Reflections on The Season of ADVENT
Dear Beloveds,
Greetings to you all as we begin the great season of ADVENT, 2020. The great themes of Advent are powerful and speak to our everyday lives and loves in profound ways.
It is a time of waiting, of expectation and longing for the coming of the Lord. As we anticipate the remembrance of the Birth of Our Lord – AND – look ahead to the Second Coming of Our Lord, we do so as a community of faith.
It is a time of profound HOPE that God is with us – Emmanuel – past, present and future – world without end!
We are to “be awake” in anticipation. Of the MANY, many things I miss about not being able together for worship in person is singing of our hymns.
Advent hymns are so wonderful – perhaps my favorite of the year. On the bottom of this page is one of my favorites – “Sleepers Awake” found in the Hymnal on page 61. (Click here to hear a recording)
I also wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving despite the limitations of the season because of the realities of Covid. Be comforted and strengthened by knowing that a vaccine is on the horizon. But, in the meantime, it remains an extremely vulnerable time. Please continue to be vigilant and I pray for patience and stamina for us all.
Estimate of Giving Cards
As we celebrate, let us give God hearty thanks and praise for St. Margaret’s Church. Thank you to all who have returned your Estimate of Giving Cards to the office. If you have not yet done so, please make it a high priority. These numbers are crucial to the Vestry designing the 2021 Budget. Let us give God thanks for our beloved faith community.
Christmas Outreach
Also included this week is an important announcement from Jen Burkhardt about our Christmas Outreach. We are thankful that we are able to continue this outreach despite COVID. Click here to view the full message.
God bless you and keep you in the palm of God’s loving hands.
Jane+
Hymn #61 Sleepers Awake
(Listen to an audio clip from Hymnary.org: Click here to play)
Sleepers, wake!” A voice astounds us,
the shout of rampart-guards surrounds us:
“Awake, Jerusalem, arise!”
Midnight’s peace their cry has broken,
their urgent summons clearly spoken:
“The time has come, O maidens wise!
Rise up, and give us light;
the Bridegroom is in sight.
Alleluia!
Your lamps prepare and hasten there,
that you the wedding feast may share.”
Zion hears the watchmen singing;
her heart with joyful hope is springing,
she wakes and hurries through the night.
Forth he comes, her Bridegroom glorious
in strength of grace, in truth victorious:
her star is risen, her light grows bright.
Now come, most worthy Lord,
God’s Son, Incarnate Word,
Alleluia!
We follow all and heed your call
to come into the banquet hall.
Lamb of God, the heavens adore you;
let saints and angels sing before you,
as harps and cymbals swell the sound.
Twelve great pearls, the city’s portals:
through them we stream to join th’ immortals
as we with joy your throne surround.
No eye has known the sight,
no ear heard such delight:
Alleluia!
Therefore we sing to greet our King;
for ever let our praises ring.
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(Available 9:00 AM the Day Of Service and Thereafter)