Caroling through Advent - Devotion 1

 

There is something about a Christmas carol that captures our hearts and imaginations. The congregation’s response to the prompt, “what is your favourite carol?” was lively: sharing favourites, memories, and nuggets of wisdom.  

 I love the Christmas music. Not being a singer, I have no favourites I do hope to return one day as I miss everything to do with worship.  I miss you all!  ---- Shirley 

For the Christmas Carols, my current favourite is …I could go on about favourites over the years. ---Carolyn 

Just one favorite carol? Oh, how to choose just one of my beloved old friends! But there can only be one favorite, so today at least, I am opting for…    ----Sandra P.

 

From now through Dec.30^th readers are invited to reflect on thirteen beloved old friends.

This devotion journeys back to one of the earliest carols, O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

The carol sets the stage for reflecting on the purpose of the Advent season.

 

*For you, what is the purpose of Advent?

*What are the themes of Advent?

*What do you expect to experience in this season?

 

In the carol O Come, O Come Emmanuel --- I like the simplicity, the quietness, the thoughtfulness of the notes and words, the royalty and humbleness.  ---Georgi

 

This carol originated in the monastic tradition 1200 years ago. Imagine a group of monks in a stone chapel room, shoulder to shoulder to abate the cold, chanting a simple antiphon, hearing the haunting reverberation of their voices, as they pray for God to come.  For eight consecutive days a verse of this chant echoed through stone halls. Each verse was preparation, preparing the monks and their hearts to celebrate Christ’s mass; that is Holy Communion on Christmas Day.

The chant is quiet and simple – and yet, the resonating words are full and deep. A plethora of names are offered for reflecting on the character of God. How do you imagine God when called:

Emmanuel, Wisdom, Lord of might, Branch of Jesse, Son of God, Key of David, Dayspring, Sun of Justice, King of nations?

How do imagine God when the description of God’s action is presented as a prayer: 

ransom captive, make safe the way, disperse the gloomy, close the path to misery, refresh the hearts, restore the broken, make us new?

When you sing, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, have you considered that it is a prayer? Does this change the meaning of the carol, and how you approach singing it?

 

May our reflections on Christmas carols, prepare us to receive the coming Christ -Emmanuel, God-with-us. When Christmas arrives may our hearts be lifted and filled to overflowing with welcome, hospitality, and joy.

 

A link to the carol: https://youtu.be/TQrZ0qFaGyA

 

*You can expect a devotion to be posted Tuesdays and Fridays, Nov. 29-Dec. 30, with the top 2 favourites as bonus devotions on Dec. 24^th and 25^th.