1. The northern world grows dark and cold, the southern bright and warm as we prepare to celebrate our God in human form. The word that powers the universe was born a baby here in human sight, one holy night, about this time of year. 2. The eastern world grows dark with hate, the western world with rage, and battle-fires and funeral pyres illuminate the stage where leaders stalk in power and pride while people shrink in fear. What is it worth, a saviour's birth about this time of year? 3. We know it was for peace he came when angels filled the skies; can we sing still about goodwill with wars before our eyes? We need forgiveness, mercy, grace, and love both strong and clear, as he would show so long ago, about this time of year. 4. No fire from heaven struck Herod down, or Judas in his day; no angels killed to save the Christ when Pilate held his sway. His victory came through love alone and not from sword or spear, and we are his, whose feast it is about this time of year. 5. Though north and south and east and west The world may call us fools, we follow him whose life and death proclaim that his love rules. It's hard to fight with love alone for all that we hold dear. God says: "That's true: I was there too about this time of year."