Hymns | Christmas | Epiphany | 77 77 77

Frost on sedge and silver reed,
Ice on Shannon's winding flow,
Over bog and sleeping field
Heaven cast a radiant glow;
Star of promise, star of grace,
Led the seekers on their way.

2
Watching where the heavens burned,
Reading signs the night displayed,
Wise men followed through the dark,
Trusting light that never swayed;
Through the silence, clear and still,
God was drawing them to Him.

3
First they came to Herod's hall,
Stone and cedar, torch and throne;
"Where is he whose star we saw?
Where the King to heaven known?"
Troubled hearts in splendour dwelt,
While the ancient scriptures spoke.

4
Leaving courts of fear behind,
Following where the bright star shone,
They pursued the holy fire,
Certain they were not alone;
For the Light that lit the sky
Moved before them as a guide.

5
There they found the Holy Child,
Mary near and Joseph close;
Lowly was the place they saw,
Yet God's glory filled repose;
Kneeling down, they brought their gold,
Myrrh and incense sweet and rare.

6
Still that star lights Barrow banks,
Shines on Clonmacnoise by night,
Touches holy well and cross,
Bathes old eskers in its light;
Through bare hawthorn, ash and oak,
Heaven's gentle fire awakes.

7
Hear the curlew's lonely cry,
See the swans on winter streams,
Watch the robin in the thorn,
Bright beneath the starlight gleam;
All creation seems to sing
Of the coming of the King.

8
Christ of river, bog and hill,
Christ of blackthorn bloom and rain,
Walk beside us through the dark,
Crossing joy and grief and pain;
Till with saints of every land
We shall reach the Father's hand.

Hymn information

First line: Frost on sedge and silver reed
Text: Michael McFarland Campbell
Metre: 77 77 77
Tune: Dix
Theme: Christmas and Epiphany
NDH-0381

© Michael McFarland Campbell. 2026.
Permission granted for local church or parish use with attribution. Not for commercial reproduction.