Advent tidings, or, "I Have a Blog?"
Hello long-lost Hobbit Fans (yes, all two of you)!
According to Blogger, it's been over two years since I last left you a bon mot or two. Good reasons. Really good reasons. Because, Facebook. Ok, can't put all the blame on Facebook, even though Mr. Zuckerberg's little juggernaut really does take care of the urge to say a little sumpin' sumpin' about many things quickly. Despite having a note function however, it really doesn't sate the need for long form thoughts-- which we all have and which I've mostly let float off into the ether. But I'm back, at least for now, and am finally able to be addressed as Dr. Yankee Hobbit! For almost a year now! That alone should have merited a post, but, alas...
So what brings me back now? Today, December 1, is also Advent 1, for those of you who follow the liturgical calendar. Once upon another life, I worked at a church and was tasked with the meditations for the weekly prayer letter. I picked December because, as a singer, there are so many good Advent hymns. Also because with Advent is pretty much a red-headed stepchild with the acceleration of the holidays. (Halloween in July, anyone?) Anyhoo, I wrote these back in 2000 and revised them in 2002 (yes, the date will be telling in at least one of them) and went looking for them when so many of my Facebook friends were posting about Advent. I thought about parceling them out week by week, but decided that a) if someone were to want to borrow the series (with proper attribution, of course), I would follow the lead of my dear friend Joby Bell and offer them up here and b) I haven't posted in two years, can I really be trusted to post these weekly? LOL!
Here you go, my once and current thoughts on advent as illustrated by some favorite hymns.
Advent I
“Gidget’s House of Gadgets, can you hold please?” Oh, FINE! I tell you, I get so very tired of waiting. Waiting on hold. Waiting in line. Waiting for bulletin information. Waiting for Internet Explorer to load a page [Ha! Ok, now Firefox. Did it even exists in 2002? -ed.] Wait, wait, WAIT!!!!
At this time of year, we are waiting for something really good. Advent is the time we await the coming of Jesus, the Child born a King, Savior of the nations. As Charles Wesley’s hymn so beautifully tells us, He was born to set us free from our sins and our fears, to be our strength and our consolation, and the joy of each of our hearts. A friend of mine calls Advent “Thanksmas.” I’m sure it has to do with the way life speeds up between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But I prefer to think of it as the intersection of the hearts of the two feasts: we are thankful for the blessings of our lives as well as for the Lord who gives them, and who gave His Son that we might have them. We are “expecting” in every sense of the word, prayerfully waiting for the One in whom we find our rest, our peace and our salvation.
Even so, Lord Jesus, quickly come!
Advent II
There are few hymns in the Presbyterian Hymnal that give you a Technicolor-Charlton-Heston-in-a-dress-vivid view of heaven and earth. Well step right up, folks, ‘cause right here is one of the best of them!
If all mortal flesh really were to keep silence, in awe to see God as Christ descend to us, we wouldn’t need a liturgical season set aside to await His coming. Close your eyes for a second. See the untold numbers of the Heavenly Host do a color guard for the Lord. Even the Cherubim—who can see everything—have to cover their eyes against His glory! And what is this grand and glorious pageant for? The power and majesty that commands all of that adoration is coming— here— to be a small, weak, tiny baby. Once you catch your breath you ask, “Why?” For us folk. That we might never know sin, darkness and death. That we might live forever in that self-same Technicolor glory with Him.
Alleluia!!
Advent III
“Merry Christmas!” By now we’ve all said it hundreds of times. To clerks, co-workers, people who cut us off on the freeway, even telemarketers. After all, Christmas Day is only a few days away. We are all suffused with joy.
And why not rejoice? Shouldn’t the promise of God-With-Us make us happy? Peace on earth, good will to all? Well, sure. But there’s more to it than that. “Sion’s children join with us to sing the Son.” Not just Sion, but the world. East, West, North, South, downtown, outside the loop, in our backyard and a world away, Christians join to celebrate the birth of Christ. And in some of those places (think Israel/Palestine, Africa, rural America), joy is in painfully short supply even during this most joyous of times because of strife, poverty, hunger and illness. These are also the souls He came to win, something we easily overlook as we navel-gaze over our sense of lost prosperity and peace. So yes, be joyful! Spread cheer and good will! But let us also, through prayer, charity and action, spread opportunity and the tidings of comfort and joy that come through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Rejoicing!
