Joy at Christmas

APPLAUSE AND SINGING

Hi, we are Keith and Kristyn Getty,

and welcome to Joy at Irish Christmas.

Although we're from Northern Ireland,

over the last five years, we've had the privilege of performing

our Christmas concert to audiences across our adopted home of America.

And we'd love to share this with you now, which is

kind of appropriate, because the first songs we wrote for this

show, we wrote ten years ago, here on the North Antrim coast.

The concert you are about to see was recorded in Tennessee with

a fabulous band of musicians from America and from Ireland.

So, we hope you enjoy it. And feel free to sing along!

And we'd like to wish you a very happy Christmas.

MUSIC: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

# God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay

# Remember Christ our saviour was born on Christmas Day

# God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay

# Remember Christ our saviour was born on Christmas Day

# To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray

# O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy

# Tidings of comfort and joy

# In Bethlehem in Israel, this blessed baby was born

# And laid within a manger upon this blessed morn

# The which, his mother Mary did nothing take in scorn

# O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy

# Tidings of comfort and joy

# Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

# From God our Heavenly Father, a blessed angel came

# And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same

# How that in Bethlehem was born the son of God by name

# O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy

# Tidings of comfort and joy

# The shepherds at those tidings rejoiced much in mind

# And left their flocks a-feeding in tempest, storm and wind

# And went to Bethlehem straightway, the son of God to find

# O tidings of comfort and joy

# O tidings of comfort and joy

# Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place

# And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace

# This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface

# Tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy

# Tidings of comfort and joy

# This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface

# O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy

# Tidings of comfort and joy

# Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

# Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

# Yeah, yeah, yeah. #

PIPES PLAY ALONE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy,

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph,

a descendant of David.

The virgin's name was Mary.

The angel went to her and said,

"Greetings, you who are highly favoured. The Lord is with you.

"You will conceive and give birth to a son and you are to call him Jesus.

"He will be great and will be called the son of the most high."

# Ah-ah-ah-ah

# Ah-ah-ah-ah

# Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

# Ah-ah-ah

# Ah-ah-ah-ah

# Ah-ah-ah-ah

# Ah-ah-ah-ah

# Ah-ah-ah

# Ah

# My soul will magnify the Lord

# I rejoice in God my saviour

# In the wonder of His favour

# For He has done great things for me

# He was mindful of His servant

# Every age shall call me blessed

# The hope of Abraham come

# In the giving of a son

# For He who promised is mighty

# In remembering His mercy

# My soul will magnify the Lord

# For His grace to those who fear Him

# Through every generation

# The proud He scatters to the wind

# As the ruler's strength is broken

# And the rich are left with nothing

# The humble lifted high

# And the hungry satisfied

# Our portion and our treasure

# Our hope and help forever

# My soul will magnify the Lord

# I rejoice in God my saviour

# In the wonder of His favour. #

APPLAUSE

It's an incredible thing, isn't it, how carols telling the story,

joining us together in so many ways? Throughout history they have told

this wonderful Christmas story.

In the old world, before the Bible was even in English,

it was the way the story was told - door-to-door in the streets,

carollers going out and singing.

And we stand on the tall shoulders, as writers and as singers,

of those many wonderful composers and poets who have penned

beautiful carols that have been handed down to us.

We're going to invite you to stand and let's sing first Joy Has Dawned.

APPLAUSE

Last time we were here we'd just had Eliza, our little daughter Eliza,

and we've come back with another little one, Charlotte.

And then we found out a few weeks before we went on the road

for this tour that we were pregnant with number three.

APPLAUSE

Which was a bit of a shock. I am really starting to show a bit,

so it was a relief when I could tell people because I got bigger very,

very fast. But this is a prayer for our kids and by extension

maybe they're your prayers, as well.

# Before you close your eyes to sleep

# I have a promise still to keep

# As I hold you in my arms

# I pray your little frame grows strong

# And that faith takes hold while you are young

# This is my prayer for you

# Hold my hand

# I'll teach you the way to go

# Through the joys, through the tears

# The journey of these years

# May you trust Him till the end

# May you trust Him in the end

# This world is not as it should be

# But the Saviour opens eyes to see

# All that's beautiful and true

# Oh, may His light fill all you are

# And the jewel of wisdom crown your heart

# This is my prayer for you

# Hold my hand

# I'll teach you the way to go

# Through the joys, through the tears

# The journey of these years

# He is with us till the end

# He is faithful till the end

# Ah

# Ah

# Ah

# Ah

# You'll travel where my arms won't reach

# As the road will rise to lead your feet

# On a journey of your own

# May my mistakes not hinder you

# But His grace remain and guide you through

# This will be my prayer for you

# Take His hand

# And go where He calls you to

# And whatever comes, seek Him

# With all of your heart

# This will be my prayer for you

# Mmm-mm-mmm

# Father, hear my ceaseless prayer

# Oh, keep them in your care. #

APPLAUSE

# Hark! Can you hear the angels?

# Hark! Can you hear the angels?

# Hark! Can you hear the angels?

# Hark! Can you hear the angels? #

APPLAUSE

MUSIC: The Little Drummer Boy

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

This is a song that Keith and I wrote many years ago.

We brought back for this tour.

It's called Wonder and one of the things

we love about being parents is getting to see everything again

for the first time through the eyes of your kids.

