Happy Advent

[Thomas Loy Bumgarner]

To mark, Kit,Coolchief wishing you and the others a hopeful, patient Advent season. Take care and my God's love be with you all. Thomas

[coolchef]

thank you and also to you!!!!!!!!!!! i love the christmas season!!!!

[excathedra]

yeah well i have an advent calendar from my mom

[Kit Sober]

Thanks for the remembrance of the first coming of the King.

I haven't had an advent calendar since the kids were home. Nice thought.

We do have advent wreath and candles marking the remembrance.

Peace be with you.

[markomalley]

Thanks, Thomas

[ChattyKathy]

Purple and pink....nice colors for those candles as well.

Peace be with you all.

[markomalley]

For Sion's sake I will not hold my peace,

and for the sake of Jerusalem, I will not rest

till her just one come forth as brightness,

and her saviour be lighted as a lamp.

And the Gentiles shall see thy just one,

and all kings thy glorious one:

and thou shalt be called by a new name,

which the mouth of the Lord shall name.

And thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord,

and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

Thou shalt no more be called Forsaken:

and thy land shall no more be called Desolate:

but thou shalt be called My pleasure in her,

and thy land inhabited.

Because the Lord hath been well pleased with thee:

and thy land shall be inhabited.

For the young man shall dwell with the virgin,

and thy children shall dwell in thee.

And the bridegroom shall rejoice over the bride,

and thy God shall rejoice over thee.

- Isa 62:1-5

(reading for the Vigil of Christmas)

Here's hoping this Advent was a peaceful season of preparation for the rememberance of the first coming of the Lord and for the upcoming second coming!

[Thomas Loy Bumgarner]

Sorry I haven't said this for this year, and Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night(apologies to Clement Moore and "A Visit by St. Nick").

[mstar1]

Click for Music

For those of you who appreciate church music, the next time you are in New York City check out St Thomas Episcopal Church on 53rd and 5th Avenue. I was there yesterday on unrelated business and walked into a Lessons and Carols service that was, even though it is generally not my 'thing', extraordinary and perfect to elevate my sense of the season...They have one of the best music programs in the country--if you are ever in NY dont miss it---

Happy Advent to you all!

[Thomas Loy Bumgarner]

Love lessons and Carols. BTW was this the Advent or Christmas version(later is usually 9 lessons with John 1:1-18, Once in Royal David's City, Adeste Fideles, Hark! The hearld angels sing, and J.S. Bach's Organ Fantasie on In Dulci Jubilo)?

[mstar1]

Im not exactly sure which one it was, Im not that familiar with the Episcopalian traditions or its nuances.. as I said I just happened to walk in on it which was enough for me at the time to be uplifted

FWIW Here is the The order of the service (or most of it anyway), maybe you can tell which one it was from this:

Prelude -Pastoral, Op.19 Cesar Franck

Hymn - O Little Town Of Bethlehem

Lords Prayer

Carol - Up! Good Christian folk, and listen Melody from Piae Cantiones (1582)

First lesson -Genesis 3:8-15

Carol - Adam lay ybounden (English Traditional Carol)

Hymn - God rest you merry gentlemen (18th Century London Carol)

Second Lesson -Isaiah 11:1-3a, 4a,6-9

Carol - The Lamb (William Blake)

Hymn - Away in a Manger

Third Lesson -Luke 1:26-35, 38

Hymn- While Shepherds watched their flocks by night

Carol - There is no rose (15th Century)

Fourth Lesson - Luke 2:1,3-20

Carol - Sir Christemas (15th Century English carol)

Fifth Lesson - John 1:1-14

Hymn - Angels we have heard on high

Voluntary - Carillon-Sortie (Henry Mulet)

Edited December 28, 2007 by mstar1

[Thomas Loy Bumgarner]

Seemed to be an Advent one. btw, Advent this year begins on November 30, St. Andrew's day which falls on Sunday. Bumping this up(Christ the King/Sunday of the Fulfillment of the End Times was celebrated this past Sunday on the 23rd). Will be posting Advent hymns in the Reading room forum.