Notes on the Notes – December 3, 2023

Advent 1

This week’s music:

“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (VU #2)

“Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set they people free:
From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Born thy people to deliver; born a child and yet a king;
Born to reign in us for ever; now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.”

Charles Wesley published this hymn in 1744. He intended it as a Christmas hymn, but its theme of awaiting the arrival of the long-expected redeemer makes it suitable for Advent as well. Like so many of Wesley’s texts, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” alludes to one or more Scripture passages in virtually every phrase. The double nature of Advent is reflected in this text, in which we remember Christ’s first coming even while praying for his return. The first verse recalls Advent prophecies in the Old Testament; the third verse speaks of Christ’s birth and kingdom, and the final stanza is a prayer for Christ’s rule in our hearts.

Hear the hymn at:  https://youtu.be/huHEA3n1Lu8

“We Light This Candle”

“We light this candle for Hope.
Await the new life within.
May our hearts now live each day,
So Hope can find a way,
So Hope can find a way.”

Our Advent candle-lighting song was written by Pat Mayberry (2016) and arranged by David Kai (2016).

“I am Walking a Path” (MV #221)

“I am walking a path of hope,
I am walking a path of hope,
I am walking a path of hope,
Lead me home,
Lead me home.

This simple refrain was written by Janet Bauman Tissandier. We will be using it weekly as a sung response to the Words of Assurance.

“Be Born in Us”

“In a world of darkness where light has lost its way,
And our hearts grow colder with each passing winter day;
Beneath the pain and sorrow, hope is waiting to be born
Through a tiny Babe whose life will change this world forevermore.

Be born in us, O Holy Child, and let the light of Your love shine within our lives.
Be born in us, O Prince of Peace, let the hope You bring this world be born in me.

To a world that’s longing for a Child and King,
For the joy and comfort only heaven’s love can bring,
We must be the beacon, we must show the world the way to the tiny Baby whose life can change each heart that humbly prays:

Be born in us…

Born for us, to deliver;
To reign in us forever
Unto us You will be given.
Come to us, that You may be

Born in us…”

This week’s anthem, expressing the longing for the Christ within our hearts, was written by David S. Gaines and Ruth Elaine Schram (2003).

“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.

“God Bless to Us Our Bread” (MV #193)

“God bless to us our bread,
And give bread to all those who are hungry,
And hunger for justice to those who are fed;
God bless to us our bread.” 

Originally written in Spanish as “Bendice, Senor, nuestro pan, ” this communion grace has words collected by Bishop Federico Pagura (Argentina).  The English translation is by John L. Bell.  The music is a traditional melody from Argentina.

“Christmas Lord’s Prayer”

“Our Father in heaven, all praise to your name.
Your kingdom in heaven, on earth be the same.
By mortals and angels, come, Lord reign alone;
Oh, hear us and bless us, from heaven’s high throne.
 
The bread that we yearn for provide us each day;
As we forgive others, our sins take away;
In times of temptation, to lead us be near;
From evil deliver your children most dear.
 
For yours is the kingdom, o’er all things you reign,
And yours is the power, all things you maintain.
To you be the glory, resounding again
From all of creation, forever.   Amen.”

Our Christmas Lord’s Prayer uses one of the melodies for “Away in a Manger” (VU #6).   The author of the lyrics is unknown.

Hear the melody on acoustic guitar at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H61T9VvBdVE

“Once in Royal David’s City” (VU #62)

“Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed.
Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven who, with God, is over all,
And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall.
There among the poor and lowly lived on earth our Saviour holy.

For he is our lifelong pattern; daily, when on earth he grew,
He was tempted, scorned, rejected, tears and smiles like us he knew.
Thus he feels for all our sadness, and he shares in all our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love;
For that child who seemed so helpless is our Lord in heaven above;
And he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.”  

“Once In Royal David’s City” is a Christmas carol originally written as a poem by Cecil Frances Alexander. The carol was first published in 1848 in Miss Cecil Humphreys’  “Hymns for little Children.”  A year later, the English organist Henry John Gauntlett discovered the poem and set it to music.   Since 1919, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at the King’s College Chapel Cambridge has begun its Christmas Eve service, with Dr Arthur Henry Mann’s arrangement of “Once in Royal David’s City” as the processional hymn.

Hear The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge recorded in Trinity College Chapel:  https://youtu.be/QmspXB6lUeg

“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 hope 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).”  The words were written by Rachel Frey (2004). As we go into the week ahead, we are reminded of our work to bring God’s hope to the world.

Bonus Videos: