HymnSite.com's Suggested Hymns

"Pray Faithfully"

Light the Bethlehem Candle
(A litany for lighting Advent Wreath)
Today is the second Sunday in Advent,
We gather today to declare our loyalty to God's Rule.
Advent offers us another opportunity to get ready for the coming of God into our lives;
To draw near to the One in whom we have placed our trust;
To be profoundly changed.
We light this second candle
To remember the tender infant born in Bethlehem, who comes to meet us in answer to our faithful prayers.
God, help every heart prepare room for Jesus Christ.
We are FAITHFULLY PRAYING,
(unison:) "Be born in us today."

Sing:
230 O Little Town of Bethlehem vs. 4

Featured Hymn
203 Hail to the Lord's Annointed

Second Sunday in Advent, Year C
Scripture Theme Hymns
Malachi 3:1-4
The Appearance of God's Messenger;
God's Refining, Purifying Presence
The Day of the Lord is Awesome!
422 Jesus, Thine All Victorious Love
384 Love Divine, All Love's Excelling
211 O Come, O Come, Emanuel vs. 1&2 *
Psalm 126 Almost Too Good to be True;
Restored Fortunes;
From Tears to Joy
Psalter 847 resp. 2
75 All People that on Earth Do Dwell
126 Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above
Luke 3:1-6 Prepare The Way!;
John as Herald of God's Salvation
207 Prepare the Way of the Lord
202 People Look East
210 Toda la Tierra
Phillipians 1:3-11 The Day of Christ;
Brought to Completion in Christ
475 Come Down, O Love Divine
733 Come, We that Love the Lord
732 Come, We that Love the Lord
161 Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart
160 Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart

Featured Hymn
203 Hail to the Lord's Annointed

Text: James Montgomery
Tune: ELLACOMBE

There is general agreement among hymnologists that this is James Montgomery's finest rendering of any of the Psalms. Written for a Christmas Day convocation of Moravians in 1821, it was later read by its author at the close of a missionary meeting in a Wesleyan Chapel where Dr. Adam Clarke was presiding.

Dr. Clarke was so impressed with the excellence of Montgomery's paraphrase of Psalm 72 that he asked permission to include it in his forthcoming Commentary. It appears at the end of Dr. Clarke's exposition of Psalm 72, with the following effusive preface:

Then follows all eight of the orginal stanzas.

It is instructive to compare Montgomery's paraphrase of Psalm 72 with Isaac Watts' version of 1719 (nearly 100 years earlier): 157 Jesus Shall Reign. Montgomery has stuck less closely to the text than did Watts. Obviously Montgomery absorbed from the Psalm the essential intent of the Psalmist as he saw it and then proceeded to create his own imagery -- imagery that makes his rendition the one that is suitable for singing during Advent.

The hymn entered American Methodist hymnals in 1847. Usually the same 4 stanzas in current use have been printed. They are 1, 2, 4 and a final stanza composed of the first half of 7 and the last half of 8.

Return to top of page

God bless you--
HymnSite.com

Contributed by Rev. Linda K. Morgan-Clark


Additional Suggestion for using 211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

For a ritual to light the Advent Wreath read Antiphon 1 (opposite hymn) then sing verse 1 and refrain. Light first candle. Read Antiphon 4, sing verse 4 and refrain. Light second candle. Read Antiphon 2, sing verse 2 and refrain.

return to Lection

Links please

Please add a link to http://www.HymnSite.com/lection on your site if you find our resources are useful to you or your ministry.

God bless you!

Passages suggested are from The Revised Common Lectionary: Consultation on Common Texts (Abingdon Press, 1992) copyright © by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT), P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Reprinted with permission of CCT.