A hymn set for Advent A

A series of four hymns, one each for the four Sundays of Advent, year A, taken from the various and multiple lectionary readings for each Sunday. At the end is a bonus hymn, an alternative for 4A that focuses on the gospel reading for that Sunday (and is a personal favorite of mine). PDFs of each of these hymns can be made available for churches interested in singing these.

Advent 1A: Keep watch

Keep watch, O Christian people! Awake, keep watch, and wait!

Though the Lord may tarry yet, God will surely not be late.

Even though we do not know the hour and do not know the date,

Wake, keep watch, and wait! Wake, keep watch, and wait!

 

Keep watch, O Christian people! Salvation now is near!

For the night is giving way, and the day is nearly here!

Shun the works of darkness grim and put away your quarreling here;

See salvation near! See salvation near!

 

Keep watch, O Christian people! Forget what’s come before!

Still the day is coming when war and sword shall be no more.

Nations all shall fear the Lord and sing his praise from shore to shore.

War shall be no more! War shall be no more!

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, after Advent 1A scriptures

MUSIC: Tune IN DULCI JUBILO (“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”), German folk melody, 14^th cent. 

Advent 2A: Prepare your hearts

Prepare your hearts, prepare your minds, the reign of God comes near!

The prophet’s voice cries out to all; let all God’s people hear!

            Let all God’s people hear!

 

Make straight the pathway of our Lord; prepare a road to be

The highway of the Holy One for all the world to see!

            For all the world to see!

 

No one will hurt, no one will harm in our Lord’s holy place;

Our Lord will judge with righteousness and show the poor God’s grace,

            And show the poor God’s grace.

 

So welcome one another all, to give God glory true,

And so prepare the way of God in all you say and do,

            In all you say and do.

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, after Advent 2A scriptures.

MUSIC: Possible tunes:

            CHRISTMAS, G.F. Handel, arr. Lowell Mason, 1821.

            WINCHESTER OLD, Este’s Psalms, 1592 (without repeated last line)

Advent 3A: See, the desert shall rejoice

See, the desert shall rejoice, blossoming and blooming,

Brimming with new life against all the darkness looming.

From the wilderness so bleak shall come waters flowing

And the highway of our God, peace and welcome showing.

 

See how Mary does rejoice, trusting and foretelling

How our Savior will bring forth peace and justice swelling;

Filling up the hungry throng; lifting up the lowly. 

This the Savior who she sings; mighty, good, and holy.

 

See the work Messiah does: seeing, walking, healing, 

Hearing, living, good news come, holiness revealing.

Blessed is the one who sees goodness in the Savior

Without taking wrong offense, with no rude behavior.

 

See how patience is our call, like the farmer planting

Crops that bloom forth from the earth, God all favor granting.

Strengthen now your weary heart; death is not our story,

But rejoicing will return in our Savior’s glory. 

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, after Advent 3A scriptures.

MUSIC: Tune TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM, Piae Cantiones, 1582

            (“Good King Wenceslas,” “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child”)

 

 

Advent 3A contains perhaps the most fertile combination of scriptures of any Sunday of the whole three-year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary. Acknowledging all of them is a challenge, but all of them have something to teach us. The tune is in Glory to God with the text “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” but is most famously associated with the popular carol “Good King Wenceslas.”

Advent 4A: Behold and see the promise come

Behold and see the promise come; a woman who will bear a son.

A sign is given from God above, the true and only Holy One.

 

Behold and hear the holy Word, the gospel of God's only Son:

Once promised in the prophets' lore, now see the long-awaited one.

 

Behold and see the troubled man, the father of God's Holy Son; 

In faith he heeds the angel's call to care for God's Anointed One.

 

Behold and hear the call today to follow God's most favored Son,

To serve and work and witness sure, to live in Christ who makes us one.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2020, after Advent 4A scriptures

MUSIC: Tune PUER NOBIS NASCITUR, Trier ms., 14^th cent.; adapt. Michael Praetorius, 1609; harm. George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1910.

