2020 Advent Devotional – Day 28 Gift Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Words by Charles Wesley; adapted by George Whitefield and others “Born to raise us from the earth, Born to give us second birth.” Video: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Reflection With the anticipation and merry chaos of Christmas Day behind us – or…
2020 Advent Devotional – Day 27 Adore O Come, All Ye Faithful Latin, c. 18th century; translator: Frederick Oakeley “O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!” Video: O Come, All Ye Faithful Reflection If throughout these reflections you’ve been humming along to some of the more familiar carols, maybe joining in with the…
2020 Advent Devotional – Day 26 Light John 1: 1–14 In him was life, and that life was the light of all humankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5) Video: John 1: 1–14 Reflection John’s words, in the well-known if somewhat esoteric introduction to his gospel,…
2020 Advent Devotional – Day 25 Life Sussex Carol Attributed to Bishop Luke Wadding, 1684 This version collected and documented by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1904 “When sin departs before His grace, then life and health come in its place;” Video: Sussex Carol Reflection Unlike many of the carols in this series, the name of this…
2020 Advent Devotional – Day 24 Sing I Saw Three Ships Traditional English carol, 17th century, published c. 1833 “And all the souls on Earth shall sing” Video: I Saw Three Ships Reflection This popular carol has emerged from a long and meandering folk tradition, being found in different parts of England and Scotland with…
2020 Advent Devotional – Day 23 Worship Matthew 2: 1–12 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. (Matthew 2:10-11a) Video: Matthew 2: 1–12 Reflection We can all likely recall the feeling of relief that…
2020 Advent Devotional – Day 22 Joy God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen Traditional English carol, 16th century, published c. 1760 O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy Video: God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen Reflection This is one of those well-loved carols where we enthusiastically launch into singing the first line, until our voices…
2020 Advent Devotional – Day 21 Rise Rise Up Shepherd and Follow Traditional spiritual, 19th century “You’ll forget your flocks, you’ll forget your herds; Rise up, shepherd and follow.” Video: Rise Up Shepherd and Follow Reflection Christmas carols sometimes take liberties with the Nativity accounts from Matthew’s and Luke’s gospels, freely blending events or switching…
2020 Advent Devotional – Day 20 Sign Luke 2: 8–16 “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12) Video: Luke 2: 8–16 Reflection From the outset of Luke’s Gospel, Luke emphasises the certainty of the good news he wants to record…
2020 Advent Devotional – Day 19 Alive What Sweeter Music Can We Bring Words by Robert Herrick, (1591–1674) Why does the chilling winter’s morn Smile like a field beset with corn? Video: What Sweeter Music Can We Bring Reflection Many of us right now would probably quite like to see December turned to May. With…
