OPENING VOLUNTARY It Is Well With My Soul (Ville du Havre)
setting, Harold DeCou
GATHERING HYMN Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies (Ratisbon)
ELW 553
Who loves a good Charles Wesley hymn? Apparently Lutherans do! Wesley has 10 hymns in ELW - one more than the famed Lutheran hymn writer Paul Gerhardt. That's still several fewer than Martin Luther who comes in with 19.
But who's counting?
HYMN OF THE DAY O Lord, How Shall I Meet You? (Wie soll ich dich empfangen)
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| Paul Gerhardt via Wikipedia |
ELW 241
This is one of those nine hymns by Paul Gerhardt mentioned above. Gerhardt is considered Germany's greatest hymnwriter.
Part of Gerhardt's life work was an attempt to bring together Lutheran and Reformed clergy, but this dream was never realized because of their diverging theologies. Still, he was well liked on both sides of the aisle.
Part of Gerhardt's life work was an attempt to bring together Lutheran and Reformed clergy, but this dream was never realized because of their diverging theologies. Still, he was well liked on both sides of the aisle.
MUSICAL OFFERING Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning
arr. John Helgen
I grew up in a time when Christian teens (along with everyone else) were obsessed with "End Times" theology. We were convinced that Jesus was coming back in our lifetimes.
If it feels like Advent today, you can blame it on the first reading from the Hebrew Scriptures and on the gospel reading. The foolish virgins of Jesus' famous parable might not be explicitly named, but it's easy to see that they too are being warned about the coming events.
But in the end, everything will be okay. This work IS almost done, whether it be in our lifetimes or those of a future generation.
If it feels like Advent today, you can blame it on the first reading from the Hebrew Scriptures and on the gospel reading. The foolish virgins of Jesus' famous parable might not be explicitly named, but it's easy to see that they too are being warned about the coming events.
But in the end, everything will be okay. This work IS almost done, whether it be in our lifetimes or those of a future generation.
COMMUNION HYMNS
We Are Waiting for Jesus ACS 905
Soon and Very Soon ELW 439
More hymns to complement the Advent themes!
SENDING HYMN O Day of Peace (Jerusalem)
ELW 711
ELW 711
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| An olive tree at the garden tomb in Jerusalem. Photo credit: Pastor Sarah Locke |
This hymn is closely tied to the first reading. It might seem odd that the day of peace is only "dimly" shining - almost like a light at the end of the tunnel. The first stanza shows how much work we have to do before the "hope of peace can be fulfilled."
The name of the tune, Jerusalem, is also a musical shout out to our Pastor and friends in the Holy Land. Let's pray for their safe journey home!
The name of the tune, Jerusalem, is also a musical shout out to our Pastor and friends in the Holy Land. Let's pray for their safe journey home!
CLOSING VOLUNTARY Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies
setting, Benjamin M. Culli
This is a stirring reprise of the Gathering Hymn. There is an opening fanfare, a brief fughetta, then a repeat of the fanfare.
setting, Benjamin M. Culli
This is a stirring reprise of the Gathering Hymn. There is an opening fanfare, a brief fughetta, then a repeat of the fanfare.
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