Music and Meditation for the Second Sunday of Advent

Sunday, December 8, 2019 | The Second Sunday of Advent

"Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus"

Words by Charles Wesley (1744) with new chorus by Laura Story

Music is the hymn tune HYFRODOL by Rowland Prichard

Laura Story sings on her album God With Us (Fair Trade Services, 2015)

Come, thou long-expected Jesus

Born to set thy people free

From our fears and sins release us

Let us find our rest in thee

Israel's strength and consolation

Hope of all the earth thou art

Dear desire of every nation

Joy of every longing heart

Born thy people to deliver

Born a child and yet a king

Born to reign in us forever

Now thy gracious kingdom bring

By thine own eternal spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone

By thine all sufficient merit

Raise us to thy glorious throne

Come now great Redeemer

Come Emmanuel

Bless the nations with your presence here

Born our souls to rescue

Born to save your very own

Long expected Jesus

Make our hearts your home

Readings

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV)

Almighty God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

The Collect for the Second Sunday of Advent