She lit a candle in a downtown cathedral
Quietly confessing, counting all her blessings
She looked as if she had nowhere to go
I could see her weeping
Hands together hoping you would hear

This is the time of year
We hold our families near
But God let us be a friend to the hurting

Oh Emmanuel, God with us
Spirit revealed in us
That we may be your hope to the world
Oh Emmanuel, God with us
With a light to break the darkness
That we may show your hope to the world
Emmanuel, God with us

I moved in closer just so I could see her face
Maybe she was a mother
Someone's only daughter
Her silver hair shimmered like the snow
Christmas bells were ringing
Now beside her kneeling I asked her name

(And she said)

This was the time of year
I had my family near
But they've all gone and I have been so lonely

Oh Emmanuel, God with us
Spirit revealed in us
That we may be your hope to the world
Oh Emmanuel, God with us
With a light to break the darkness
That we may show your hope to the world
Emmanuel, God with us

So with my family that Christmas day
A girl of sixty years would laugh and play
And as we watched her dance our eyes were full of tears