Original Hymns from All-Creatures.org

They Gathered at the Manger
By Tams Nicholson, July 2026

[Verse 1]
In the stillness of the stable,
Underneath the watching sky,
Mary held the Holy Infant,
Joseph kneeling by her side.
All the creatures gathered near them,
Quiet feet on straw and ground;
With a wonder deep and gentle,
They beheld the Love they found.

[Verse 2]
Ox and lamb stood hushed before Him,
Doves rested in the beams;
Every breath became an offering,
Every gaze was filled with peace.
No one drove their lives away there,
No one forced them from His side;
For the Child had come among them,
And in His love they abide.

[Verse 3]
Soon the shepherds entered softly,
Bringing awe and humble praise;
Later, the wise men came seeking,
Led by the star above the babe
Yet the animals remained there,
Welcomed with the human throng;
All creation gathered near Him,
Each life held where they belong.

[Verse 4]
Creatures glowed with holy gladness,
And their gentle spirits knew:
They were written in His purpose,
They were held within it too.
Not forgotten, not rejected,
Not beneath the Father’s care;
They bore witness to God’s mercy,
Reverently gathered there.

[Verse 5]
The Child born for redemption
Peace with heaven, earth, and life;
Born to heal our cruel divisions,
Born to end the ways of strife.
At the manger none were lesser,
None pushed away from His light;
God’s beloved lives surrounded
Jesus on that holy night.

[Verse 6]
May we kneel beside the manger,
May our hearts at last perceive:
Every life the Lord has fashioned
Has a place within His peace.
As the Holy Family welcomed
Those who came from near and far,
May we welcome all God’s creatures,
Loved and held just as they are.

“They Gathered at the Manger”
Lyrics: Tams Nicholson.
Music/Vocals: Generated with Suno AI under the direction of Tams Nicholson
Production/Concept/Editing/Finalized: Tams Nicholson.
© 2026 Tams Nicholson for original lyrics. AI-generated musical/vocal elements created using Suno.

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Posted on All-Creatures.org: July 13, 2026
Return to: Tams Nicholson
Return to: The Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman Family Foundation