Contemporary Advent: Days of Elijah

Behold He comes

riding on the clouds

shining like the sun.

At the trumpet call,

lift your voice.

It's the year of jubilee

and out of Zion's hills salvation comes.

I was a little uncomfortable with the line, "Still, we are the voice in the desert crying, 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord!'"  I am familiar with this song yet even listening to it now my eyebrows kind of furrow.

Yet each Advent we hear this proclamation of John the Baptizer in the wilderness.  Each Advent we are reminded that we are to be ready for the coming of the Lord.  Each Advent we sing of the one who is "On Jordan's Banks."

Most of us don't have a pulpit or a street corner or a desert to shout from.  Not to go all ablaze or anything, but we do have relationships in which we can encourage one another to prepare the way of the Lord.  One year I gave out Advent gifts ahead of the normal Christmas gifts.  These were little, inexpensive reminders that we are preparing for Jesus' coming.  One received a devotion book, one received a crucifix, one received a Bible, for example.  In the little things we do in Advent, we are like a voice in the desert.

For a moment during the Advent of that year, some of my friends and family took a little extra time to remember Jesus and prepare for His coming.  Hardly a grand act like that of John the Baptizer, yet still served to remind people of the purpose of Advent.

This year, I am using my blog as a voice in the desert.  It's still not a pulpit or street corner, I am still not an ordained minister of the Word, and I am not using capital letters so you know I am not shouting.  Just a reminder here that Advent is about preparing for the coming of our Lord.

Is there a line from this song that makes you uncomfortable?  Voice your opinion in the comment box.  Please remember this is a discussion and not an argument.

Singing the Apostles Creed: The English Years

The Apostles Creed, along with the Athanasian Creed, are unique to the Western Christian tradition.  Our brothers in the East have adopted only the Nicene Creed.

The Apostles Creed has traditionally been the Baptismal Creed.  We confess it as our own faith at our baptism.  For infant baptisms, this faith is imparted through the Word connected to the water, and  sponsors confess it on behalf of the children.  As the children mature, they then confess this faith as their own at their confirmation.

Here are some young people confessing their faith in the words of the Apostles Creed. Remember, the use of "holy catholic church" refers to the church of all times and all places and not that particular denomination with a pontiff in Rome.

In the world of Contemporary Christian Music, this creed has been adopted by several artists and set to music.  For Petra and Rich Mullins, the creed has been paraphrased and a refrain has been added.  The entirety of the lyrics to the Petra setting can be found here.  The refrain is below.  The video is in true 80's Contemporary Christian retro.

This is my creed - the witness I have heard

The faith that has endured

This truth is assured

Through the darkest ages past

Though persecuted, it will last

And I will hold steadfast to this creed

In the Petra refrain, they capture the true "catholicity" of the creed.  This is the faith that has endured through the ages.  This is the faith that has survived centuries of persecution.  This faith, the faith of the entire church, the faith of the saints and martyrs old and new, this faith is my faith.

Rich Mullins takes a different approach to the refrain.  The entirety of the lyrics will roll across the video.  The refrain is below.  This is a true youtube video, where an individual takes an existing recording and places visuals and text with it.

And I believe what I believe

Is what makes me what I am

I did not make it

No it is making me

It is the very truth of God

And not the invention of any man

Where Petra connects the creed with the universal church, Rich Mullins makes it personal.  The creed is not a man-made device.  It is a confession of biblical teachings.  As we confess this creed we confess biblical truths.  As with any biblical teaching, it shapes who we are.  Our faith grows because we recite that which the Bible teaches.  Mullins' statement, "I did not make it/no it is making me/it is the very truth of God/and not the invention of any man," is an affirmation of the solid biblical teachings that are proclaimed in the creed and the affect these teachings have on our lives.  Lutherans in particular confess this creed as "the correct exposition of the Word of God."

One pastor speaks of the creeds in these terms: when we say we believe what the Bible says, how do express the Bible in a concise manner?  The creeds offer us a vehicle to do this.

