All My Heart This Night Rejoices 

All my heart this night rejoices,
As I hear, far and near, sweetest angel voices; ”
Christ is born,” their choirs are singing,
Till the air, everywhere, now their joy is ringing.

Hark! a voice from yonder manger,
Soft and sweet, doth entreat, “Flee from woe and danger;
Brethren, come; from all that grieves you You are freed;
all you need I will surely give you.”

Come, then, let us hasten yonder;
Here let all, great and small, kneel in awe and wonder,
Love Him Who with love is yearning;
Hail the star that from far bright with hope is burning.

By Paul Gerhardt

• What is the image in your mind as you read the words to this hymn? Is it a familiar hymn? Do you find yourself humming it?
• What familiar elements of the Christmas story are in this hymn? What elements are missing?
• In this hymn, what is the epiphany that the Christmas star produces?
• What new truth have you learned through the seasons of Advent and Christmas the shapes your own epiphany this year?