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ADVENT, , AND

A Devotional Guide to the Beginning of the Church Year (2019-2020) from Grace & Peace Presbyterian TABLE OF CONTENTS

WHAT IS THE CHURCH CALENDAR? ...... 3

ADVENT What is Advent?...... 4 Prayer Guide...... 5 Perspective...... 8

CHRISTMAS What is Christmas?...... 10 Prayer Guide...... 11 Perspective...... 13

EPIPHANY What is Epiphany?...... 15 Prayer Guide ...... 16 Perspective...... 18

APPENDIX Apostles’ Creed...... 20 Songs for Advent ...... 21 Songs for Christmas ...... 27 Songs for Epiphany ...... 37

ADDITIONAL ADVENT SCRIPTURE READINGS...... 41 ‘TIS THE SEASON

‘Tis the season for office Christmas parties, shopping lists, naughty/nice lists, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. But, it is also the season of Advent, which will lead into the season of Christmas, followed by Epiphany. We tend to conflate all three seasons by calling it all Christmas, all the while commenting that Christmas went by faster this year than last year. This devotional intends to help you slow down so you can long for the King in Advent, welcome him in Christmas, and celebrate that this Jewish King is also for the nations at Epiphany. Our prayer is that you will benefit from the distinctiveness of all three seasons as you pause in the wonder and worship of . In each season, you’ll find prayers, quotes, Scripture readings, songs (if you don’t plan to read all the lyrics, we suggest the starred ones since they mark unfamiliar songs or verses with meaningful lyrics often skipped), and at least one piece of art. We’ve also made a Spotify playlist of all the songs included. All of this is intended to slow you down and to engage your imagination. Maybe as you pause this season, you’ll find that it doesn’t pass by quite so quickly this year.

WHAT IS THE CHURCH CALENDAR?

In the same way that our secular calendars have seasons, the Church calendar also has seasons. Though, instead of the seasons telling us how warm or how long the days are, or even what sports are being played—the seasons of the Church calendar remind us that as God’s people our lives are defined by, and revolve around, Jesus Christ. The Church calendar is split in two halves. The first half follows Jesus’ life, and it walks us throughApostles’ Creed Christianity. We follow his birth, his life, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, and his giving of his Holy Spirit. The second half of the Church calendar emphasizes how God’s people, now empowered by his Spirit, live out their God-given calling. Using the church calendar is not required by God, but it is a useful, systematic tool for churches, individuals, and families to immerse themselves in the essentials of the Christian faith that we find in the Holy Scriptures. We hope you find it useful, too!

3 WHAT IS ADVENT?

What about Advent then? The season of Advent is the start of the new year in the Christian calendar, and yet it doesn’t follow Jesus’ life. Instead, it anticipates him, or rather, longs for him. How does it do that? Advent is not a season in which we are pretending that Jesus wasn’t born. Instead, we reflect more deeply on the evil of the world around us and within us. This evil, or sin, is the reason for Jesus’ first coming in the , and this evil will be finally and fully dealt with when he returns as the Judge of the world. Advent, therefore, encourages us to long for and to pray for Jesus’ return from heaven to earth, by taking an honest look at the evil in this world.

Advent is definitely not WHEN IS ADVENT? for sissies. Those who are December 1-24, 2019 willing and ready to face the special mood of the season will, I hope, find that it opens up the deep meaning of Christmas in a way that is simply not possible with a less rigorous approach. — Fleming Rutledge

Representation of the Last Judgment on the west wall at Voronet , Bucovina, 1547

4 ADVENT PRAYER GUIDE We’ve provided two prayers and two confessions so you can alternate between them during the Advent season. There are additional scripture readings in the Appendix.

