Choral Anthems for Sunday, December 3, 2023
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 to save, born to heal, come, O Savior, come.
While we wait, while we pray, come, Savior, come.
Hope of all, heaven and earth, come, Jesus, come,
O Jesus, come.
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 and Mark Miller
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming as men of old have sung.
It came a floweret bright amid the cold of winter
when half-spent was the night.
Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind,
with Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To shew God’s love aright, she bore to us a Savior
when half-spent was the night.
--German carol, trans. Theodore Baker, 1894 (alt).
“Comfort, comfort now my people; Tell of peace!” So says our God.
Comfort those who sit in darkness mourning under sorrow’s load.
To God’s people now proclaim that God’s pardon waits for them!
Tell them that their war is over; God will reign in peace forever!
For the herald’s voice is crying in the desert far and near,
calling us to true repentance, since the Kingdom now is here.
Oh, that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way!
Let the valleys rise to meet him, and the hills bow down to greet him!
Straight shall be what long was crooked, and the rougher places plain!
Let your hearts be true and humble, as befits his holy reign!
For the glory of the Lord now on earth is shed abroad,
and all flesh shall see the token that God’s word is never broken.
--Johann G. Olearius, 1611-1684; tr. C. Winkworth, 1829-1878