The creeds are to be confessed with confidence and joy!  Here is a group of Tongan youth confessing the Apostles Creed.  They are using the ICET translation.  While there are a few translation issues (and one BIG translation issue - see previous post) it is wonderful to see the holy catholic faith, the faith of all times and all places, the faith expressed in the Bible, confessed by these children.

Joyful, exuberant, confident. 

Can I get a witness?

AMEN!

~~~~~

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand
of God the Father Almighty.

From thence He will come to judge
the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Christian Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

and the life everlasting.

AMEN!

Introducing Wordwise Hymns

Wordwise Hymns takes a different approach to hymn blogging.  Scrolling through the archive, you will notice that blogger Robert Cottrill often provides historical background on hymns and hymn writers.

If it happened on a given day, he blogs about it on that day!  Its kind of like having a commemoration day for a hymn or hymn writer.

Robert recently weighed in on a Sound of Majesty broadcast here on All for Hymn.  That particular broadcast featured the tune "Miles Lane" with the text "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name."

Today marks the anniversary of the birth of James Ellor, who wrote the tune, "Diadem" for this piece.  Neither of these tunes made it to Lutheran Service Book, so I will feature Diadem plus the tune "Coronation" from LSB below.  For the tune "Miles Lane" check out this broadcast of Sound of Majesty.  You can also follow along with the playlist for that show.

Read Robert's post on James Ellor here.  You can read about Robert's faith journey here.  Robert has served as parish musician, parish pastor and educator.  In our tradition he would probably be called Kantor.

Tune: Coronation

Coronation with a contemporary twist

Tune: Diadem

Diadem with a Mens Chorus

Diadem with Mahalia Jackson

Contemporary LSB: Before the Throne of God Above

Once in awhile an old text picks up a new tune, thrusting it into pop Evangelicalism. If you listen to Christian radio , sometimes you might know the contemporary song before you have the chance to explore it in a new hymnal. Such is the case with Hymn 574 in Lutheran Service Book.

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea.

A great High Priest whose name is Love

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,

My name is written on His heart.

I know that while in Heaven He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair

And tells me of the guilt within,

Upward I look and see Him there

Who made an end of all my sin.

Because the sinless Saviour died

My sinful soul is counted free.

For God the just is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,

My perfect spotless righteousness,

The great unchangeable I AM,

The King of glory and of grace,

One in Himself I cannot die.

My soul is purchased by His blood,

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ my Saviour and my God!

The words are by Charitie Lees De Chenez (aka Charitie Lees Bancroft, né Smith) (1841-1923). Not much is known about Charitie. Her father was an Anglican priest in Ireland. She was probably widowed twice (hence all her surnames) and died here in the US, in Oakland, California.

One of the more common tunes associated with this text is BRESLAU. The tune is soloed out the second time.

The Lutheran Hymnal Project chose a newer tune, DUNEDIN, for Lutheran Service Book. I couldn't find the tune recorded anywhere, but you might try substituting O WALY WALY. If you grew up in a Lutheran grade school in the late 70's or 80's, you probably know this tune from Hal Hopson's "The Gift of Love." The tunes have a similar arc (they rise and fall in a similar fashion) and overall rhythm, although they are different styles. The tune O WALY WALY can be found in Lutheran Service Book, Hymn 595.

Your local megachurch might be singing this very text. They use a tune written by Steve and Vikki Cook. While LSB breaks the text up into 6 short verses, the Cooks combined the verses to make three long ones. A preview copy of the sheet music has the notation "Celtic feel" just above the time signature.  This setting is by the group Selah.  The sign you see in the video is from the historic Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago.

A word about Pacific Garden Mission: they still produce the radio drama Unshackled.  For an interactive map to see if it broadcasts in your area, click here.  If you'd just like to hear an episode via mp3, click here.

Historic Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago's South Loop

Current location, still in Chicago, but a little further south