Come and Join the Celebration (See the shepherds hurry down to Bethlehem)

This is a children's song for Christmas Day, which is is loosely based on Luke 2:15-18.

It was written by English Anglican medical secretary, organist and hymn-writer Valerie Collison (b 1933), and first published in Carols for Children (1972).

It is now included in various mainstream hymnals including:

Church Hymnary (4th edition) published in 2005 by Canterbury Press, Norwich UK,
Catholic Hymns Old and New (2008) by Kevin Mayhew Ltd

and these are the best sources of sheet music for the song.

The song is now widely used in primary schools, and also at Christmas Day church-services for families with young children.

With meter 11 14 and refrain, the tune it is set to, also by Collison, is simply called CELEBRATION.

Image adapt. from Adoración de los pastores / The Adoration of the Shepherds
- Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682) (ref)

Downloads

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Choral arrangement (SATB) Piano. Novello and Co Ltd

Examples

Children's choir with band (professional recording), with on-screen lyrics,

Rock-style soloist, professional recording

Children's group doing actions, piano backing

And another one, with enthusiastic clapping

Instrumental version - played on the euphonium

Backing track (lyrics on screen, keyboards accompaniment, no vocals)

Lyrics

The words are copyright - a copy can be found here compliments of the BBC.

The song starts with a chorus, which is repeated after each of the three verses. A rough outline is:

Chorus:
Come and join the celebration,
It’s a very special day.
Come and share our jubilation;
There’s a new King born today.

1. See the shepherds
... At the Son of God who lay before them.

2. Wise men journey,
... Bringing precious gifts from lands afar.

3. God is with us,
... All the bells on earth are pealing.