That sense of discovery and wonder at new things, like snow falling.

But I don't know what happens as we get older,

that sense of wonder begins to dim a little.

And yet I think it is important that we keep our hearts soft

to the echoes of God's glory all around us.

In creation, in each other

and in this story of Christmas that we have been singing about tonight.

To keep us thankful, to keep cynicism away

and to draw our hearts into worship of the one whose name is wonderful.

# I've seen days

# Melt into nights

# In circles of light

# I've watched a spider spin a star

# Between the window box flowers

# I've heard you laugh

# And cry

# In a simple sigh

# And a story

# From within

# Don't let me lose

# My wonder

# Don't let me lose

# My wonder

# I saw her broken

# Dreams inside

# But helping others fly

# I saw his eyes without a doubt

# They web of lies faded out

# And though her calling roared

# Such graciousness poured

# From the vision of her soul

# Don't let me lose

# My wonder

# Don't let me lose

# My wonder

# A baby cried

# Through the dark

# Beneath a jewelled spark

# I knew Your voice up on the hill

# And heard my lostness still

# I found my home in the light

# Where wrong was made right

# And You rose as the morning star

# Don't let me lose my wonder

# Don't let me lose my wonder

# Don't let me lose my wonder

# Don't let me lose my wonder. #

APPLAUSE

Was that great?

# Mmm-mmm-mmm

# Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm

# Mmm-mmm-mmm

# Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm

# Mmm-mmm-mmm

# Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm

# Mmm-mmm-mmm

# Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm

# Hear the cry from Bethlehem

# O children come

# Son of God now born to man

# O children come

# Bring your troubles Bring your fears

# Bring the needs that draw you near

# Find the hope of all the years

# O children come

# Peace on Earth Goodwill to man

# O children come

# Righteous rule that will not end

# O children come

# Lay down all your bitterness

# Turn from sins, toil and distress

# Find His grace at perfect rest

# O children come

# Where the Father's grace has walked

# O children come

# Where you see the hurt and lost

# O children come

# Show the mercy shown to you

# Gifts of kindness to renew

# Love from heart sincere and true

# O children come

# O children come

# O children come. #

# Come ye sinners poor and needy

# Weak and wounded sick and sore

# Jesus ready stands to save you

# Full of pity, love and power... #

Woo!

# Come ye thirsty Come and welcome

# God's free bounty glorify

# True belief and true repentance

# Every grace that brings you nigh

# Come ye weary, heavy-laden

# Lost and ruined by the fall

# If you tarry till you're better

# You will never come at all... #

I will rise.

# I will rise and go to Jesus

# He'll embrace me in His arms

# In the arms of my dear Saviour

# Oh, there are 10,000 charms

# Oh, there are 10,000 charms. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Won't you stand with us as we sing

of Christ who became a helpless bairn.

Whoo!

ALL CLAP ALONG

CHEERING

We have just one more song for you before you go.

Irish culture is famous for its blessings,

some of which should never be repeated in a microphone.

But there are some that might be worth listening to

and you might be able to take with you - we hope this is one.

For many, going to Christmas time, coming into this time,

you're excited, looking forward to it.

But for many others, they approach it with a heavy heart.

The most wonderful thing about this story we've been singing about

tonight is that those parts which are most important

reach to each of us, wherever we are.

And we hope and pray that this message of hope and peace

and grace might ring true in your hearts this evening.

# Now may the fragrance of his peace

# Soar through your heart like the dove released

# Hide in His wings Oh, weary, distant soul

# He'll guide your spirit home

# And may His love poured from on high

# Flow to the depths of your deepest sigh

# Oh, come and drink from the only living stream

# And on His shoulder lean

# And may the hope that will not deceive

# Through every pain bring eternal ease

# There is no night that can steal the promises

# His coming brings to us... #

PIANO SOLO

# So may His joy rush over you

# Delight in the path He has called you to

# May all your steps walk in Heaven's endless light

# Beyond this Christmas night. #

APPLAUSE

Thank you so much for joining with us tonight.

Merry Christmas!

CHEERING

DRUM PLAYS

ALL CLAP ALONG

FIDDLES PLAY

# Go, tell it on the mountain

# Over the hills and everywhere

# Go, tell it on the mountain

# That Jesus Christ is born

# While shepherds kept their watching

# Over silent flocks by night

# Behold throughout the heavens

# There shone a holy light

# Go, tell it on the mountain

# Over the hills and everywhere

# Go, tell it on the mountain

# That Jesus Christ is born

# The shepherds feared and trembled

# When lo, above the Earth

# Rang out the angel chorus

# That hailed our Saviour's birth

# Go, tell it on the mountain

# Over the hills and everywhere

# Go, tell it on the mountain

# That Jesus Christ is born

# Down in a lowly manger

# Our humble Christ was born

# And God send us salvation

# That blessed Christmas morn

# Go, tell it on the mountain

# Over the hills and everywhere

# Go, tell it on the mountain

# That Jesus Christ is born... #

Whoo!

WHOOPING

# Go, tell it on the mountain

# Over the hills and everywhere

# Go, tell it on the mountain

# That Jesus Christ

# Jesus Christ is Jesus Christ is born! #

-Whoo!

-Yeah.

MUSIC WINDS DOWN

CHEERING