Advent IV
“Whatdja get for Christmas?” echoes a common refrain of the season. The gifts are opened, the carols sung, the candles burned low, and you are sick to death of anything with sugar or butter in it. What now?
As some of you parents have undoubtedly discovered, some of the gifts we gave and received today have a life shorter than that of the average fruit-fly (28 days for the scientifically inclined). Some will prove to be more durable. A precious few will live on, if not in existence, then certainly in treasured memory. We’ve all been given a gift that is rare and precious. We were given it long ago, and we just take this time to be reminded of it and to celebrate it. It is the gift of the Savior. Much like some gifts we receive, on first inspection we weren’t sure what to make of this gift, this Jesus. What do I need with a baby? To quote the Rugrats’ Angelica, “Babies are dumb!” But this baby, blameless and innocent, grew to be the Son of Man, who healed the sick, wore a thorny crown, bled and died to redeem us all. Let us carry the light of Christmas in our hearts all the way though Easter and beyond…
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
- Melissa Givens
According to Blogger, it's been over two years since I last left you a bon mot or two. Good reasons. Really good reasons. Because, Facebook. Ok, can't put all the blame on Facebook, even though Mr. Zuckerberg's little juggernaut really does take care of the urge to say a little sumpin' sumpin' about many things quickly. Despite having a note function however, it really doesn't sate the need for long form thoughts-- which we all have and which I've mostly let float off into the ether. But I'm back, at least for now, and am finally able to be addressed as Dr. Yankee Hobbit! For almost a year now! That alone should have merited a post, but, alas...
So what brings me back now? Today, December 1, is also Advent 1, for those of you who follow the liturgical calendar. Once upon another life, I worked at a church and was tasked with the meditations for the weekly prayer letter. I picked December because, as a singer, there are so many good Advent hymns. Also because with Advent is pretty much a red-headed stepchild with the acceleration of the holidays. (Halloween in July, anyone?) Anyhoo, I wrote these back in 2000 and revised them in 2002 (yes, the date will be telling in at least one of them) and went looking for them when so many of my Facebook friends were posting about Advent. I thought about parceling them out week by week, but decided that a) if someone were to want to borrow the series (with proper attribution, of course), I would follow the lead of my dear friend Joby Bell and offer them up here and b) I haven't posted in two years, can I really be trusted to post these weekly? LOL!
Here you go, my once and current thoughts on advent as illustrated by some favorite hymns.
Advent I
“Gidget’s House of Gadgets, can you hold please?” Oh, FINE! I tell you, I get so very tired of waiting. Waiting on hold. Waiting in line. Waiting for bulletin information. Waiting for Internet Explorer to load a page [Ha! Ok, now Firefox. Did it even exists in 2002? -ed.] Wait, wait, WAIT!!!!
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit raise us to Thy glorious throne.
- Charles Wesley
At this time of year, we are waiting for something really good. Advent is the time we await the coming of Jesus, the Child born a King, Savior of the nations. As Charles Wesley’s hymn so beautifully tells us, He was born to set us free from our sins and our fears, to be our strength and our consolation, and the joy of each of our hearts. A friend of mine calls Advent “Thanksmas.” I’m sure it has to do with the way life speeds up between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But I prefer to think of it as the intersection of the hearts of the two feasts: we are thankful for the blessings of our lives as well as for the Lord who gives them, and who gave His Son that we might have them. We are “expecting” in every sense of the word, prayerfully waiting for the One in whom we find our rest, our peace and our salvation.
Even so, Lord Jesus, quickly come!
Advent II
There are few hymns in the Presbyterian Hymnal that give you a Technicolor-Charlton-Heston-in-a-dress-vivid view of heaven and earth. Well step right up, folks, ‘cause right here is one of the best of them!
Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture, In the body and the blood,
He will give to all the faithful His own self for heavenly food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of Light descendeth from the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away.
At His feet the six-winged seraph; Cherubim, with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Lord Most High!
- from the liturgy of St. James
If all mortal flesh really were to keep silence, in awe to see God as Christ descend to us, we wouldn’t need a liturgical season set aside to await His coming. Close your eyes for a second. See the untold numbers of the Heavenly Host do a color guard for the Lord. Even the Cherubim—who can see everything—have to cover their eyes against His glory! And what is this grand and glorious pageant for? The power and majesty that commands all of that adoration is coming— here— to be a small, weak, tiny baby. Once you catch your breath you ask, “Why?” For us folk. That we might never know sin, darkness and death. That we might live forever in that self-same Technicolor glory with Him.
Alleluia!!
Advent III
“Merry Christmas!” By now we’ve all said it hundreds of times. To clerks, co-workers, people who cut us off on the freeway, even telemarketers. After all, Christmas Day is only a few days away. We are all suffused with joy.
Let our voices resound with joy, welcoming this baby boy.
Sion’s children, with us join to sing the Son, the holy One of Mary. Rejoicing!
Christ is born this holy day! Rejoicing! Mary’s Son is born today!
Sion, let His praise begin, tiny Child, all free from sin,
Come from heav’n our souls to win, we sing the Son, the Holy One of Mary. Rejoicing!
Born is our Emmanuel, named by angel Gabriel.
Long ago Ezekiel foretold the Son, the Holy One of Mary. Rejoicing!
Run together everyone! Shout the praise of God’s own Son.
Let His will on earth be done, and follow Him, the little Son of Mary. Rejoicing!
Christ is born this holy day! Rejoicing, Mary’s Son is born today!
- from Walther’s Gesangbuch
[Note: can't find this hymn anywhere and don't remember where I found it. Oops! -ed.]
And why not rejoice? Shouldn’t the promise of God-With-Us make us happy? Peace on earth, good will to all? Well, sure. But there’s more to it than that. “Sion’s children join with us to sing the Son.” Not just Sion, but the world. East, West, North, South, downtown, outside the loop, in our backyard and a world away, Christians join to celebrate the birth of Christ. And in some of those places (think Israel/Palestine, Africa, rural America), joy is in painfully short supply even during this most joyous of times because of strife, poverty, hunger and illness. These are also the souls He came to win, something we easily overlook as we navel-gaze over our sense of lost prosperity and peace. So yes, be joyful! Spread cheer and good will! But let us also, through prayer, charity and action, spread opportunity and the tidings of comfort and joy that come through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Rejoicing!
Advent IV
“Whatdja get for Christmas?” echoes a common refrain of the season. The gifts are opened, the carols sung, the candles burned low, and you are sick to death of anything with sugar or butter in it. What now?
The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown, of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown. O, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer, the playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a blossom as white as any flower, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet Savior…
The holly bears a berry as red as any blood, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good…
The holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn; and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas Day in the morn…
The holly bears a bark as bitter as any gall, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all…
- Traditional English Carol
As some of you parents have undoubtedly discovered, some of the gifts we gave and received today have a life shorter than that of the average fruit-fly (28 days for the scientifically inclined). Some will prove to be more durable. A precious few will live on, if not in existence, then certainly in treasured memory. We’ve all been given a gift that is rare and precious. We were given it long ago, and we just take this time to be reminded of it and to celebrate it. It is the gift of the Savior. Much like some gifts we receive, on first inspection we weren’t sure what to make of this gift, this Jesus. What do I need with a baby? To quote the Rugrats’ Angelica, “Babies are dumb!” But this baby, blameless and innocent, grew to be the Son of Man, who healed the sick, wore a thorny crown, bled and died to redeem us all. Let us carry the light of Christmas in our hearts all the way though Easter and beyond…
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
- Melissa Givens
posted by YankeeHobbit | 6:13 PM
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