Advent Hymns for Morning Prayer

before December 17

 
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Hear the Herald Voice Resounding
The King of Glory Comes
Wake, Awake, the Night Is Dying
Behold a Virgin Bearing Him
On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
-
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 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.
Text: Charles Wesley; Melody: Stuttgart 87.87, C.F. Witt


Hear the Herald Voice Resounding
-
Hear the herald voice resounding:
“Christ is near,” it seems to say,
Cast away the dreams of darkness,
Welcome Christ, the light of day!”

Wakened by this solemn warning,
Let the earthbound soul arise;
Christ her sun, all sloth dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.

See the Lamb so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heav’n;
Hasten now, with tears of sorrow,
One and all to be forgiv’n.

So when next he comes with glory,
Shrouding all the earth in fear,
May he then as out defender
On the clouds of heav’n appear.

Honor, glory, virtue, merit,
To the Father and the Son,
With the co-eternal Spirit,
While eternal ages run.
Text: Vox clara ecce intonat, 6th Century; Translator: E. Caswall, 1814-1878; Melody: Merton 87.87, W.H. Monk, 1889


The King of Glory Comes
-

Refrain
The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices.
Open the gates before Him, lift up your voices.

Who is the King of glory: what shall we call Him?
He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages.

Refrain

In all of Galilee, in city or village,
He goes among his people, curing their illness.

Refrain

Sing then of David’s son, our Savior and brother,
In all of Galilee was never another.

Refrain

He gave His life for us, the pledge of salvation,
He took upon Himself in the sins of the nation.

Refrain

He conquered sin and death; he truly has risen,
And He will share with us his heavenly vision.
Text: W.F. Jabusch; Melody: Israeli Folksong


Wake, Awake, the Night Is Dying
-
Wake, awake, the night is dying,
And prophets from old are crying:
Awake, ye children of the light!
Lo, the Dawn shall banish sadness,
The Rising Sun shall bring us gladness
And all the blind shall see aright.

Refrain:
Rejoice, the King is near,
Our praises he will hear, alleluia!
But we must be prepared to see
The Brightness of eternity.

We shall heed the prophets’ warning,
And rise to greet the Prince of Morning:
His gentle rule shall bring us peace.
Love and mercy are his treasure,
The seas and skies obey his pleasure;
His mighty rule shall never cease.

Refrain
 
Let the shadows be forsaken,
The time has come for us to waken,
And to the Day our lives entrust.
Search the sky for heaven’s portal:
The clouds shall rain the Light Immortal,
And earth will soon bud forth the Just.

Refrain

Text: Melvin Farrell; Melody: Wachert Auf 898.898.664.448, Philip Nicolai, 1599


Behold a Virgin Bearing Him
-
Behold a virgin bearing him
Who comes to save us from our sin;
The prophets cry: prepare his way!
Make straight his paths to Christmas Day.

Behold our Hope and Life and Light,
The promise of the holy night;
We lift our prayer and bend our knee
To his great love and majesty.
Text: Michael Gannon; Melody: O Heiland Reis, Rheinfels Gesangbuch, 1666


On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry
-
Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
announces that the Lord is nigh;
awake and hearken, for he brings
glad tidings of the King of kings.

Then cleansed be every breast from sin;
make straight the way for God within,
prepare we in our hearts a home
where such a mighty Guest may come.

For thou art our salvation, Lord,
our refuge and our great reward;
without thy grace we waste away
like flowers that wither and decay.

All praise, eternal Son, to thee,
whose advent doth thy people free;
whom with the Father we adore
and Holy Ghost for evermore.
Text: Charles Coffin, 1736; Melody: Winchester, Hamburg, 1690


 
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