OPENING PRAYER Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. — (1662), Advent Collect I

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and as we are sorely hindered by our sins from running the race that is set before us, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen. — Book of Common Prayer (2019), Advent Collect IV

CONFESSIONS OF SIN Lord, your word tells us that to be separate from Christ is to be a stranger to all of your promises, and to be left without hope in the world. We are weary of the way of the world around us, and within us. Rather than love our neighbor, we have scorned and taken advantage of our neighbor. We have run to, rather than run from, quarreling, jealousy, sexual immorality, drunkenness, and sensuality. Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence. — from Ephesians 2, Romans 13, Isaiah 64

Lord, you told us to stay alert, to watch and wait for your coming. We confess that when you do come to us, we often miss it. We have not looked for Christ in our neighbor. We have not looked for Christ in creation, which is held together by his word. And though he came to us as a man of sorrows, we have sought for pleasure, riches, and comfort instead of taking up our cross, weeping over our sin, and finding Christ in the midst of our brokenness. Father, forgive us and help us glimpse your Son, even as we watch and wait for his coming. — from Mark 13:35, Colossians 1:17, Isaiah 53:3

Pause for a few moments of personal confession

5 WORDS OF HOPE The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. — Psalm 103:8, 10-12; 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. — Isaiah 53

SCRIPTURE READING Additional scripture readings are available on page 41.

Week 1 of Advent Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 24:36-44

Week 2 of Advent Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

Week 3 of Advent Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

Week 4 of Advent Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

SONGS FOR ADVENT JUMP TO LYRICS SECTION — Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (1744) — Until These Tears Are Gone (2014) — O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (1861) — Light of Those Whose Dreary Dwelling (1744)* — Psalm 126 (2013) — All Who Hear (2013) — Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending (1763)* — Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding (5th century)*

6 QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

— How does this Scripture reveal sin in this world or in my heart? — What does/will it look like for Jesus to restore & heal this sin in my heart and in the world? — What kind of world would this be if these particular sins were never dealt with by a good and Holy God? — Why do you think is so prominent in Advent?

— How might I, today, carry/give the hope of a God that does not remain distant in heaven, but draws near in Jesus?

Henry O. Tanner, “The Annunciation.” 1898.

Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) was an American artist and the first African-Amer- ican painter to gain international acclaim. Tanner moved to Paris, France, in 1891 to study, and continued to live there after being accepted in French artistic circles.

7 REFLECTION

AN ADVENT PERSPECTIVE - REV. JOE DENTICI

Every year, on the first Sunday of Advent, we put out our , except for the Baby Jesus and the Wise Men. So, for all of Advent, Joseph and Mary and the animals sit in a circle and look at each other. Jesus is missing. Throughout the season of Advent my children take turns inching the closer from across the house. He lands just outside the Nativity circle on Christmas , and then first thing on Christmas, he takes his rightful place at the center. It’s a daily reminder that even though the tree is up, and the is playing, Christmas is not here. It also serves to provide us the opportunity to have a month-long conversation about what it means that we’re still waiting for Jesus to arrive. Because, while Advent is an invitation to long for Christ’s arrival, the real longing is not for a baby, but for Christ to return in glory to right all wrongs. Inching Jesus closer to the Nativity scene is a picture of our longing in the face of brokenness in the world around us. When we see another kidnapping or shooting, it is a reminder that we’re still waiting and longing for Jesus. When we are confronted again with sin in our hearts, we long for Jesus’ return. Maybe you will adopt our Nativity scene practices. Maybe not. Either way, hopefully we are all learning to pray, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Matthias Grünewald (ca. 1480–1528) painted the Crucifixion as a panel for the Isenheim Altarpiece in the hospital chapel of St. Anthony’s monastery. The bottom right section (pictured here) portrays John the Baptist, who is a prominent figure in the season of Advent.

8 NOTES

9 WHAT IS CHRISTMAS?

Christmas is the most recognized Christian holiday worldwide, which might also make it the most misunderstood. At the heart of Christmas is a mystery as deep as the . The second Person of the Trinity (the Son) enters into the very creation that he made. Jesus of Nazareth is fully God and fully human. Not part-man and part-God, but fully both. It is only in this way that Jesus can mediate between humanity and God. He brings God down to humanity, but he also makes a way for sinful humans to enter into God’s presence. In his humanity, he is like us in every way, yet without sin. The Incarnation makes his sacrifice on the cross sufficient for the sins of all his people. In his humanity Jesus can die, but his divinity gives his sacrifice infinite worth.

WHEN IS CHRISTMAS? December 25, 2019 - 5, 2020

You must understand why it is that the Word of the Father, so great and so high, has been made manifest in bodily form. He has not assumed a body as proper to his own nature, far from it, for as the Word he is without body. He has been manifested in a human body for this reason only, out of the love and goodness of his Father, for the salvation of us men.

