At 5pm this Sunday (28th November), you are warmly invited to join us for a very special service to mark the beginning of Advent.
Advent is the season in which the Church looks forward both to Christ’s coming in his birth and incarnation, and also to his final advent as judge at the end of time.
The service begins in darkness, but candlelight will gradually fill our beautiful ancient parish church, just as the Word of God brings light into our hearts and lives.
The programme will feature several pieces by the acclaimed choir, as well as hymns sung by the congregation including:
- Come thou Redeemer of the Earth
- Hills of the North, Rejoice
- O come, o come, Emmanuel
- Lo, he comes with clouds ascending
The service is structured around the ‘O’ Antiphons (in the liturgy, a short sentence sung or recited before or after a psalm or canticle):
O Emmanuel: God with us
O Radix Jesse: The Root of Jesse, born in the line of David
O Oriens: The Morning Star, bringing light in the darkness
O Adonai: The Lord and leader of the house of Israel
O Rex Gentium: The King of all Nations
O Clavis David: The Key of David, freeing prisoners and opening a new way
O Sapientia: The Wisdom of God
Christ described himself as “The Light of the World”, the title of this iconic painting by William Holman Hunt pictured at the top of this post. (Source: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
WATCH THE SERVICE ONLINE HERE:
Friends of St Mary's Hawkesbury 