Musical Advent Calendar - Day 3

Each day, from December 1 to December 25, I will post the text (and translation, if necessary) of an Advent- or Christmas-themed song, along with the URL for a YouTube video containing that song. (Select "Musical Advent Calendar" from the list of labels in the right sidebar to sort all of them out from the other posts on the blog.) You will note that each selection has a text, collectively representing the last 2000 years, and this is intentional. For the more familiar texts (such as popular Christmas carols), I have chosen a variety of interpretations and performers, from professional choirs to contemporary Christian worship leaders. I suggest that you follow the text as the music plays, and reflect on the words that proclaim the First Advent of our Savior, the Lord Jesus.

May our King, who promises to come again, reveal himself to you in a new way this Advent.

DECEMBER 3

Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying

Text was originally written in German by Philipp Nicolai (1599), translated into English and altered by Catherine Winkworth (1858).
Hymn Tune: "Wachet Auf" by Hans Sachs (1513), adapted by Nicolai, harmonized by J.S. Bach (c. 1730)
Choral arrangement by F. Melius Christiansen, performed by the Concordia Choir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVYdfCaY-do

Wake, awake, for night is flying,
The watchmen on the heights are crying:
"Awake, Jerusalem, at last!"

Musical Advent Calendar - Day 2

Each day, from December 1 to December 25, I will post the text (and translation, if necessary) of an Advent- or Christmas-themed song, along with the URL for a YouTube video containing that song. (Select "Musical Advent Calendar" from the list of labels in the right sidebar to sort all of them out from the other posts on the blog.) You will note that each selection has a text, collectively representing the last 2000 years, and this is intentional. For the more familiar texts (such as popular Christmas carols), I have chosen a variety of interpretations and performers, from professional choirs to contemporary Christian worship leaders. I suggest that you follow the text as the music plays, and reflect on the words that proclaim the First Advent of our Savior, the Lord Jesus.

May our King, who promises to come again, reveal himself to you in a new way this Advent.

DECEMBER 2
The First Sunday of Advent

O Come,O Come, Emmanuel

Text is a twelfth century Latin hymn, translated by John M. Neale (1851)
Hymn Tune: "Veni Emmanuel" by Thomas Helmore (1854), based on plainsong
Performed by Selah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPfdD3pBUig

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows move to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan's tyranny.
From depths of hell, thy people save, and give them victory o'er grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Articles of the Week - December 1

Happy December! Today begins meteorological winter - and the forecast for Chicago calls for mid-fifties. I guess the key word there was "Chicago."

This is also the first weekend of Advent. Given that, I want to begin this week with a few Advent-themed items:

• David Taylor reflects on the counter-cultural nature of the season of Advent (as properly understood) and offers his own "acts of service" Advent calendar.
• Daniel Montgomery and Bobby Giles, writing for The Gospel Coalition offer the counter-cultural proposal that we skip the "Christmas season" this year.
• Ray Pritchard begins his Advent Devotional Series today.
• Speaking of Advent calendars, check out the Evangelism Advent Calendar from the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, and also my own Musical Advent Calendar, which began earlier this morning - select "Musical Advent Calendar" from the right sidebar to see the complete calendar to date.
• This isn't exactly Advent-themed, but I have to share the Stuff Christians Like take on the real meaning of Christmas

Now on to faith, theology, and church life:

• Another thought-provoking installment from Ray Pritchard's devotional series on Ecclesiastes, this one on the grace of God even in the face of loss
• The Gospel Coalition offers an excerpt from Tim Keller's book on "the power of deep rest."
• Christianity Today offers an excerpt from a Dietrich Bonhoeffer sermon on "why love never ends."
• Also in CT, Fred Sanders reviews Carl Trueman's The Creedal Imperative, a new book about "the need for creeds."
• Jared C. Wilson, of TGC, offers six questions worship service planners should ask.
• Josh Deffam, guest blogging for Stuff Christians Like, notes the different types of church ushers, including the most impressive: synchronized ushers.

Some thoughts on politics and public policy:

• Michael Kinsey wrote a striking op-ed for the Chicago Tribune on the concept of change (the seventh paragraph is a particularly good summary of the ironic American perspective).
• Stuart Stevens, from the Romney campaign, reflects on the former governor's work on the campaign trail, and what it all means for the Republican Party's future (also in the Tribune).
• Amy Payne of The Heritage Foundation writes about movement in international Internet regulation
• A business/technology story with some public policy implications: The Econonist takes a look at the "four giants of the Internet age"
• The Gospel Coalition reports on "recent news and reports on marriage and family" (compiled by Joe Carter).

A few interesting arts and entertainment notes:

• Colin Eatock writes for the Houston Chronicle about a trend toward young music directors for American orchestras (this surprised me at first reading, probably because the music director of my favorite, hometown orchestra is in his seventies)
• Speaking of my favorite, hometown orchestra, Heather Gillers of the Chicago Tribune summarizes music director Riccardo Muti's role and compensation at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Peter Dobrin of the Philadelphia Inquirer explores "music's connections to society as a whole."
• Robert Beaser, of the Juilliard faculty, writes a feature for The New York Times on "the rigid old days of contemporary music" - and what things are really like today.

And a few odds and ends:

• WorldVision has an anecdote (and a challenge) about the life-changing nature, for youth, of having a tangible purpose
• Carrie Muskat of MLB.com summarizes the Chicago Cubs' progress this offseason in building next season's team

What articles or blogs caught your attention this week? Share them in the comments section below!

Musical Advent Calendar - Day 1

Each day, from December 1 to December 25, I will post the text (and translation, if necessary) of an Advent- or Christmas-themed song, along with the URL for a YouTube video containing that song. (Select "Musical Advent Calendar" from the list of labels in the right sidebar to sort all of them out from the other posts on the blog.) You will note that each selection has a text, collectively representing the last 2000 years, and this is intentional. For the more familiar texts (such as popular Christmas carols), I have chosen a variety of interpretations and performers, from professional choirs to contemporary Christian worship leaders. I suggest that you follow the text as the music plays, and reflect on the words that proclaim the First Advent of our Savior, the Lord Jesus.

May our King, who promises to come again, reveal himself to you in a new way this Advent.

DECEMBER 1

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Text by Charles Wesley (1744)
Hymn Tune: "Hyfrydol" by Rowland H. Prichard (c. 1830)
Performed by Christy Nockels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAGE1Es8IPs

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;
Deep 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 thy own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.