Advent II
Vocal Music:
Prepare Ye the Way
The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns
Awake, O Sleeper
Instrumental Music:
Variations on Navy Hymn
Congregational Music:
Hark! a Thrilling Voice is Sounding
Gospel Acclamation for Advent
Emmanuel
Christ, Be Our Light
Prepare the Way, O Zion
This Sunday we are celebrating Advent II with confirmation, and will be visited by Bishop Andy Doyle, who will also be blessing the Children's Building. A big day indeed!
At the offertory, the choir will sing an arrangement of "The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns" with the shape note tune "Morning Hymn". This is one of my favorite Advent hymns, which I was introduced to at Trinity. The text begins with anticipation of the Baby Jesus and the Kings from afar, but the second verse takes us to the end of the world. When the Lord comes again, he will not come in swaddling clothes but in his full glory.
The
King shall come when morning dawns,
And light triumphant breaks;
When beauty gilds the eastern
hills,
And life to joy awakes.
Not as of old a little child
To bear, and fight, and die,
But crowned with glory like the
sun
That lights the morning sky.
The King shall come when
morning dawns,
And earth’s dark night is past;
O haste the rising of that
morn,
The day that aye shall last.
And let the endless bliss
begin,
By weary saints foretold,
When right shall triumph over
wrong,
And truth shall be extolled.
The King shall come when
morning dawns,
And light and beauty brings:
Hail, Christ the Lord! Thy
people pray,
Come quickly, King of kings.
At Communion, the band will sing "Awake, O Sleeper" by relatively new artist Ike Ndolo. Ike was born in Missouri to Nigerian parents. He developed a love of music by listening to his mother sing hymns. He often collaborates with Matt Maher.
In the
darkest times of life
When our
lights refuse to shine
You are
there, you are there
When our
hearts become like stone
When we
live without hope
You are
there, you are there
Don't let
your hearts be troubled
Awake o
sleeper
Arise
from slumber
Christ is
calling your name
In the
midst of life's decay
When our
lives become like graves
Rescue
us, Rescue us
Finally, as a tribute to George H.W. Bush, I will play "Variations on the Navy Hymn" as the postlude. The nation was brought together this past week in remembering the life of President Bush, and Houstonians were on the front row in offering solemn and uplifting tributes. Several of the visions I saw this week included the Air Force One flyover, the Funeral service at St. Martin's, the 4141 train from Spring to College Station, the A & M Corp of Cadets lining the street. As you know, President Bush was a Naval Aviator, so this is a fitting tribute. The first verse is the tune as a hymn, followed by a subdued Variation 1. Variation 2 includes a solo on the trumpet stop and is very celebratory in nature. Variation 3 pulls out all of the stops! I have matched each variation to a verse, and have included one of the alternate texts, as it is fitting for an aviator.
Verse 1: Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Verse 2: O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Alternate text: Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces in the sky.
Be with them always in the air,
In darkening storms or sunlight fair;
Oh, hear us when we lift our prayer,
For those in peril in the air!
Mary C. D. Hamilton (1915)
Verse 4: O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
