Christmas tunes

After reading The Idea Girl's blog about favourite Christmas songs I decided to post mine. This season - and I think every season - it's been O Holy Night. But a new one this year is O Little Town of Bethlehem. Specifically the first and third verses:

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

I think the lyrics combined with the tune help me imagine and ponder the ancient and complex plan that was fulfilled in the birth of Christ over 2000 years ago. Amazing.