As you may have heard me talk about on the air … Sunday, November 27th was the beginning of Advent, which this year lasts an even four weeks, concluding on Christmas Eve, December 24th. It, of course, is the period that we Christians define as the “Christmas season.”
Advent is defined as “coming” or “arrival” … and, in the heart of a true Christian, is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing.
It is very much church-related, as the beginning of Advent and the preparing for the birth of the Christ child is also considered the beginning of the church year in many churches. And, most churches celebrate with the lighting of the five Advent candles … on for each Sunday in Advent and the last or center one being lit on Christmas Eve, which creates light that reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world that comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life and hope.
During this period of joyful expectation … our focus is on this thought, this prayer . . .
Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.Oh, come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
This beautiful hymnsong was translated from a Latin text back in the 1800’s by John Neale.
The Music of Christmas . . .
As you hear, it’s begun to play on enLighten … and we’ll be increasing the quantity a little more each day … until 11 AM ET on Friday, December 23rd, when we’ll begin the annual 80-hour Southern Christmas Celebration.
The previous December 17th weekend, Paul Heil will be bringing you his ever-popular annual A Gospel Christmas 2011 … and on Thursday, December 22nd, enLighten will air a Gospel Greats special titled Christmas Stories.