— Athanasius

Art on next page Nativity. Birth of Jesus by Giotto. Original Title: Natività. Nascita di Gesù. c.1304 - c.1306

10 CHRISTMAS PRAYER GUIDE

OPENING PRAYER Almighty God, you have given your only begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen. — Book of Common Prayer (1662), Collect for Christmas Day

CONFESSION OF SIN Jesus, all things were created through you and for you. And yet you did not consider equality with God something to be used for your own advantage. You are not like us. We do things from rivalry and conceit, and we consider ourselves more significant than others. We look to our own interests, rather than considering the interests of others. — from Colossians 1, Philippians 2

Pause for a few moments of personal confession

WORDS OF HOPE Jesus was born in the likeness of men, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. We have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred into his kingdom, and in him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. — Philippians 2, Colossians 1

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Week 1 of Christmas Isaiah 9:1-7, Psalm 96, Titus 2:11-1, Luke 2:1-20

Week 2 of Christmas Jeremiah 31:7-14, Psalm 84, Ephesians 1:3-14, Luke 2:41-52

11 SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS JUMP TO LYRICS SECTION — What Child is This (Anyway)? (1865) — (1719) — Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming (15th Century) — This is the Christ (1535) — Of the Father’s Love Begotten (4th Century) — O Holy Night (1847) — Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendor (1940) — Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent (1864, based on a 4th century liturgy) — Come All Ye Faithful (1760) — O Come, Let Us Adore Him (1744)*

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

— How is the message of Christmas more theological than nostalgic?

— How do the Scripture readings show God showing up in this world?

— Spend some time focusing on the language that Scripture uses to impress upon us the importance of God’s gracious intervention. What stands out? Why?

— What are some areas of my life where I am cynical that God could show up?

— How might I bring the presence of Jesus to others today?

Painting of Mary, the expecting Mother of God, Artist Unknown, 1375-1380, Florentine.

12 REFLECTION

A CHRISTMAS PERSPECTIVE - REV. JOE DENTICI

Christmas has a lot of nostalgic momentum. While not all of that is bad - and surely some of that is good - it tends to undercut the mystery of Christmas. When I was a child, before my family opened any Christmas presents, we sang “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. Obviously, it’s not wrong to sing to Jesus to celebrate his birth, but still, I think there is something a little misguided about using these words to do so. Singing these words to Jesus makes the celebration of his birth seem familiar and ordinary. It makes it feel like, well… like a birthday. We’re not so much celebrating a birthday as much as we are celebrating a theological mystery. The reason we celebrate Jesus’ birth is anything but ordinary. It is anything but nostalgic. Which is why it doesn’t matter if December 25 wasn’t Jesus’ actual birthday. Which is why there are words that are deeper and more fitting to sing on this mysterious occasion. Because, yes, we are singing about Jesus’ historical birth, but more importantly we’re singing about the wondrous fact that somehow the infinite united the finite to himself. That somehow God took humanity upon himself, without ceasing to be God and without his divinity swallowing up humanity. I think this is why I like Sufjan Stevens’ arrangement of “What Child is this (Anyway)?” so much. Because rather than being nostalgic, the song is a little unsettling. A little mysterious. When the Incarnation moves our hearts and minds in this direction - it may not look it - but it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

13 NOTES

14 WHAT IS EPIPHANY?

If Christmas is the most well known of Christian holidays, surely the Epiphany is one of the least well known. The word epiphany means manifestation, and Christians celebrate on this day the manifestation of Christ as the - not just of the Jewish people - but of the as well! The Wise Men from the East worshiping the baby Jesus foreshadow the day when people from every tongue, tribe, and nation bow before King Jesus. This is why we recite together that we believe in “the holy catholic (which means universal) church” - as opposed to the holy Jewish (or American for that matter) church. The is for the nations, as King Jesus flings the gates to his Kingdom wide open!

WHEN IS EPIPHANY? , 2020

This day commends both his loftiness and his lowliness. In High Heaven there were sidereal signs for all to see, but it took a mighty trek and a great rummage to find him in that dilapidated hostel. Invalided as an infant, restricted in a blanket, he was billed and cooed by the . But by the Wicked, he was beginning to be a source of fear.

