The first Sunday in Advent brings with it the mystery of Christ’s coming as well as His coming again. The Sanctuary Choir will be singing Noel Carol for Advent by Patrick Liebergen, which adds original text to three familiar hymns, “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”, “We Three Kings”, and “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”. A flowing keyboard accompaniment and flute obligato tie all the tunes together. Our flutist will be Shelton student Anne Shows.

Glinda

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The opening voluntary for the First Sunday of Advent is “Oh, Come, Emmanuel” by Wilbur Held. It is based on VENI EMMANUEL, the fifteenth century tune associated with the advent hymn we know as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” PH 9. The text dates to the twelfth century and is derived from the “O” antiphons. An antiphon is a verse usually from scripture said or sung before and after a canticle, psalm, or psalm verse as part of the liturgy. The “O” antiphons, traditionally sung before and after the Magnificat, each began with “O” followed by a biblical title for Messiah.

The offertory is “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending” (Jesus Comes with Clouds Descending,) PH 6. This advent hymn is attributed to Charles Wesley and it was published under his name in Hymns of Intercession for All Mankind (1758); however, it seems likely that Wesley adapted it from a Moravian hymn. The Presbyterian Hymnal associates the text with HELMSLEY, but other hymnals associate it with different tunes. The musical setting you will hear is by Paul Manz and the tune is ST. THOMAS (Wade).
The closing voluntary is Joseph Bertolozzi’s “Partita on ‘People Look East’” It is based on BESANCON, the old carol tune that is the musical setting for the “Carol of Advent” by Eleanor Farjeon that first appeared in “Modern Texts Written for or Adapted to Traditional Tunes,” The Oxford Book of Carols (1928). We will sing “People Look East,” PH 12, next Sunday.

Gail