For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits,
truly my hope is in you.
O Lord of Light, our only hope of glory,
your radiance shines in all who look to you,
come, light the hearts of all in dark and shadow.
For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits,
truly my hope is in you.
O Spring of Joy, rain down upon our spirits,
our thirsty hearts are yearning for your Word,
come, make us whole, be comfort to our hearts.
For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits,
truly my hope is in you.
O Root of Life, implant your seed within us,
and in your advent, draw us all to you,
our hope reborn in dying and in rising.
For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits,
truly my hope is in you.
O Key of Knowledge, guide us in our pilgrimage,
we ever seek, yet unfulfilled remain,
open to us the pathway of your peace.
For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits,
truly my hope is in you.
Come, let us bow before the God who made us,
let ev'ry heart be opened to the Lord,
for we are all the people of his hand.
For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits,
truly my hope is in you.
Here we shall meet the Maker of the heavens,
Creator of the mountains and the seas,
Lord of the stars, and present to us now.
Console my people, the ones dear to me:
speak to the heart of Jerusalem:
the time of your mourning is ended now,
the Lord of life will come.
A voice cries out in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord!
A voice cries out in the wilderness:
Make straight a highway for God!
Ev'ry valley is made a plain,
ev'ry mountain is leveled
the glory of God shall then be revealed,
and the nations will sing in praise.
A voice cries out in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord!
A voice cries out in the wilderness:
Make straight a highway for God!
A voice shouts: "Cry!" O what shall I cry?
All flesh is like grass and its flowers:
the grass may wither, the flower may fade,
but the Word of the Lord is forever.
A voice cries out in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord!
A voice cries out in the wilderness:
Make straight a highway for God!
Zion, shout from the mountain top,
lift up your voice O Jerusalem,
and say to the people of God's own land,
"Behold, behold your God!"
A voice cries out in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord!
A voice cries out in the wilderness:
Make straight a highway for God!
The Lord will appear as a shepherd,
holding his lambs in his arms,
keeping his flock so close to his heart
leading them all, old and young.
A voice cries out in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord!
A voice cries out in the wilderness:
Make straight a highway for God!
Come to set us free, come to make us your own.
Come to show the way to your people, your chosen.
Open our lives to the light of your promise.
Come to our hearts with healing, come to our minds with power,
come to us and bring us your life.
You are light which shines in darkness, Morning Star which never sets.
Open our eyes which only dimly see the truth which sets us free.
Come to set us free, come to make us your own.
Come to show the way to your people, your chosen.
Open our lives to the light of your promise.
Come to our hearts with healing, come to our minds with power,
come to us and bring us your life.
You are hope which brings us courage, you are strength which never fails.
Open our minds to ways we do not know, but where your Spirit grows.
Come to set us free, come to make us your own.
Come to show the way to your people, your chosen.
Open our lives to the light of your promise.
Come to our hearts with healing, come to our minds with power,
come to us and bring us your life.
You are promise of salvation, you are God in human form.
Bring to our world of emptiness and fear the Word we long to hear.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
Who orders all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times once gave the law,
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Rod of Jesse's stem,
From ev'ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty power to save,
And give them vict'ry o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Dayspring from on high
And cheer us by your drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of humankind;
O bid our sad divisions cease,
And be for us our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
Text: Veni, veni Emmanuel Translated by John M. Neale Tune: Thomas Helmore
Gather in hope, people of God. Sing the Advent song!
Song of faith, song of trust, a song to welcome the Christ.
Let the warmth of our love, like the long summer days,
prepare the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord.
Let our will for justice, as strong as the sun,
prepare the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord.
Gather in hope, people of God. Sing the Advent song!
Song of faith, song of trust, a song to welcome the Christ.
Let our thirst for the truth, like the dry, parched earth,
prepare the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord.
Let our dream for peace, as bright as the sky,
prepare the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord.
Gather in hope, people of God. Sing the Advent song!
Song of faith, song of trust, a song to welcome the Christ.
Let the prophet be heard, like the blaze of fire:
prepare the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord.
Let the poor and the rich as the lamb and the lion,
prepare the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord.
Gather in hope, people of God. Sing the Advent song!
Song of faith, song of trust, a song to welcome the Christ.
Stand alert and be ready to welcome the Christ.
prepare the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord.
Let this be our prayer as we lift up our hearts:
prepare the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord.
Gather in hope, people of God. Sing the Advent song!
Song of faith, song of trust, a song to welcome the Christ.
There was a man of God whose name was John.
He came to speak for the light.
The voice of one in the wilderness:
"Prepare the way of the Lord."
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Mountains and hills shall be brought to the ground,
the winding paths be straightened
and all on earth shall see his face;
prepare the way of the Lord.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
He's the lamb of God and you must follow him
who takes the sin of the world,
for he has come to give you life.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Wake, O wake, and sleep no longer,
For he who calls you is no stranger:
Awake, God's own Jerusalem!
Hear, the midnight bells are chiming
The signal for his royal coming:
Let voice to voice announce his name!
We feel his footsteps near,
The Bridegroom at the door
Alleluia! The lamps will shine
With light divine
As Christ the Saviour comes to reign.
Zion hears the sound of singing;
Her heart is thrilled with sudden longing:
She stirs, and wakes, and stands prepared.
Christ, her friend, and lord, and lover,
Her star and sun and strong redeemer
At last his mighty voice is heard.
The Son of God has come
To make with us his home:
Sing Hosanna! The fight is won,
The feast begun;
We fix our eyes on Christ alone.
Glory, glory, sing the angels,
While music sounds from strings and cymbals;
All humankind, with songs arise!
Twelve the gates into the city,
Each one a pearl of shining beauty;
The streets of gold ring out with praise.
All creatures round the throne
Adore the holy One
With rejoicing: Amen be sung
By ev'ry tongue
To crown their welcome to the King.
Text: Matthew 25:1-13; Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, Philipp Nicolai; translated by Christopher Idle Tune: Wachet Auf; Philipp Nicolai, J.S. Bach