Christmas is near (website only)
- In a world of lies and twisted tales,
how would your truth reach our ears?
Where bullies shout, and pride wins out,
could words of peace calm our fears?
Prophets whispering in the dark
waking hearts to seek
Your pre-existent spark. - For a weary world of pain and loss
how did You know it was time?
When powerful men held all the cards
how would you give them a sign?
Eastern eyes searching the skies
Journey west to seek
a King who will arise.
Chorus:
Will we ever see the light
from that monumental night?
Christmas is near. - Though the world was deaf and blind to hope,
You kept on watching in love.
Rebellion brewed; oppressors laughed
while angels gathered above.
Gabriel greets the favoured one:
"God is with you and
will bless you with His Son."
Chorus - So the child was born in Bethlehem –
you've heard the story before.
This spark of love invites us all:
come now to kneel and adore.
Hallelujah for the Son
gave his life to show
us what we could become.
Will we ever see the light
from that monumental night?
Will we ever see the light
from that monumental night?
Jesus is here.
Jesus is here.
Words and music © 2024 Stephen Newell and Naomi Sharp www.newpraisehymns.com
Download music with words (PDF)
More of Naomi and Stephen’s songs can be found on their website, New Praise Hymns.
Ideas for use
This is a song with which to travel through Advent and into Christmas Day itself. It asks: “Will we ever see the light from that monumental night?” and answers: “Jesus is here” – here and now.
The easily-learned tune offers lots of scope for different groups of instruments. Listen to one version with voices and instrumentalists on Naomi and Stephen’s website.
More information
Naomi and Stephen’s words emphasise the waiting and the hope that characterise the season of Advent. The Old Testament prophets, the magi and the angels speak of God’s presence even in times of hard questions and worry.
At the same time, the text presents images that connect with today’s world without ever over-egging the parallels: lies, bullying, abuse of power, and a longing for peace. It’s the mix of timeless spiritual themes with present‑day struggles that gives the Christmas narrative here a contemporary feel.
Naomi's background is in overseas mission. She served with OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship) in Cambodia from 1994 to 2004. As well as teaching music in a Cambodian school, she supported the development of music and worship in local churches, including writing Khmer worship songs for children. Currently, she is a lay worker in the Methodist Church, serving in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
The Revd Stephen Newell is a minister in the United Reformed Church. Currently, he is working as a ‘Companion’, serving on T4B (Together4Bristol) as it seeks to facilitate church unity, mission and prayer across the Bristol area. Brought up in URC manses, Stephen’s own ministry started in 1991, serving exclusively in the West Country around Bristol. Having written songs since his teens, in 2004 he wrote a musical focusing on the life of Jezebel (wife of Ahab, King of Israel, and the nemesis of the prophet Elijah). He writes:
“It was from working with other churches that I met Naomi. We were commissioned to write a hymn celebrating a fresh local covenant. We enjoyed this so much that we’ve continued writing, bringing different skills, but a matching passion for music and words, which we hope help churches to worship God, and also to think in fresh ways about God’s goodness and the glory of creation.”
Naomi and Stephen’s first collaboration, Together through the Father’s love, won the "New Words and New Music" category of the United Reformed Church’s 50th Anniversary Hymn Competition.