Here's a great old Christmas hymn that may not be as familiar as many of the other carols. Both words and music were written in 1892 by Rev. J. M. Driver, a Methodist Episcopal minister in Illinois. This is the only hymn he is known to have written.
This hymn, though it begins with Christ's birth, actually takes us all the way from "the dawn of creation" through the angels announcement of His birth, to Calvary, and finally to the time ahead where we'll meet "those who've gone on before us." Wonderful story indeed!
This one was recorded at a nursing home where some of us were participating in a Christmas program.