“O Come, O Come Emmanuel…”
I can’t see these words on the page in front of me without hearing the mournful, hopeful echoes of the familiar tune we sing each Advent as we gather.
Indeed, as the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer we may pause to find ourselves turning inward, hearing echoes of longing for something more, something else which perhaps we hardly knew we felt. Yearning for healing.
Longing for wholeness. Wishing for justice in a world where justice is often lacking. Looking for hope in places that long seemed void of hope altogether.
It is in the midst of that sense of longing that we find ourselves singing along, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel, which mourns in lonely exile here…” And yet, the words may be both familiar and unfamiliar to us at the same time… for while we may be able to sing them by heart, the experience they point to may at first be entirely unfamiliar to us: at least at first glance.
As we gather on Wednesday nights for midweek Advent worship, we will take a deeper look at the images the hymnist painted for us: the Branch of Jesse, the Key of David, the Dayspring from on High and of course Emmanuel. To be sure, as we learn together the roots of these phrases which roll off our tongues in song, their meaning will deepen for us every Advent to come so that as we sing it the words will more deeply and surely express the longing which all people experience and the hope it offers all the more real.
Be sure to join us beginning on Wednesday December 1st at 7 p.m. as we walk this Advent journey together. “Holden Evening Prayer” will frame our worship and our time of meditation will focus on the meanings within this wonderful ancient hymn. Consider using the lessons shared those nights to deepen your own journey at home.
Dec 1 “O Come, O Branch of Jesse” Isaiah 11:1-11 and Matthew 1:1-17
Dec 8 “O Come, O Key of David” Isaiah 22:22 and Luke 1:46-55
Dec 15 “O Come, O Dayspring” Isaiah 60:19-20 and Luke 1:78-79
Dec 22 “ O Come, O Come Emmanuel” Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25
Peace to you and many blessings
—Pastor Janet