— Augustine

Adoration of the Christ Child, Mughal India, ca. 1630

15 EPIPHANY PRAYER GUIDE

OPENING PRAYER O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. — Book of Common Prayer (1662), Collect for the Epiphany

CONFESSION OF SIN Jesus, you came to welcome people from various backgrounds to yourself. But we prefer to be around people who live like us, look like us, or think like us. When we do this, we are judging others according to the flesh, and we are putting our confidence in something other than you.

Pause for a few moments of personal confession

WORDS OF HOPE From now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. For our sake God made Christ to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might be- come the righteousness of God. — 2 Corinthians 16, 20, 21

SCRIPTURE READINGS

The Week of Epiphany Isaiah 60:1-9 Psalm 72 Ephesians 3:1-13 Matthew 2:1-12

16 SONGS FOR EPIPHANY JUMP TO LYRICS SECTION — (1857) — Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (1821)* based on Epiphany Psalm 72 - notice extra verses in this version that didn’t make the playlist — Prayer for the King (Psalm 72) (1543) — You Alone (Psalm 96) (2014)

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION — How do the Scripture readings show us that Israel’s king is for the nations?

— What kinds of people do I feel most comfortable with? Least comfortable?

— Why is it comforting that there is no one “kind” of person that Jesus is pursuing?

— How does Epiphany inform our understanding of “I believe in the holy ”?

— In what ways do those that I view as most different from me still have much in common with me?

— What are some ways that I can begin pursuing those whom I view as being different from me? How can I pursue them with the gospel?

17 REFLECTION

AN EPIPHANY PERSPECTIVE - JONATHAN ALLSTON

I tend to forget what the cold feels like until it slaps me in the face each winter. I forget about the feeling in my cheeks when I step out into an icy wind, prickling as blood rushes in to warm them. In this part of the world, Epiphany is celebrated in the cold. And, like the suddenly-remembered feeling in my cheeks, sometimes Jesus has to awaken our senses once again so that we rediscover a secret we forgot we knew: that he has stepped into our brokenness, taken it upon himself, and begun the work of making us whole. So, come and see him touch the leper, taste the water turned into wine, hear him say Talitha cumi! and raise the little girl back to life. Like a star rising in the night, he manifests his glory. And, when we look, we are healed.

Journey of the Magi, c. 1894. by James Tissot.

18 NOTES

19 APPENDIX

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places

20 SONG INDEX

We’ve included the song lyrics for you to read through. We hope you’ll enjoy the extra verses included below that are often skipped in the versions that we sing, but we also hope that you’ll find new meaning in the words that may already be familiar as you take your time pondering these words.

SONGS OF ADVENT

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Come, thou long expected Jesus Born to set thy people free From our fears and sins release us Let us find our rest in Thee

Israel’s strength and consolation Hope of all the earth thou art Dear desire of every nation Joy of every longing heart

Born Thy people to deliver Born a child and yet a King Born to reign in us forever 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

21 Until These Tears Are Gone Flood this heart with assurance of Your mercy Fill this mind with knowledge of Your love Hold me fast through the deep and steady current How long, how long till these tears are gone?

Every hour, awake me to Your presence Shine Your light, brighter than the dawn Send Your joy, illuminate the darkness How long, how long till these tears are gone?

I’ll fix my eyes on eternity above Where every lie, is uncovered by Your love I’ll fix my eyes on eternity above Where every lie, every shadow is uncovered by Your love

Lord You hear, the pleading of the faithful I search for You, hide not Your face Here I tread, a shell among the ruins How long, how long till these tears are gone?

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height, In ancient times did’st give the Law, In cloud, and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!

22 Light of Those Whose Dreary Dwelling Light of those whose dreary dwelling Borders on the shades of death Come and by thy love’s revealing Dissipate the clouds beneath Dissipate the clouds beneath

Still we wait for thine appearing Life and joy thy beams impart Chasing all our fears and cheering Every poor benighted heart Every poor benighted heart

Come and manifest the favor God hath for our ransomed race Come thou universal savior Come and bring the gospel grace Come and bring the gospel grace

Psalm 126 Our mouths they were filled, filled with laughter Our tongues they were loosed, loosed with joy Restore us, O Lord Restore us, O Lord

