Two Advent Hymns
James Marriott plays organ overtures to “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates.”
The Advent of the Word
Reflecting on the advent(s) of Christ in a year of interruptions
The Music of Advent
Jim Marriott dives into the rich hymnody of Advent
“Holy Rude”
An Advent-Christmas devotional reflection from Francis “Rev” Rossow
Come, Lord Jesus: A New Sermon Series
Mart Thompson talks about his new Advent-Christmas sermon series
O Emmanuel
December 23 ANTIPHON O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Desire of All Nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God. READING From Isaiah chapters 7 and 33: Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name ..
O King of Nations
December 22 ANTIPHON O King of the Nations, the Ruler they long for, the Cornerstone uniting all people: Come and save mankind whom You formed out of clay. READING From Isaiah chapter 28, Psalm 118, and Ephesians chapter 2: Therefore, thus says the Lord God: See, I am laying a stone in ..
O Dayspring
December 21 ANTIPHON O Dayspring, Splendor of Light Everlasting and Sun of Righteousness: Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. READING From Isaiah chapter 9, Malachi chapter 4, and 2 Peter chapter 1: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Upon those ..
O Key of David
December 20 ANTIPHON O Key of David and Scepter of the House of Israel, You open and no one can close, You close and no one can open: Come and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and the shadow of death. READING From Psalm 107 and Isaiah chapters 22 and 42: They dwelt ..
O Root of Jesse
December 19 ANTIPHON O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before Whom all kings are mute, to Whom the nations will do homage: Come to deliver us, and delay not. READING From Isaiah chapters 11, 52, and 53: There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and ..
O Adonai
December 18 ANTIPHON O Adonai, and Ruler of the House of Israel, Who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: Come and with an outstretched arm redeem us. READING From Exodus chapter 6 and Micah chapter 5: Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, ..
O Wisdom
Today in chapel we had a service that prayed and sung the O Antiphons of Advent. Traditionally, the O Antiphons were sung consecutively beginning on December 17 and ending on December 23. For our students, we experienced them all at once, but for you, our readers, we offer a version of them one at a time. ..
Advent 4 • Luke 1:39–45 (46–56) • December 20, 2015
By Travis Scholl [Advent’s historical] character was that of a joyous looking forward to the Parousia. . . . The fact that Christ has come does not quench this hope; it intensifies it. The historical life and work of the Christ gives us all the more reason for expressing a lively and joyful hope.¹ Is ..
Hope Rising: Preaching Luke
David Schmitt on preaching Luke from Advent to Easter in Year C. Need we say more?
Advent 3 • Luke 7:18–28 (29–35) • December 13, 2015
By Jeffrey A. Oschwald Luke 7:18‒35 presents the preacher with a challenge: although unified by references to John, the three subsections are diverse in topic and style. As Fitzmyer notes, the passage deals with (1) John’s question and Jesus’s answer, (2) Jesus’s testimony concerning John, and (3) Jesus’s judgment of his generation’s assessment of himself ..
Advent 2 • Luke 3:1–14 (15–20) • December 6, 2015
By Dale A. Meyer Straightforward and familiar, this easy text isn’t easy. John the Baptist, “brood of vipers,” “wrath to come,” “bear fruits . . . and do not say to yourselves,” and the like are a routine Advent reading and its theme of repentance is what we do Sunday after Sunday, but familiarity with ..