in the Heavens in its dying burst of fire.
When I was older and believed in science and reason, I believed the story of the star, explained.
But I was unwilling to give up the star, fitting symbol for the birth of one, whose uncommon life has been long remembered.
The star, explained, became the star, understood, for Jesus, for Buddha, for Zarathustra.
Why not a star?
Some bright star shines somewhere in the Heavens each time a child is born.
Who knows what it may foretell?
Who knows what uncommon life may again unfold, if we but give it a chance?
(triumphant music) ♪ Oh come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant ♪ ♪ Oh Come ye, Oh come ye to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels ♪ ♪ Oh, come let us adore Him ♪ Oh, come let us adore Him ♪ Oh, come let us adore Him ♪ Christ the Lord ♪ God of God, light of light ♪ Lo!
He abhors not the Virgin's womb ♪ ♪ Very God, Begotten, not created ♪ ♪ Oh come, let us adore Him ♪ Oh come, let us adore Him ♪ Oh come let us adore Him ♪ Christ the Lord ♪ Sing, choirs of angels ♪ Sing in exultation ♪ Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above ♪ ♪ Glory to God ♪ In the highest ♪ Oh come, let us adore Him ♪ Oh come, let us adore Him ♪ Oh come, let us adore Him ♪ Christ the Lord (triumphant music continues) ♪ Yea, Lord, we greet thee ♪ Born this happy morning ♪ Jesu, to thee be glory given ♪ ♪ Word of the Father ♪ Now in flesh appearing ♪ Oh come, let us adore Him ♪ Oh come, let us adore Him ♪ Oh come, let us adore Him ♪ Christ the Lord (gentle music) ♪ In the bleak midwinter ♪ Frosty wind made moan ♪ Earth stood hard as iron ♪ Water like a stone ♪ Snow had fallen ♪ Snow on snow ♪ Snow on snow ♪ In the bleak midwinter ♪ Midwinter time ♪ Long, long time ago ♪ Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain ♪ ♪ Heaven and earth shall flee away ♪ ♪ When He comes to reign ♪ In the bleak midwinter ♪ A stable place sufficed ♪ The Lord almighty, Jesus Christ ♪ ♪ What can I give Him ♪ Poor as I am ♪ If I were a shepherd ♪ I would bring a lamb ♪ If I were a wise man ♪ I would do my part ♪ Yet what I can I give ♪ What can I give to Him ♪ Give my heart (euphoric music) ♪ Hark!
The herald angels sing ♪ Glory to the new-born King ♪ Peace on earth and mercy mild ♪ ♪ God and sinners reconciled ♪ Joyful, all ye nations, rise ♪ Join the triumph of the skies ♪ ♪ With angelic host proclaim ♪ Christ is born in Bethlehem ♪ Hark!
The herald angels sing ♪ Glory to the new-born King ♪ Christ, by highest heaven adored ♪ ♪ Christ, the everlasting Lord ♪ Late in time, behold Him come ♪ ♪ Offspring of a virgin's womb ♪ Veiled in flesh the Godhead see ♪ ♪ Hail, the incarnate deity ♪ Pleased as man with man to dwell ♪ ♪ Jesus, our Emmanuel ♪ Hark!
The herald angels sing ♪ Glory to the newborn King ♪ Hail, the heaven-born Prince of peace ♪ ♪ Hail the Son of righteousness ♪ ♪ Light and life to all He brings ♪ ♪ Risen with healing in His wings ♪ ♪ Mild He lays His glory by ♪ 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 (upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (dramatic music) (dramatic music continues) ♪ The first Nowell ♪ The angels did say ♪ Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay ♪ ♪ In fields where they lay ♪ Keeping their sheep ♪ On a cold winter's night ♪ That was so deep ♪ Nowell, Nowell ♪ Nowell, Nowell ♪ Born is the king of Israel ♪ They looked up ♪ And saw a star ♪ Shining in the east ♪ Beyond them far ♪ And to the earth ♪ It gave great light ♪ And so it continued ♪ Both day and night ♪ Nowell, Nowell ♪ Nowell, Nowell ♪ Born is the king of Israel (dramatic music continues) ♪ Then let us all ♪ With one accord ♪ Sing praises to our heavenly Lord ♪ ♪ That hath made Heaven ♪ And earth of nought ♪ And with His blood ♪ Mankind hath bought ♪ Nowell, Nowell ♪ Nowell, Nowell ♪ Born is the king of Israel - When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock, the work of Christmas begins.
To find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among the people, to make music in the heart.
(quiet music) ♪ 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 ♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪ 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 ♪ Christ, the Savior's born ♪ Christ, the Savior ♪ Christ, the Savior's born ♪ Christ, the Savior is born (relaxing music continues) ♪ Jesus, Lord, at thy birth ♪ Jesus, Lord, at thy ♪ Jesus, at thy birth ♪ Jesus, Lord, at thy ♪ Jesus, at thy birth ♪ Jesus Lord ♪ I want you to sleep ♪ Sleep ♪ I want you to sleep ♪ Sleep ♪ I want you to sleep ♪ Sleep ♪ I'm so glad you came ♪ So, I need you to sleep ♪ Sleep ♪ I need you to sleep ♪ Sleep ♪ I need you to sleep ♪ Sleep ♪ I'm so glad you came ♪ So, Westminster needs you to heal ♪ ♪ Nation needs you to heal ♪ The world needs you to heal ♪ I'm so glad you came ♪ So, we need you to heal ♪ We need you to heal ♪ We need you to heal ♪ I'm so glad you came ♪ So, I need your love ♪ Love ♪ We need your love ♪ Love ♪ We need your love ♪ Love ♪ I'm so glad you came ♪ So, I need your love ♪ Love ♪ We need your love ♪ Love ♪ I need your love ♪ Love ♪ I'm so glad you came ♪ So ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪ Oh, oh ♪ Peace ♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪ Heavenly ♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪ Oh ♪ Peace ♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪ Oh ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ Peace (bell chiming) (bell chiming continues) (bells ringing) (buoyant music) ♪ Joy to the world ♪ the Lord is come ♪ Let earth receive her King ♪ Let every heart prepare Him room ♪ ♪ And heaven and nature sing ♪ And heaven and nature sing ♪ And heaven, and heaven and nature sing ♪ ♪ Joy to the world, the savior reigns ♪ ♪ Let men their songs employ ♪ While fields and floods ♪ Rocks, hills, and plains ♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪ Repeat, repeat the sounding joy ♪ ♪ He rules the world with truth and grace ♪ ♪ And makes the nations prove ♪ The glories of his righteousness ♪ ♪ And wonders of his love ♪ And wonders of his love ♪ And wonders, and wonders of his love ♪ (audience applauding) (organ music)
Christmas at Westminster: An Evening of Readings and Carols is presented by your local public television station.
Distributed nationally by American Public Television