Although we are weeping Lord, help us keep sowing The seeds of Your Kingdom For the day You will reap them Your sheaves we will carry Lord, please do not tarry All those who sow weeping will go out with songs of joy

The nations will say, “He has done great things!” The nations will sing songs of joy Restore us, O Lord Restore us, O Lord

23 All Who Hear A desert voice calls out Lend him your ear, your heart Though we are scattered stones, We’re not alone So we the road prepare For heaven’s eternal heir At last, our Savior’s near

Let all who hear make way And may these hearts Prepare a place What is this grace divine? That earth and sky align With leveled souls laid bare,

Let all who hear make way And may these hearts Prepare a place For ‘God with us’ Will come to save And surely He shall comfort those He loves And so we wait

24 Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending Lo! He comes, with clouds descending, once for our salvation slain; thousand thousand saints attending swell the triumph of His train.

Ev’ry eye shall now behold Him, robed in dreadful majesty; those who set at naught and sold Him, pierced, and nailed Him to the tree, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, shall the true Messiah see.

Every island, sea, and mountain, heav’n and earth, shall flee away; all who hate Him must, confounded, hear the trump proclaim the day: Come to judgment! Come to judgment! Come to judgment, come away! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God appears on earth to reign.

The dear tokens of his passion, Still is dazzling body bears; Cause of endless exultation To his ransomed worshipers; With what rapture, with what rapture, Gaze with on those glorious scars. Hallelujah, Hallelujah! God appears on earth to reign.

Yea, amen! Let all adore Thee, high on Thine eternal throne; Savior, take the pow’r and glory, claim the kingdom for Thine own: O come quickly, O come quickly, Everlasting God come down!

25 Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding! “Christ is near,” we hear it say. “Cast away the works of darkness, All you children of the day!”

Startled at the solemn warning, Let the earthbound soul arise; Christ, its sun, all sloth dispelling, Shines upon the morning skies.

See, the Lamb, so long expected, See the everlasting light Full of grace the Lord is with us We will hope in Him tonight

So, when next he comes in glory And the world is wrapped in fear, He will shield us with his mercy And with words of love draw near.

Honor, glory, might, dominion To the Father and the Son With the everliving Spirit While eternal ages run!

26 SONGS OF CHRISTMAS What Child is This Anyway? What child is this, who, laid to rest On Mary’s lap, is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King Whom shepherds guard and angels sing “Haste, haste to bring Him laud The Babe, the Son of Mary!”

Why lies He in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear, for sinners here The silent Word is pleading Nails, spears shall pierce Him through The cross He bore for me, for you Hail, hail the Word made flesh The Babe, the Son of Mary

So bring Him , , and Come peasant king to own Him The King of kings, salvation brings Let loving hearts enthrone Him Raise, raise the song on high The Virgin sings her lullaby “Joy, joy, for Christ is born The Babe, the Son of Mary!”

27 Joy to the World Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.

28 Lo, How Rose E’er Blooming Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming From tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse’s lineage coming, As men of old have sung. It came, a flow’ret bright, Amid the cold of winter, When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ’twas foretold it, The Rose I have in mind; With Mary we behold it, The virgin mother kind. To show God’s love aright, She bore to men a Savior, When half spent was the night.

This Flow’r, whose fragrance tender With sweetness fills the air, Dispels with glorious splendor The darkness everywhere. True man, yet very God, From sin and death He saves us, And lightens every load.

29 This Is the Christ Good news from heaven the angels bring, Glad tidings to the earth they sing To us this day a child is given To crown us with the joy of heaven

This is the Christ, our God and Lord Who in all need shall aid afford He will himself our savior be And from our sins will set us free

All hail, thou noble guest this morn Whose love did not the sinner scorn In my distress thou come’st to me What thanks shall I return to thee?

Were earth a thousand times as fair Beset with gold and jewels rare She yet were far too poor to be A narrow cradle, Lord, for thee...

Praise God upon his heavenly throne Who gave to us his only son For this his hosts on joyful wing A blest New Year of mercy sing.

30 Of the Father’s Love Begotten Of the Father’s love begotten, Ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see, Evermore and evermore!

At His Word the worlds were framed; He commanded; it was done: Heaven and earth and depths of ocean In their threefold order one; All that grows beneath the shining Of the moon and burning sun, Evermore and evermore!

