Notes on the Notes – December 4, 2022
Second Sunday of Advent
Discover Peace!
This week’s music:
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (VU #1 v. 5)
“O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind.
O bid our sad divisions cease,
And be for us the Prince of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!”
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is a well-known Advent hymn. While it is most commonly known by that English title, it is in fact a translation of the original Latin, “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel,” from the 9th century. Each week during Advent, we will be using one verse of the hymn as our candle-lighting response. This week’s verse refers to a hope that the one who comes will be the Prince of Peace – someone who helps us to truly live peacefully with God. Through Jesus, broken relationships are restored. By following his teachings, our lives can be balanced (peaceful), and his resurrection offers the assurance of eternal life.
Hear Enya sing the hymn at: https://youtu.be/01BcaggibDw
“O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth.
How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessed gift of heaven.
No ear may hear his coming; but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.
O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.”
The text for “O Little Town of Bethlehem” was written by Phillips Brooks (1835–1893), an Episcopal priest, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia. He was inspired by visiting the Palestinian city of Bethlehem in 1865. Three years later, he wrote the poem for his church, and his organist, Lewis Redner, added the music. Redner’s tune, simply titled ST. LOUIS, is the tune used most often for this carol in the United States and Canada.
See Sarah McLachlan sing this carol at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyPMDD8fGeA
Sing along at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpHY3jU27dc
Hear the song “Bethlehem” by Chris Tomlin at: https://youtu.be/kL2d4MI85KA
“Jesus Came Bringing Us Peace” (MV #33)
“Jesus came bringing us peace,
Jesus came bringing us peace,
Jesus came bringing us peace,
Hallelujah, forever more!”
The words and music for this song come from a traditional Cameroon song. It was arranged for inclusion in More Voices in 2007. We will be using the second verse of the song as we explore this week’s Advent theme.
“On Jordan’s Bank” (VU #20)
“On Jordan’s bank, the Baptist’s cry announces that the Lamb is nigh;
Awake and hearken, for he brings glad tidings of the King of Kings.
Then cleansed be every life from sin; make straight the way for God within;
And let each heart prepare a home where such a mighty guest may come.
In you, we find, abundant life, our refuge in the midst of strife;
Without your grace we waste away, like flowers that wither and decay.
Stretch forth your hand, our health restore, and help us rise to fall no more.
O let your face upon us shine, and fill the world with love divine.
All praise to you, eternal Son, whose advent has our freedom won;
And praise to God whom we adore, with Holy Spirit evermore.”
The words of this hymn refer to the story of John the Baptist, a forerunner of Jesus. John the Baptist urged his followers to repent and be baptized in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Charles Coffin, rector of the University of Paris, wrote this Advent hymn in Latin and published it in his Hymni Sacri (1736). A century later, John Chandler translated it for inclusion in his Hymns of the Primitive Church (1827). The 17th-century German melody (1690) was brought to England by John Wesley and was arranged by W.H. Harvergal in 1864.
Hear the hymn sung at Chet Valley Church at: https://youtu.be/pIr21lLgFpg
“Where is He, Immanuel?”
“Where is He, the One who comes to save?
Where is He, O Israel?
Ages pass, the world awaits His birth.
Where is He, Immanuel?
Counsellor, who comforts all who mourn,
Bringing captive souls release,
Where is He, the Child of Bethlehem?
Where is He, the Prince of Peace?
On that day, every valley is exalted!
Through the desert, the flowers bloom and grow.
Praise ring and resound through all creation.
Every hill, every mountain are made low.
Prophets say He comes to teach and heal.
Lame will walk, the blind will see.
On that day, the promise is revealed
From a branch of Jesse’s tree.
Where is He, the One who comes to save?
Where is He, O Israel?
Ages pass, the world awaits His birth.
Where is He, Immanuel?
Where is He, Immanuel?”
With reference to the prophecy of Isaiah, this week’s anthem is written by Trilby Carter Jordan and David Angerman (2011). The name Immanuel, or Emmanuel, means “God with us.” The anthem expresses our longing for God to be with us and the joy we will feel when he comes.
“May the Spirit of the Christ Child”
“May the Spirit of the Christ Child show us how in love to live
For the joy and peace of Christmas is for us to share and give.
May the story of God’s coming, God with us – Emmanuel,
Fill the world with light of Christmas as in awe we do God’s will.”
Our offering response for the season of Advent uses the familiar melody of ODE TO JOY. Through the words, we are reminded that it is our response and action that brings about God’s kingdom in the world.
“Prepare the Way” (VU #882)
“Prepare the way, O Zion, your Christ is drawing near!
Let every hill and valley a level way appear.
Greet One who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story.
O blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.
Christ brings God’s rule, O Zion, he comes from heaven above.
His rule is peace and freedom, and justice, truth, and love.
Lift high your praise resounding, for grace and joy abounding.
O blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.
Fling wide your gates, O Zion; your Saviour’s rule embrace.
And tidings of salvation proclaim in every place.
All lands will bow rejoicing, their adoration voicing.
O blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.”
This hymn, based on the words of the prophet Isaiah (Chapter 40), has words written by Frans Mikael Franzen and adapted by Charles P. Price (1980, 1989). The tune is is from Then Swenska Psalmboken (Swedish Psalmbook) from 1697, arranged for the American Lutheran Hymnal in 1930. Zion is a specific, historically important location — the name refers to both a hill in the city of Jerusalem and to the city itself — but it’s also used in a general way to mean “holy place” or “kingdom of heaven.” Zion is mentioned 152 times in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament).
See the hymn sung in worship at First-Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska (2015) at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJEBNa4PZE4
“Saviour, Dwell with Us” (VU #48)
“Saviour, dwell with us that we may go forth, your light to be.
Send us out, good news to sing; hope, peace, joy, and love to bring.
God incarnate, with us dwell. Come, O come, Emmanuel.
Come, Lord Jesus, don’t delay; shine your peace through us this day.
Saviour, dwell with us that we may go forth, your light to be.”
Our benediction response for Advent will be sung to the tune of “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (VU #48).” As we go into the week ahead, we are reminded of our work to bring God’s peace to the world.
Bonus videos:
