1. HAPPEN WINTER MOON FULL-MOON"cha". (2h)#ALL BIRD ESCAPE SMALL-WING FINISH. INDIAN THEIR-lf GOD MIGHTY #DO-DO? COMMAND ANGEL SCADS-OF@rt,hi SING INSTEAD. THEIR-angels' LIGHT BEAT-ctr,hi STAR DOT-SKY. ARCHER THEY-lf STOP. PUZZLED alt.HEAR.

Refrain: JESUS YOUR"all" KING FINISH BORN. JESUS YOUR"all" KING FINISH BORN. alt.GLORY ADVANCED.

2. TREE~STRIP-BARK BUILD INDIAN HOME. INSIDE SMALL BABY SLEEP. RABBIT SKIN, HIS-ctr BODY SHINY WRAPPED-AROUND. ARCHER BRAVE THEY-lf ASSEMBLE-TO-ctr. HAPPEN? ANGEL SING MORE-AND-MORE NOISY. Refrain

3. MOON FULL-MOON"cha" BEAUTIFUL, #YES, BUT INNOCENT BABY THERE-ctr BEAT-moon. HIS-ctr HEAD HAVE HALO halo-SHINY. INDIAN CHIEF THEY-rt WORSHIP HIM-ctr. (<) FOX, (>) BEAVER FUR alt.GIFT-TO-ctr. Refrain

4. FOREST FREE, (2h)YOU CHILDREN. GREAT SPIRIT MIGHTY HE-God YOUR HEAVENLY-FATHER. (<) HEAVEN, (>) EARTH, CONNECT IN THIS-ctr CHILD. COME-ON APPROACH, KNEEL TO BOY SHINY. HE-ctr BRING (2h)YOU BEAUTY, PEACE, HAPPINESS. Refrain

Notes: FULL-MOON"cha" - (2h)[bC], POs ><, FOs up, are held to show the moon is full.

(2h)#ALL - (2h)[A], POs ><, FOs up, move away while opening to (2h)[L].

SMALL-WING - (2h)[1] cross fingers at knuckles, bend fingers slowly, and the hands ascend to show a bird flying away.

MIGHTY - (2h)[S], POs > back of signer, FOs up, are held at NDS and fists descend, then repeat at DS.

SCADS-OF@rt,hi - (2h)[5:], POs down, FOs away, move forward at a high level to show many angels.

BEAT-ctr,hi - (2h)[S], DPO > NDS, NDPO down, FOs away, are held with DH on top of NDH and DH strikes NDH at wrist while index and middle fingers shoot out suddenly at the stars.

DOT-SKY - (2h)[5:], POs and FOs diagonally up, hands jab upwards as if dotting the sky with stars.

ARCHER - Mime drawing bow + AGENT.

alt.GLORY - (2h)[5], POs ><, FOs away from signer, DH which is on top wiggles fingers while ascending. This is repeated in a symmetric pattern. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Glory.

ADVANCED - (2h)[B^], POs ><, FOs up, move upwards arcing towards the signer. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Exalted.

TREE~STRIP-BARK - Sign TREE and hold arm in place; NDH [5:] closes repeatedly to an [S] as it strips the bark off the side of the arm.

SHINY - (2h)[open 8], POs down, FOs away, twist rapidly at wrists while rising. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Shine.

WRAPPED-AROUND - NDH [S], PO > signer, FO > DS, is held like baby Jesus and DH [O^] moves in a spiral > NDS above as if wrapping the baby in swaddling clothes.

ASSEMBLE-TO-ctr - (2h)[S], POs away, FOs up, move > center while opening to (2h)[5wg].

MORE-AND-MORE - MORE is signed twice but with the NDH kept in place.

THERE-ctr - [B], PO up, FO > the thing to be honored.

HALO halo-SHINY - (2h)[bC], POs ><, FOs away, is held above head, then (2h)[open 8] rise upwards while twisting at the wrists.

BEAVER - DH [V:], PO down, FO > NDS, runs down NDH [5] held lieka tree.

FUR - (2h)[C], POs ><, FOs away, run down chest.

HEAVENLY-FATHER - (2h)[A], FOs up, DH - held against forehead, NDH close to but lower, both hands open to (2h)[5] while moving upwards. HEAVEN may be added to this. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Heavenly Father - 1.

THIS-ctr - [B], PO up, FO > the thing to be honored.

COME-ON - (2h)[B^] move in circles pivoting at the wrists to beckon someone to do something.

APPROACH - (2h)[B], FOs up, DH PO away, ND is held in front of NDH and palm faces it, then both hands approach one another slightly.

Lyrics:

'Twas in the moon of wintertime, when all the birds had fled, that mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead. Before their light the stars are dim and wondering hunters hear the hymn:

Refrain: Jesus, your King is born. Jesus your King is born. In excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of broken bark, the tender Babe was found; a ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round. The chiefs from far, before Him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.

O children of the forest free, O you of Manitou, the Holy Child of earth and heaven is born today for you. Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty, peace, and joy.

To hear the music (without words), go to The cyber hymnal: 'Twas in the moon of wintertime.