advent: this is the Christ.

Greetings! Hope your Thanksgiving was grand. I'll tell you all about ours soon, but first, it's time for this week's Advent tune.

I hope you're enjoying the journey as I share some of my favorite Christmas songs that talk about the coming of Christ. I am certainly enjoying talking about some great music and Spirit-infused lyrics that remind us of Emmanuel, God with us, right here and now in the mess of our lives.

This one is a lesser known hymn, originally written by Martin Luther. I tried performing it once on a Christmas Eve service, but the lyrics are a bit lofty to understand just by hearing once, so I don't think it landed well. Hopefully you'll see why I love it after you take some time with the words. 

good news from heaven the angels bring,
glad tidings to the earth they sing
to us this day a child is given
to crown us with the joy of heaven

this is the Christ, our God and Lord
who in all need shall aid afford
He will himself our Savior be
and from our sins will set us free

all hail, thou noble Guest this morn
whose love did not the sinner scorn
in my distress Thou come’st to me
what thanks shall I return to Thee?

were earth a thousand times as fair
beset with gold and jewels rare
she yet were far too poor to be
a narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee...

praise God upon His heavenly throne
who gave to us His only Son
for this His hosts on joyful wing
a blest New Year of mercy sing.

this is the Christ, our God and Lord
who in all need shall aid afford
He will himself our Savior be
and from our sins will set us free.

Here's the version that introduced me to this song--I give you Sandra McCracken. So lovely. Talk to you soon.