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Thursday, Third Week Advent: Once in Royal Davids City, Words to a Kings Processional

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What Starts in a Shed, Becomes our Lord in Heaven

This is truly a traditional church Christmas hymn. It starts off slow and solemn and builds majestically to the last chorus as we welcome the birth of the baby Jesus. It is like this with Advent. The season of Advent starts off quiet, barely a whisper. But as the last week approaches the climax is in sight.

The history of “Once in Royals Davids City” dates back to 1919 when Arthur Henry Mann, an organist wrote the piece as a processional hymn for the service at Kings College Cambridge. It is still sung with a young boy singing the first verse acapella as the choir joins in the second and building to a crescendo.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT3cfXd3Shk[/embedyt]

This Christmas hymn is not as popular with contemporary artists, but when it is performed by Jonathan and Charlotte, (finalists in 2012 Britains Got Talent) the operatic version is simply breathtaking.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYOqV3zdG10[/embedyt]

Once in Royal Davids City Sheet Music

Once in Royal Davids City, Words to a Kings ProcessionOnce in Royal Davids City, Words, and Music

Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed
There a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed
Mary was that mother mild
Jesus Christ her little child

He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all
And His shelter was a stable
And His cradle was a stall
With the poor, oppressed and wholly
Lived on earth our Savior holy

For He is our childhood’s pattern
Day by day like us He grew
He was little weak, and stable
Tears and smiles like us He knew
And He feels for all our sadness
And He shares in all our gladness

And our eyes
At last, shall see Him
Through His own redeeming love
For that child, so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above
And He leads His children along
To the place that He is gone

Weekly Advent Readings: Thursday, 3rd Week Advent

Today’s Reading John 20: 24 -29

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 42: 1-25:  Revelation 9: 1-12 

Sunday, Third Week Advent: 3rd Sunday Advent Joy and Blessings

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3rd Week of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday and the rejoicing and blessing the Lord Jesus Christ gives to us.Blessing in the 3rd Sunday of Advent

The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. It’s when the Pink Candle of Advent is lit. Just like I described in my Advent colors post and yesterday this is a day to rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:4-5)

Rejoice because we receive God’s blessings. Where? In church, from Jesus during multiple times during the service.  Don’t believe me, let’s count.

When do you receive blessings in church service?

  1. In the opening of the Lutheran Service the Salutation “The Lord be with you.”,
  2. The apostolic greeting “Grace, peace and mercy to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
  3. At the end of the sermon, before the Lords Supper,
  4. Another after the Words of Institution “The peace of the Lord be with you always”
  5. During communion after receiving the Lords Supper
  6. Finally, at the end of service during the Benediction.

Six times that I can count, and many times after I hear a blessing during service I take a deep breath, breathe it in and I feel myself relax. Just like when you receive counseling from someone and it soothes your soul and centers your mind. Now does the title Wonderful Counselor make sense?

So REJOICE, for the Wonderful Counselor is coming!

Weekly Advent Readings: Saturday, 3rd Week Advent

Today’s Reading Matthew 11:2-11

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 33: 1-24;  Revelation 5: 1-14 


Second Sunday Advent: Hymns for Advent Season

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Lutheran Advent Season is Celebrated with Song and Music

“You better watch out!  You better not cry. You better not doubt, I’m telling you why…”  Oh no, that’s not how the hymns for Advent season being. Thank God that isn’t the theme of our Advent songs and hymns. But we often live that way, don’t we?

Jesus isn’t trying to catch us in sin or doing “good for goodness sake”

Yes, we should try. Try to live right, try to be clean, try not to sin. Our family and friends really need us to be good and not just during Advent leading up to Christmas.

Hymns for Advent Season are Full of Hope, Love, and Anticipation

Lutheran Advent hymns are a combination of some contemporary Advent songs such as “The Angel Gabriel” and some others you may not recognize.  I created a YouTube Advent Hymns playlist below for your enjoyment. Maybe you will recognize some of them, and others may bring back memories of Advent worship songs from the past.

Advent Sheet Music for Piano 

Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. Your source for hymns for Advent season including Advent sheet music for piano and organ.List Advent Hymns

Below is a list of the YouTube Advent hymns with a link to the piano, organ and choral sheet music. I couldn’t find music for all of the hymns, but they can all be found in the Lutheran Hymnal and the arrangements are normally written to be sung in harmonies.