Bonus/alternate Advent 4A: When Joseph learned

When Joseph learned his bride-to-be was soon to have a child,

He had no wish to cause her harm or hold her up to shame.

A righteous man, his mind was set, to sad choice reconciled,

Until into his restless dreams the Lord’s own angel came.

 

“Oh, son of David, do the good; take Mary as your wife; 

The child in her is Spirit-made of God’s own true design.

This son she bears will save us all from sin and give us life.”

The angel’s word did give him strength and his good task define.

 

Then came to mind these prophet words: “the woman bears a son,

His name shall be Immanuel,” God-with-us for all time.

So Joseph woke and knew his work was only now begun; 

To be at Mary’s side when she gave birth to life sublime.

 

So Joseph did the Lord’s command, and was, both strong and true,

The earthly father of God’s Son; this work became his call.  

Now give we thanks for one who did what God called him to do,

And take his good obedience as model for us all.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, after Matthew 1:18-25

MUSIC: Suggested Tunes:

            NOEL (Sullivan), English melody, arr. Arthur Sullivan, 1874 (Sometimes associated with “It came upon the midnight clear”)

            ST. LOUIS, Lewis Henry Redner, 1868 (“O little town of Bethlehem”)

            FOREST GREEN, English folk tune, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906 (alternate tune for “O little town of Bethlehem”)

            

I had written this hymn a year before the set above. The hymns in the set reach across multiple scripture readings for each Sunday, while this reading clearly focuses on the gospel reading for 4A. Still, I have a soft spot for this hymn; thanks to various settings of the Magnificat Mary gets a decent amout of hymn time, but Joseph? Not so much. Here's one for Jesus's silent but obedient earthly father. 

With the rising of the sun

With the rising of the sun, we wait for the Savior,

Long-foretold, the Promised One, born of God’s own favor.

He who comes from Bethlehem, told in prophet-story,

Stands to feed God’s children all, full of power and glory.

 

With the rising of the sun, we wait for the Savior,

Long-foretold, the Promised One, born of God’s own favor.

Come to tear the powerful down and lift up the lowly,

He is God’s own Mighty One, and his name is holy.

 

With the rising of the sun, we wait for the Savior,

Long-foretold, the Promised One, born of God’s own favor.­

He comes now to do God’s will, all that is God’s pleasure,

And to sanctify us all, as our God does measure.

 

With the rising of the sun, we wait for the Savior,

Long-foretold, the Promised One, born of God’s own favor.

One who comes to save us all, healing and restoring,

This is he who makes our hearts joyful and adoring.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, January 2021, after Advent 4C scriptures

MUSIC: Tune TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM, Piae Cantiones, 1582

 

Part of the Advent Hymnary project.

 

How then shall we live

How then shall we live, and what then should we do?

If someone has none, then give one of your two.

Take nothing by force; do not threaten or goad.

Collect nothing more than what your work is owed,

 

How then shall we live, and what then shall we do?

Bear fruit of repentance; give God what is due.

Claim not to inherit some virtue or worth,

But make your heart open for godly new birth.

 

How then shall we live, and what then shall we do?

Rejoice in the Lord and rejoice again too.

Let gentleness from your example be clear,

And know in all truth that the Lord now is near.

 

How then shall we live, and what then shall we do?

Give nothing to worry, but hold what is true: 

That God who surpasses all that we can know

Will guard heart and mind as in Jesus we grow.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, January 2021, after Luke 3:7-18 and Philippians 4:4-7 

(Advent 3C)

MUSIC: Tune CRADLE SONG, William James Kirkpatrick, 1895

 

Part of the Advent Hymnary project

The Lord began a work in John

The Lord began a work in John, 

then dwelling in the wilderness.

Repentance was the word he gave 

to those all bound in sin’s distress.

“Prepare the way now for the Lord, 

            and make his paths all straight and true.”

