Just drew up the Lessons and Carols bulletin

for December 14, and was surprised and delighted to put in the piece that the school children are singing (K-8):


Refrain:
Gaudete! gaudete!
Christus est natus ex Maria virgine,
gaudete!

1. Tempus adest gratiae, hoc quod optabamus;
carmina laetitiae devote reddamus. Refrain

2. Deus homo factus est, natura mirante;
mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante. Refrain

3. Ezecaelis orta clausa per transistur;
unde lux est orta, salus invenitur. Refrain

4. Ergo nostra contio psallat iam in lustro;
Benedicat Domino; salus regi nostro. Refrain

This lovely Latin anthem appeared in the Piae Cantiones compiled by Lutheran student Theodosius Petri in 1582.  And now 429 years later Lutheran school children will sing it's beautiful words and powerful melody here in the American midwest.  I love it!

Here is a professional group rendering this lovely anthem:



You can view the original music here and here.