The words and music of the hymns of the beautiful season of Advent are frequently inspiring and haunting. We asked some members of our church about their favourite Advent hymn. (Click on the hymn title for more information)
Fliss writes
My favourite is Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown. Apart from the traditional ‘thou’s and ‘thee’s which I love, the refrain was a line in a little white communion book I was given for my confirmation which had guidance pages in it for each part of the mass…it said…’as you walk up to the altar to receive communion, say these words to yourself. ..O come to my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee.’ It now forms part of my prayers on a regular basis
Noel writes
Thy kingdom come! On bended knee The passing ages pray. Beginning gently in reflective mode, and aided admirably by the splendid set-tune IRISH, these magnificent words of Frederick Hosmer raise us gradually, verse by verse, to our ultimate hope and expectation — “the day of perfect righteousness.”
Fr Chris writes
On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry. Special for me in the last verse are the words “whose advent doth thy people free”. It links in with those words from the Prayer Book collect from Morning Prayer “whose service is perfect freedom”; and resonates with the quiet joy which underpins our faith. We pray that we might ‘cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light’ – our faith is one of Love, Joy and Peace – how liberating!
Fr Ian writes
This year I am loving the slightly obscure Victorian missionary and Advent hymn There’s a light upon the mountains with its powerful Biblical imagery and the tune written specifically for it with its wonderful crescendo at the end of the verse. Its full of expectation and hope “There’s a hush of expectation, and a quiet in the air, and the breath of God is moving in the fervent breath of prayer…”
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