1 Bethlehem, the House of Bread,
there upon a hillside, just ahead,
who comes now to be enrolled?
Joseph and Mary, tired and cold.
Bethlehem, the House of Bread.
2 Bethlehem, the House of Bread,
“Pity my poor Mary,” Joseph said.
“See her weary, so forlorn.
Her time will come before the morn.”
Bethlehem, the House of Bread.
3 Bethlehem, the House of Bread,
who has room for her to lay her head?
Soon, she’ll bear her little son.
He is the Christ, God’s Promised One.
Bethlehem, the House of Bread.
4 Bethlehem, the House of Bread,
Finding no room there, they go instead
to a cave so warm and dry,
with all the creatures standing by.
Bethlehem, the House of Bread.
5 Bethlehem, the House of Bread,
Come and greet the child in manger bed.
Know that in this holy birth,
the Bread of Life has come to earth!
Bethlehem, the House of Bread.
Source: Faith That Lets Us Sing: fifty new hymns and short worship songs #1
Mary Nelson Keithahn, a retired United Church of Christ ordained pastor and church educator, has been a curriculum writer-editor, journalist, and lyricist for musical dramas and anthems. She still works out of her home in Rapid City, South Dakota, as a free-lance writer. In 2016 she published Elfie: Adventures on the Midwest Frontier, a chapter book for children, and Embracing the Light: Reflectioins on God’s Holy Word, a collection of meditations for individual or small group use. Augsburg Fortress also published Sing the Stories of God’s NEW People, the third in a trilogy of Bible story-based collections of songs for young children, written with her longtime colleague, John D. Horman. The two have written over a hundred hymns togethe… Go to person page >
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