Tuesday 16 December 2014

Advent Reflections 4: The Advent Antiphons

This post is the fourth in a series of weekly posts during Advent inspired by "Holy Boy", a Christmas oratorio which we're performing at Acomb Methodist Church on 21st December at 2.30pm.

The Advent Antiphons are an ancient set of seven Latin prayers recalling the promises of God, to be read or sung each day in the week between 17th December and Christmas Eve. These were immortalised in the carol "O Come, O Come, Immanuel", though we don't usually sing all seven verses! So over the next week I invite you to join me in praying through them as we prepare for Christmas. Thanks to the Northumbria Community for their inspiration in Celtic Daily Prayer!  

17th December
O come, O come, thou wisdom from above, The universe sustaining with thy love.
Thou springest forth from the Almighty's mouth. Subdue us now, and lead us in Thy truth.
O Wisdom, You come forth from the mouth of the Most High.
You fill the universe and hold all things together in a strong yet gentle manner.
O come to teach us the way of truth.

18th December
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height,
          In ancient times didst give the law in cloud, and majesty and awe:

O Adonai and leader of Israel, You appeared to Moses in a burning bush and You gave him the law on Sinai.
O come and save us with Your mighty power.

19th December
O come, Thou rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save; and give them vict'ry o'er the grave:
O Stock of Jesse, You stand as a signal for the nations.
Kings fall silent before You whom the peoples acclaim. O come to deliver us, and do not delay.

20th December
O come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heav'nly home;                       Make safe the way that leads on high,and close the path to misery:
O Key of David and sceptre of Israel, what You open, no one can close again; what You close, no one can open. O come to lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

21st December
O Come, Thou dayspring, come and cheer, Our spirits by Thine advent here           Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Lord, on this shortest day we thank you for the seasons and the world you have made. We remember that we too are part of the natural world and we long for spring and sunshine again! Help us through that longing to connect with your desire for justice and work with you to make it happen. 

22nd December
O come, Desire of Nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind.

Bid the strife and quarrels cease. Fill all the world with heaven's peace.
Lord, we bring you the nations of the world. In the midst of conflict, may your peace reign. Where there is misunderstanding and hostility, may your children be peacemakers willing to welcome the stranger. And this year, after so many wasted years of negotiations that have gone nowhere, we pray that there will finally be a binding agreement between the nations to take deep and significant action together to protect your world and all the peoples in it from catastrophic climate change.

23rd December
O come, O come Immanuel, And ransom captive Israel                                                         That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear
O Immanuel, You are our King and judge, the One whom the peoples await, and their Saviour. O come and save us, Lord, our God.

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