WEEK TWO | DAY ONE | LUKE 2:8-20 Adapted from a traditional French carol, this song originally appeared as an eight-stanza dialogue between a choir of shepherds and the women of Bethlehem. The shepherds tell the story of angels, mountains, heaven and earth rejoicing. The women ask, “What... read more →
Dec
10
Dec
10
As we enter week 2 of Advent, we celebrate the coming of Christ. We revel in the angels' announcement and the enthusiasm of the shepherds as they called others to come and see the newborn baby, the promised Messiah. And we rejoice that, like the shepherds, we too can... read more →
Dec
09
Due to publisher's permissions, we are unable to share the song lyrics for today's entry online. Visit this page for ways to interact with today's song. WEEK ONE | DAY SEVEN | ISAIAH 9:6, REVELATION 7:9 At the end of this first week of Advent, we make our prayer... read more →
Dec
08
WEEK ONE | DAY SIX | MATTHEW 1:1-17 "True man, yet very God"—from Jesse's line blooms the promised Savior. In much of the world, genealogies are an important part of one's identity. And while many of us might yawn through the genealogies in the Bible, for some cultures... read more →
Dec
07
WEEK ONE | DAY FIVE | ISAIAH 11:1-10 Each verse of this beloved Advent hymn points to the Good News that God has come and is coming. Fear not, for the promise of God's presence is fulfilled in Jesus, Emmanuel! What good news to share with a world... read more →
Dec
06
WEEK ONE | DAY FOUR | ISAIAH 40:5 This beautiful song from Handel's Messiah looks toward the day when all will see and acknowledge God’s glory. Its lyric—a prophetic verse from Isaiah—has filled countless churches, auditoriums and city streets. Initially written for Easter, Messiah was first performed in... read more →
Dec
05
WEEK ONE | DAY THREE | HEBREWS 1:1-9 The lyrics of this song come from a poem dating back to the 400s. The author, Spanish lawyer and judge Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348–c. 413), was considered the first great poet of the Latin church. The Trinity, a topic of... read more →
Dec
04
WEEK ONE | DAY TWO | HAGGAI 2:7 Written by Charles Wesley in 1744, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” captures the deep longing of ancient Israel, of Wesley's era and of our own. It is a prayer imploring Jesus to come, to release us from our fears and sins,... read more →
Dec
03
Due to publisher’s permissions, we are unable to share the song lyrics for today’s entry online. Visit this page for ways to interact with today’s song. WEEK ONE | DAY ONE | LUKE 1:46-55 Inspired by Mary’s prayer (also known as The Magnificat), this powerful hymn tells of the... read more →
Dec
03
During Week 1 of Advent, we focus on Promise + Prophecy. What must it have been like for the generations living before Jesus’ birth? Listening, watching, waiting, holding to the promise, seeking to discern the will of God, longing for the coming Messiah. The faith of God’s people... read more →