 

The Lord began a work in you

            before you e’er could know or say, 

And that same Lord will see that work

            until the coming of that day, 

That day of Christ, our saving Lord, 

            whose word is faithful, just and true.

 

Now as this work in you goes on,

            we pray your love may overflow

With knowledge and with insight sure,

            that you might see the way to go;

Onward to Jesus Christ, our Lord,

            who keeps you blameless, pure, and true.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, January 2021, after Luke 3:1-6 and Philippians 1:3-11 (Advent 2C)

MUSIC: Tune SUSSEX CAROL, English carol; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1912

 

 

Part of the Advent Hymnary project

 

 

In time of Advent

In time of Advent we await God's son in humble birth.

To angel choirs and shepherds' fame our hearts rejoice and lips exclaim,

"We pray your will be done! O come, Lord Jesus, come!"

 

Yet now, in days of hateful song, the guiding star's light dims.

As factions thrive on driving fear and threaten those whom you hold dear,

Our hope has come undone. O come, Lord Jesus, come.

 

Amidst the strife and raging fire we long to know you near.

We yearn for holy majesty and pray with longing, "Can we see

Our lives and souls redone?" O come, Lord Jesus, come.

 

So guide our steps and actions here in this unraveling time,

So that your Son born long ago will be the only Lord we know.

We pray your will be done! O come, Lord Jesus, come.

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, September 2020.

MUSIC: Tune REPTON, C. Hubert H. Parry, 1888.

 

 

 

Part of the Advent Hymnary project.

For lo! the day will surely come

For lo! the day will surely come;

God's promises will be fulfilled.

God's children will be safely home,

And justice done as God has willed.

 

So be on guard and not weighed down

With worries and desires in vain;

But pray that you may yet endure

To stand before the Son of Man.

 

May God give you the strength of heart

To stand in truth and without blame,

To welcome Christ and all his saints

And at his coming praise his name.

 

 

 

Text: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2020, after Advent 1C scriptures 

(Jeremiah 33:14-16; Luke 21:34-36; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13)

Music: Suggested tune VOM HIMMEL HOCH, Schuman's Geistliche Lieder, 1539

Another contribution to the Advent Hymnary project, moving to year C.

Behold and see the promise come

Behold and see the promise come; a woman who will bear a son.

A sign is given from God above, the true and only Holy One.

 

Behold and hear the holy Word, the gospel of God's only Son:

Once promised in the prophets' lore, now see the long-awaited one.

 

Behold and see the troubled man, the father of God's Holy Son;

In faith he heeds the angel's call to care for God's Anointed One.

 

Behold and hear the call today to follow God's most favored Son,

To serve and work and witness sure, to live in Christ who makes us one.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2020, after Advent 4A scriptures

MUSIC: Tune PUER NOBIS NASCITUR, Trier ms., 14^th cent.; adapt. Michael Praetorius, 1609; harm. George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1910.

Another hymn for the Advent Hymnary project; also, a potential substitute for a cycle of hymns for Year A Sundays, more general in nature than "When Joseph learned," originally created for Advent 4A. For churches that use a "Watch-Prepare-Rejoice-Behold" theme for Advent (which works very well in year A), this fits the "behold" theme well, obviously.

Hope is born

Hope is born, this night in Bethlehem.

The star leads on and calls us ever to One who forsakes us never.

Hope is born, this night in Bethlehem.

 

“Peace on earth,” a heavenly choir sings on,

“For now our God who reigns on high in this child has come down nigh.”

“Peace on earth,” a heavenly choir sings on.

 

“Great, great joy!” the angels sing their song.

“For you is born a Savior holy; yet he rests in manger lowly.”

“Great, great joy!” the angels sing their song.

 

Love has come; our life is now made new;

For like a candle breaks the night, this child comes as sacred light.