He is found in human fashion, Death and sorrow here to know, That the race of Adam’s children Doomed by law to endless woe, May not henceforth die and perish In the dreadful gulf below, Evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessed, When the virgin, full of grace, By the Holy Ghost conceiving, Bare the Savior of our race; And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer, First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!

This is He Whom seers in old time Chanted of with one accord; Whom the voices of the prophets Promised in their faithful word; Now He shines, the long expected, Let creation praise its Lord, Evermore and evermore!

31 O ye heights of heaven adore Him; Angel hosts, His praises sing; Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King! Let no tongue on earth be silent, Every voice in concert sing, Evermore and evermore!

Righteous judge of souls departed, Righteous King of them that live, On the Father’s throne exalted None in might with Thee may strive; Who at last in vengeance coming Sinners from Thy face shalt drive, Evermore and evermore!

Thee let old men, thee let young men, Thee let boys in chorus sing; Matrons, virgins, little maidens, With glad voices answering: Let their guileless songs re-echo, And the heart its music bring, Evermore and evermore!

Christ, to Thee with God the Father, And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee, Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, And unwearied praises be: Honor, glory, and dominion, And eternal victory, Evermore and evermore!

32 O Holy Night O Holy Night The stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth Long lay the world in sin and error pining ‘Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees Oh hear the angel voices Oh night divine Oh night when Christ was born Oh night divine Oh night, oh night divine

Truly He taught us to love one another His law is love and His gospel is peace Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother And in His name all oppression shall cease Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we Let all within us praise His holy name

Thou Who Was Rich Beyond All Splendor Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor, All for love’s sake becamest poor; Thrones for a manger didst surrender, Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor. Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor, All for love’s sake becamest poor.

Thou who art God beyond all praising, All for love’s sake becamest man; Stooping so low, but sinners raising Heavenwards by thine eternal plan. Thou who art God beyond all praising, All for love’s sake becamest man.

Thou who art love beyond all telling, Saviour and King, we worship thee. Emmanuel, within us dwelling, Make us what thou wouldst have us be. Thou who art love beyond all telling, Saviour and King, we worship thee.

33 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Let all mortal flesh keep silence And with fear and trembling stand Ponder nothing worldly minded For with blessing in His hand Christ our God To earth descendeth Our full homage to demand

King of kings yet born of Mary As of old on earth He stood Lord of lords in human vesture In the body and the blood He will give to all the faithful His own self for heav’nly food

At His feet the six winged seraph Cherubim with sleepless eye Veil their faces to the Presence As with ceaseless voice they cry Alleluia alleluia alleluia Lord Most High

Rank on rank the host of heaven Spreads its vanguard on the way As the Light of light descendeth From the realms of endless day That the pow’rs of hell may vanish As the darkness clears away

34 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in !”

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored; Christ the everlasting Lord; Late in time, behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’incarnate Deity, Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.

Come, Desire of Nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home; Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed, Bruise in us the serpent’s head. Now display Thy saving pow’r, Ruined nature now restore; Now in mystic union join Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface, Stamp Thine image in its place: Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love. Let us Thee, though lost, regain, Thee, the Life, the inner man: Oh, to all Thyself impart, Formed in each believing heart. 35 O Come Let Us Adore Him O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him Born the King of angels;

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

God of God, Light of Light; Lo, he abhors not the Virgin’s womb: Very God, Begotten, not created;

Sing, choirs of angels; Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above; Glory to God in the highest;

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning: Jesus, to thee be glory given; Word of the Father, Late in flesh appearing;

36 SONGS OF EPIPHANY We Three Kings We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder star

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain Gold I bring to crown Him again King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign

O star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to thy perfect light

Frankincense to offer have I Incense owns a Deity nigh Prayer and praising, voices raising Worshipping God on high

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying Sealed in the stone cold tomb

Glorious now behold Him arise King and God and sacrifice Alleluia, Alleluia Sounds through the earth and skies

37 Hail To the Lord’s Anointed Hail to the Lord’s anointed Great David’s greater Son. Hail in the time appointed His reign on earth begun He comes to break oppression, To set the captive free, To take away transgression And rule in equity.

