O Come, O Come

The artwork of John August Swanson has captured my heart and imagination lately. Last night, our Advent service at the Divinity School captured the artwork's colorful and joyful spirit. As we "Waited for New Heavens" underneath the star-adorned chapel ceiling, dancers flooded the room bringing light to the midst of our gathering. Beginning with a single soloist and eventually including a gospel choir, chapel choir, jazz band, two acapella groups, and the entire congregation, we beckoned Emmanuel to Come (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel) in a variety of styles of music. The celebration continued with reflections on the many songs we sing during the Advent Season. Our team-preachers reflected on songs of sorrow, wonder, community, and joy. Each of these reflections was accompanied by a visual embodiment of how we are or might become sorrowful, wondrous, community, and joyful. The service came to a climax with prayers for the community and the world, donating our prayer action to the fund to end New Haven homelessness program. I've never been so captivated by the spirit, vision, and full-bodied enactment of a liturgy in such diverse forms. It has given me new hope for what the church might be able to do!Below are some of the lyrics from our sending song. May your heart be captivated with the joy of new birth during as mine was this Advent season.

"Awake, Awake"

by Marty Haugen.

Awake! Awake, and greet the new morn, for angels herald its dawning,

Sing out your joy, the Child will be born, behold!

The Child of our longing.

Come as a baby weak and poor, to bring all hearts together,

to open wide the heavenly door,

and live now inside us forever.

Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night,

though cold the winter and cheerless,

the rising sun shall crown you with light,

be strong and loving and fearless;

Love be our song and love our prayer, and love, our endless story,

May God fill everyday we share, and bring us at last into glory.