Gloria in excelsis mozart youtube

by Rev. Dr. Mark Birkholz

I grew up attending Trinity Lutheran School in Clinton Township, Michigan. Every year the children of the school presented a Christmas program. It was a little different each year, but one part was always the same: the kindergarten angels.

Every year the kindergarten students would dress in white robes with cardboard wings and tinsel halos.

At some point in the program they would gather around the altar for the singing of “Angels We have Heard on High.” When it came to the refrain, all their little voices would belt out, “Gloria in excelsis Deo!” Glory to God in the highest!

“Glory to God in the Highest” is the first Christmas carol.

Gloria in excelsis lyrics

It was sung by the angels to the shepherds on the night when Jesus was born (Luke 2:14). But Christmas is not the only time that we sing “Glory to God in the Highest.” Lutherans, along with many other Christians, sing “Glory to God in the Highest” all year long in the Divine Service. (This hymn of praise is omitted in the