Kings shall fall down before him And gold and incense bring. All nations shall adore him His praise all people sing. For he shall have dominion O’er river sea and shore Far as the eagle’s pinion Or dove’s light wing can soar

He comes with comfort speedy To those who suffer wrong, To help the poor and needy and bid the weak be strong. To give them songs for sighing Their darkness turn to light Whose souls, condemned and dying Are precious in his sight.

He shall come down like showers Upon the fruitful earth And love, joy, hope, like flowers Spring in his path to birth. Before him, on the mountains Shall peace, the herald, go And righteousness, in fountains From hill to valley flow.

O’er every foe victorious He on his throne shall rest; From age to age more glorious All blessing and all-blessed. The tide of time shall never His covenant remove. His Name shall stand forever That Name to us is Love. 38 Prayer for the King (Psalm 72) O God, give to the king your justice, his son your righteousness. You are the God in whom our trust is; Your hand alone can save.

May he, the royal son, be reigning, With judgments true and sure, To all your people right ordaining, Your justice to the poor.

May for the people hill and mountain, Bring forth the peace they seek, And justice flowing like a fountain, Restore the faint and weak.

May he defend the poor and needy; May he their children save, And crush oppressors, proud and greedy; Life up the ransomed slave.

Long my he live and rule the nations May peace on earth be found And blessings for all generations And righteousness abound

May in the cities people flower Like hillsides in the spring May all the earth acclaim his power And of his glory sing

May people join in celebration And tell of his deeds again Let all the earth and all creation Sing praises to God, Amen.

39 You Alone (Psalm 96) We will sing a new song for You Of Your power, salvation, and truth You are the victory You can never be moved On our knees we will worship You, Lord On our knees we will worship You, Lord Here with this offering We come into Your courts

Splendor and might Beauty and light You alone are the Lord You alone are the Lord Glory and strength Great is Your name You alone are the Lord You alone are the Lord Trembling here at Your feet The whole earth, The whole earth is singing

Let our idols fall worthless aside Those glittering, treacherous lies We come to the richness Of the Lord God on high Let the seas rejoice with a shout Let the fields and the forests cry out Creation exulting Let us sing it out loud!

40 ADDITIONAL ADVENT SCRIPTURE READINGS

First Week of Advent Monday, December 2, 2019 Psalm 124; Genesis 8:1-19; Romans 6:1-11 Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Psalm 124; Genesis 9:1-17; Hebrews 11:32-40 Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Psalm 124; Isaiah 54:1-10; Matthew 24:23-35 Thursday, December 5, 2019 Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 4:2-6; Acts 1:12-17, 21-26 Friday, December 6, 2019 Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 30:19-26; Acts 13:16-25 Saturday, December 7, 2019 Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 40:1-11; John 1:19-28

Second Week of Advent Monday, December 9, 2019 Psalm 21; Isaiah 24:1-16a; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Tuesday, December 10, 2019 Psalm 21; Isaiah 41:14-20; Romans 15:14-21 Wednesday, December 11, 2019 Psalm 21; Genesis 15:1-18; Matthew 12:33-37 Thursday, December 12, 2019 Psalm 146:5-10; Ruth 1:6-18; 2 Peter 3:1-10 Friday, December 13, 2019 Psalm 146:5-10; Ruth 4:13-17; 2 Peter 3:11-18 Saturday, December 14, 2019 Psalm 146:5-10; 1 Samuel 2:1-8; Luke 3:1-18

41 Third Week of Advent Monday, December 16, 2019 Psalm 42; Isaiah 29:17-24; Acts 5:12-16 Tuesday, December 17, 2019 Psalm 42; Ezekiel 47:1-12; Jude 1:17-25 Wednesday, December 18, 2019 Psalm 42; Zechariah 8:1-17; Matthew 8:14-17, 28-34 Thursday, December 19, 2019 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 2 Samuel 7:1-17; Galatians 3:23-29 Friday, December 20, 2019 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 2 Samuel 7:18-22; Galatians 4:1-7 Saturday, December 21, 2019 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 2 Samuel 7:23-29; John 3:31-36

Fourth Week of Advent Monday, December 23, 2019: Luke 1:46b-55; 2 Samuel 7:18, 23-29; Galatians 3:6-14

42 Readings are from the Revised Common Lectionary Cover art by Diane Kilgore Condon, used with permission