OPENING VOLUNTARY Comfort, Comfort Now My People
setting, Egil Hovland
Based on the hymntune Freu dich sehr, a light flute gives glimpses of the melody with lots of little flourishes. Another, darker flute, plays the melody. All this happens over a light pedal point - a bass note that sounds continuously throughout this dance-like chorale prelude.
It's a reminder that Advent is a time of joyful expectation, setting the tone not only for this service, but for the entire season.
It's a reminder that Advent is a time of joyful expectation, setting the tone not only for this service, but for the entire season.
See the text and tune at ELW 256.
GATHERING HYMN Fling Wide the Door (Macht hoch die Tür)
ELW 259
This hymn implores us to "Fling wide the door, unbar the gate. . ." But it isn't just a gate we open. We also open our hearts, not to receive salvation, but to welcome his rule. The feel of this hymn is both grand and celebratory with its image of the King of glory arriving in state.
In this Advent season of hope and expectation, the whole world awaits the coming of the Savior. We hear the words of the prophets. We sing of God's promises. We place our hope in God. The carols and hymns in this service draw from a variety of countries. Other parts of the service are based on passages from Isaiah. (Adapted from Sundays and Seasons)
Come Now, O Prince of Peace (ELW 247)
The text and music are by a Korean composer with an introduction and accompaniment by Anne Krentz Organ.
Comfort, Comfort Now My People
This is not the same text and tune as found in ELW. The text is a paraphrase of the Isaiah reading by Mark Sedio. He has paired the words with the exquisite Welsh tune Suo Gan. The comforting text and lilting melody give the hymn a lullaby quality.
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (ELW 254)
Charles Wesley's text Advent text is paired with Jefferson, a tune that may have originated in the southern states of the USA. We only know it was first published in 1835 in a hymn collection titled Southern Harmony. It was part of the American "singing schools" tradition that found its beginning in colonial times.
Lost in the Night (sung by the Festival Choir)
This is not the same text and tune as found in ELW. The text is a paraphrase of the Isaiah reading by Mark Sedio. He has paired the words with the exquisite Welsh tune Suo Gan. The comforting text and lilting melody give the hymn a lullaby quality.
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (ELW 254)
Charles Wesley's text Advent text is paired with Jefferson, a tune that may have originated in the southern states of the USA. We only know it was first published in 1835 in a hymn collection titled Southern Harmony. It was part of the American "singing schools" tradition that found its beginning in colonial times.
Lost in the Night (sung by the Festival Choir)
setting, Kyle Haugen
Olav Lee, though credited with the text, is not the original author. Lee was born in Norway and arrived in the US in 1877. The original text was by Olga Maria Virginia Kullgren (1849 - 1909), a Swedish hymn writer.
The tune is from Finland.
The tune is from Finland.
He Came Down (ELW 253)
This is a traditional song from Cameroon.
The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came (ELW 265)
The Basque region gave us this carol of the annunciation. The Basque people share a common language, heritage, and culture even though parts of this region are in France and parts are in Spain.
Drawn to the Light (ELW 593)
Drawn to the Light (ELW 593)
This hymn and tune come from John C. Ylvisaker (1937-2017) who is probably best known for the hymn Borning Cry.
The tune La Crosse, is name for La Crosse, Wisconsin where the hymn was first sung in 1987 by the three groups who would later be known as Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The tune La Crosse, is name for La Crosse, Wisconsin where the hymn was first sung in 1987 by the three groups who would later be known as Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
MUSICAL OFFERING Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
piano setting, John Carter
COMMUNION HYMN O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel) ELW 257
SENDING HYMN O Come, Divine Messiah
This final hymn is not found in ELW. I learned it a few years ago while performing it with RareSong, an early music group that I sing with. We sang a concert of music that French and Spanish colonists might have sung on the first coast when Fort Caroline was established and the city of St. Augustine was founded. in published form, this French carol dates to at the least the 1600s.
Determined to add it to our modern repertoire, I was delighted to find that our Roman Catholic siblings in faith have been singing it all along!
This final hymn is not found in ELW. I learned it a few years ago while performing it with RareSong, an early music group that I sing with. We sang a concert of music that French and Spanish colonists might have sung on the first coast when Fort Caroline was established and the city of St. Augustine was founded. in published form, this French carol dates to at the least the 1600s.
Determined to add it to our modern repertoire, I was delighted to find that our Roman Catholic siblings in faith have been singing it all along!
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| RareSong |
CLOSING VOLUNTARY Comfort, Comfort Now My People
This book-end rendering of Freu dich sehr couldn't be more different than the opening version. This setting is an exhuberant trumpet tune with full organ!
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