Third Sunday of Advent

The readings for December 11, the Third Sunday of Advent were:
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

Our introit hymn was O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright written by Philipp Nicolai, translated by Catherine Winkworth, and harmonized by J.S. Bach.

1. O Morning Star, how fair and bright
thou beamest forth in truth and light,
O Sovereign meek and lowly!
Thou Root of Jesse, David's Son,
my Lord and Master, thou has won
my heart to serve thee solely!
Thou art holy,
fair and glorious, all-victorious,
rich in blessing,
rule and might o'er all possessing.

2. Thou heavenly Brightness! Light divine!
O deep within my heart now shine,
and make thee there an altar!
fill me with joy and strength to be
thy member, ever joined to thee
in love that cannot falter;
toward thee longing
doth possess me; turn and bless me;
here in sadness
eye and heart long for thy gladness.

Our processional hymn was Blessed Be the God of Israel
It was written by Michael A. Perry. The hymn tune is called Thornbury composed by Basil Harwood.

1. Blessed be the God of Israel, who comes to set us free;
he visits and redeems us, he grants us liberty.
The prophets spoke of mercy, of freedom and release;
God shall fulfill his promise and bring his people peace.

2. He from the house of David a child of grace has given;
a Savior comes among us to raise us up to heaven.
Before him goes his herald, forerunner in the way,
the prophet of salvation, the harbinger of Day.

3. On prisoners of darkness the sun begins to rise,
the dawning of forgiveness upon the sinner’s eyes.
He guides the feet of pilgrims along the paths of peace.
O bless our God and Savior with songs that never cease.

Our second hymn was What Child Is This? I think it's too early to sing this, but I don't pick the hymns. The text of the carol was written by William Chatterton Dix in 1865. The tune is Greensleeves. Since the sixteenth century there has been a legend that Henry VIII was the composer of this music, but that's probably not true. It is believed that the tune is a very old Welsh lullaby.

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Our anthem was Prepare Thyself, Zion by J.S. Bach from The Christmas Oratorio. The link leads to a bulletin from All Souls Episcopal Cgurch in San Diego. Their weekly online bulletin has recordings of all the music from the service. How cool is that!

Prepare thyself, Zion, with tender affection, the purest, the fairest, this day to receive.

Our closing hymn was Joy to the World . I guess this was appropriate since the third Sunday of Advent is the "Joy" Sunday. The hymn was written by Isaac Watts. The hymn tune is called Antioch composed by George Frederick Handel and arranged by Lowell Mason.

Joy to the world! the Lord is come:
let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns;
let us our songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.