Sunday, November 27, 2011


First Sunday in Advent

Year B

November 27, 2011


Isaiah 64:1-9

Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 from BCP

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Mark 13:24-37

O Come, O Come Emmanuel!

Redeem thy captive Israel,

That into exile drear has gone

Far from the face of God’s dear son

Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, o israel

            As has become our tradition at Grace Anglican Church, we will open our Advent Sundays with the above ancient call to worship, adding a verse each Sunday.  It is believed that this traditional music stems from a 15th Century French processional for Franciscan nuns but it may also have 6th Century Gregorian origins.  It is one of the most solemn of Advent hymns.

            Is Advent a time of somber yearning or one of joyful anticipation?  It is surely both, and our worship at Grace Anglican Church and our music reflect the duality.  We contemplate and celebrate both, the first and second Advents of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  We will sing for our opening processional hymn Charles Wesley’s

                                    Lo!  He comes with clouds descending…

                                    Alleluia!  Christ the Lord returns to reign.

                                                            “Lo!  He Comes with Clouds Descending”



            How Firm a Foundation will be the hymn we sing to surround the reading of the Gospel.  This hymn is chosen to highlight the reading of 1 Corinthians.  This hymn has been a favorite for over a century and a half….and has been sung to many different tunes.  The words were written by Charles Wesley and published as 14 six-line stanzas in John and Charles Wesley’s Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1742.

            Rejoice, Rejoice Believers our recessional hymn is paired with the Gospel reading of Mark.  This Advent text has been in the Hymnal since 1871.  It appears here with the Welsh hymn tune LLANGLOFFAN.  The text has been called one of the finest hymns written by Laurentius Laurenti, a leading hymn writer of the German Pietistic school and first published in 1700.  The  hymn has been suggested to be sung the First Sunday of Advent in Years A and B.  We are now entering Year B in our liturgical practice.  We sang this hymn recently when the Gospel reading was  the story of the Bridegroom approaching and the lamps of the virgins had no oil. 

The choir will sing the first two verses of  Remember, O Thou Man during the Offertory, calling us to remember God’s promise to send His Son to redeem the world.   The words and lyrics of this old Advent/Christmas carol were written by Thomas Ravenscroft ( 1592-1635).  He started his career as a chorister at Chichester Cathedral and then moved to London to serve in St. Paul’s Cathedral.  It was an exciting time in London as the Theatres were hugely popular and showing plays by such noted playwrights as William Shakespeare.  Ravenscroft grew to know many of the actors and writers of this era and wrote music to accompany some of the plays that were produced at the Globe Theatre.  Here is a link to the Advent verses:

                                                http://youtu.be/qGMoGOFQULU

During Advent at Grace Anglican Church we will strive to set a reflective mood during Eucharist.   Contemplate the Isaiah scripture and the somber words to the flute music from the loft of this familiar spiritual:

My Lord what a morning,

When the stars begin to fall.

1.     You’ll hear the sinner mourn,

2.     You’ll hear a sinner pray

3.     You’ll hear a Christian shout,

4.     You’ll hear a Christian sing,

To wake the nations underground!

Looking to my God’s right hand

When the stars begin to fall.

            “My Lord, What A Morning”

The season of Advent is a time to call to mind all the “comings” of God.  Jesus came and will come again.  He wants us to be a part of that new world, and He helps us and leads us on that journey to the kingdom.  When we are confident that Christ will come again we can live as if it has already taken place.  We are prepared when we live under the reign of God—even now before its fulfillment.

Do we prepare for Christ’s return by attempting to figure out when it will take place?  That would surely help us be better prepared.  No, we are told to be ready at all times for we do not and we cannot know the time of God’s choosing.  We are the “inter-Advent” people, those living between Jesus’ first and second coming.  Most people misunderstood or missed Him completely the first time.  Will we be ready the second time? 

Sources:

Wikipedia.com

Hymnal ’82 Companion

Deacon Ron Jutzy

Tune My Heart to Sing

English Hymns and Hymn Writers

YouTube.com

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