Love has come; our life is now made new.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, December 2018, revised August 2020 (after liturgy by Anna Traynham)

MUSIC: Tune STILL, STILL, STILL, Austrian Carol

As noted, this is a revision of an earlier hymn for Christmas Eve 2020, found here. The revision is fairly straightforward in that the original three verses are reversed in order and a fourth added, allowing for this hymn originally designed for Christmas Eve to recapitulate the hope-peace-joy-love cycle (associated with Advent and wreath lightings in many churches) more completely. As this set of Advent songs is not bound to a particular year's readings it may be usable in any Advent cycle. 

A hymn set for Advent B

 A set of hymns for the four Sundays of the not-as-far-away-as-you-think season of Advent, year B.

Advent 1B: I thank my God for you each time I pray

I thank my God for you each time I pray for God to keep you blameless on that day.

God gives true grace to you in Christ the Son, so you are strengthened by the Holy One.

I thank my God for you each time I pray for God to keep you blameless on that day.

 

The Word of Christ is strong among you all, so you lack nothing for your spiritual call.

Now wait for the revealing of God's Son; receive the strength of God's own Holy One.

I thank my God for you each time I pray for God to keep you blameless on that day.

 

God is a faithful God, who calls to you to live, in everything you say and do,

In fellowship with Jesus, God's own Son, the Christ, the Savior, God's own Holy One.

I thank my God for you each time I pray for God to keep you blameless on that day.

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, May 2020, after 1 Cor. 1:3-9 (Advent 1B)

MUSIC: Tune VENITE ADOREMUS, Italian folk melody, Children's Praise, 1871 (10.10.10.10 with refrain)

 

 

Advent 2B: It was written by the prophet

It was written by the prophet named Isaiah in that day: 

"See, a messenger before you, one who will prepare your way."

Crying out in darkest night, one who comes to show the light.

 

"In this time of bleakest chaos, now prepare the Lord a way;

Make a path both true and certain for the One who comes this day."

Prophet words foretold the light, all amidst the dark of night.

 

John was he who spoke this message, out in Jordan's wilderness;

Preaching and baptizing freely, both to chastise and to bless

All who did confess their sin. Then he placed this hope within:

 

"He who comes with heav'nly power brings the Spirit now to bless,

Far beyond this splash of water in this lonely wilderness."

Now prepare your hearts within, that your life be whole again.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, June 2020, after Mark 1:1-8 (Advent 2B)

MUSIC: Tune IRBY, Henry John Gauntlett, 1849. (8.7.8.7.7.7.)

Advent 3B: Rejoice! Rejoice in every time

Rejoice! Rejoice in every time! Give thanks in every way.

Give thanks for Christ, the Holy One, until that promised day,

Until that promised day.

 

Live life in prayer without an end; live prayer in all you say.

Hold fast to good, and shun the wrong until that promised day,

Until that promised day.

 

Let Spirit flame burn bright in you at home, at work, at play,

And do not douse that holy fire until that promised day,

Until that promised day:

 

That promised day when Christ shall come, when hope shall be made true,

For faithful is the one who calls to show us life anew,

To show us life anew.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, July 2020 (after 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)

MUSIC: Tune CHRISTMAS, George Frederick Handel, 1728; arr. Lowell Mason, 1821.

Advent 4B: To our God, who holds you strong

To our God, who holds you strong and will not let your soul succumb,

As foretold by Christ the Lord, who was and is and is to come:

Through our Christ, to God be glory, now, forever, Amen!

 

Once concealed in deepest mystery, kept in secret long ago,

Now revealed in prophet story that the world may come to know:

Through our Christ, to God be glory, now, forever, Amen!

 

By command of God eternal is this truth now made full-known,

So we folk of God's creation might true faith both live and own:

Through our Christ, to God be glory, now, forever, Amen!

 

Jesus Christ our only glory, low-born once, will come again;

He who was despised, rejected will on earth forever reign:

Through our Christ, to God be glory now, forever, Amen!

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2020 (after Romans 16:25-27)

MUSIC: Suggested tune REGENT SQUARE, Henry Thomas Smart, 1867

PDFs available.