Sharing Advent Hymns
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Monday, November 29, 2010 10:47 PM
As part of our family’s resolve to keep Advent, we’ve replaced the Christmas carols to which we used to listen during December. I’ve amassed a decent playlist of Advent music (including the appropriate portion of Handel’s Messiah) and we’ve grown to love the sound of it during the weeks leading up to Christmas.
But before I made a concerted efforted to collect Advent songs, I knew very few of them. I’m guessing others might be in the same situation, so I thought it’d be fun to share some of my favorites this season.
Two years ago I mentioned “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People” which is still my most-loved hymn of Advent. Read more about it here.
Right now, I’m learning the words to “People Look East” - a song I never thought much of since I’d only seen the watered-down version from the hymnal at my parents’ parish, but which is actually a lovely and poetic Advent hymn. Camilla is enjoying listening to me sing it to her each night at bedtime.
I have a beautiful version by the Ripon Cathedral Choir that I bought on iTunes, and I think one of these choral versions from Amazon would be good too. (Just make sure you listen to a preview before buying to make sure you like it - I can’t personally recommend any of these.)
As far as I can find, there are five verses, and I hope you enjoy them. A blessed beginning of Advent to you all!
People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.
Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.
Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.
Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.
Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.
-Eleanor Farjeon
Print Blog
Email a FriendPost a Comment
By submitting this form, you give Faith And Family Magazine permission to publish this comment. Comments will be published at our discretion, and may be edited for clarity and length. For best formatting, please limit your response to one paragraph and don't hit "enter" to force line breaks.