Advent Devotional Readings: Sunday Week Advent

2nd Sunday Advent Reading: Luke 21: 25-36

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 26: 20-27;  13; 1 John 4: 1-21 


Thursday, the First Week of Advent: Titles of Jesus in the Bible

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Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. ONe of the titles of Jesus in the Bible is Wonderful Counselor. Learn how He can counsel and release you of your sins.Titles of Jesus in the Bible

There are many titles of Jesus in the Bible including incredible and lofty titles for the Baby Jesus: Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.

This was the basis for the sermon for the first Wednesday night service in Advent at Trinity Lutheran Church in Murdock. Let’s just take the first name, wonderful counselor.

Jesus Christ was meant to walk beside us, guide us, help us and give us strength and answers when we cannot.

When the world turns against us and threatens our mind and soul who do we turn to? A counselor or therapist. Jesus.

Jesus is the best counselor. He is always there, and he doesn’t charge an hourly fee. You don’t have to place an emergency call to Him.

“You are mine. I put my name on you. You have the Holy Spirit. All my Good Friday benefits are yours: forgiveness, life, and salvation.”

Wonder of a Counselor

When your sins threaten to swallow you up and take over. You know that feeling, your heart races over all the lies you have told, the fibs, the cover stories to explain away deceit.  

Or maybe you are so consumed by wanting to get ahead at work, chasing money, playing office politics, to earn advancement by cheating a coworker or customers. THAT is how sin destroys and harms your soul.

Maybe you have an antagonistic relationship with a parent? You have fought in the past. Silence and animosity linger in the air. Holding onto anger, or hate is harmful. Don’t believe me. Try this exercise.

Think of the person and how they have harmed you. Does your breathing change, does your chest feel tight? You carry the weight. Don’t do it any longer. Let it go. Give it to Jesus, let Him console you.

Reflections of Advent Season, the title of Jesus being Wonderful Counselor

” Baby Counselor Jesus is there to console you with His saving death and resurrection. His words are divine. His words count. His words matter. His words TO YOU and FOR YOU are: “even though your sins be red as scarlet, they are made white as snow by my Good Friday blood.”

Forgiveness is powerful. It releases you from bearing the responsibility of the other person.  You can almost feel a weight taken off your shoulders. It sets you free.

Advent Season Reflections: Thursday, First Week Advent

Reading for the 1st Thursday in Advent: Isaiah 9:1-7

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 24: 1-13;  John 1:10:14

Links to follow the First Week of Advent


Lutheran Advent Season: Daily Reflections

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The Lutheran Advent Season prepares us for the birth of the baby Jesus. Why Am I Starting a Lutheran Advent Season Series?

As Christmas approaches it is easy to lose focus on the birth of Jesus Christ get wrapped up in the commercialism of the season. The insert Lutheran Advent Season reflections in my church mailbox gave me an idea. It was copied and printed on black and white copy paper, nothing fancy and yet it is so simple.

Each day is outlined with a specific reading and lesson to reflect on the meaning of the Advent season. As I started reading so many things came to mind.

You see I teach Sunday School and have for over 25 years. I always look for inspiration, ideas, and ways to teach my fourth and fifth graders in a way they can relate and understand the Bible and the Gospel message.

Right now we are practicing for our Christmas Eve program and I am the piano accompanist. So I’m craving some eye-opening teaching time.

Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. I will include the Daily reading, hymns, music, and a summary of the Reflection of the Day. A link to Trinity Lutheran Church online sermons will also be provided.

I encourage you to comment below, for a couple of reasons. God wants you to ask questions. By asking questions you learn and understand.

The First Sunday of Advent

Today’s Reading: Matthew 21:1-9

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 9:8-10:11; 1 Peter 5:1-14

Jesus is coming!! He is “the coming ONE”

This, in a nutshell, is the Christian meaning of Advent. Advent is all about Jesus coming to you. He’s not coming to condemn you, He’s coming to save you. He will take upon Himself all your sins and give you everlasting life.

So what are you going to do to make yourself ready?

Nothing. There is nothing that you can do that will make Jesus love you any more than he already does. He alone makes you ready. He delivers His coming to you in His gifts.

Hymns: First Sunday Advent

Hymns during Advent are anticipatory and lead up to Christmas and the anticipation of the birth of Baby Jesus. Many songs people think of as Christmas music are actually Advent hymns. O Come, O Come Emmanuel is what I would call an anthem for Advent.

Oxford Hymn Settings for Organists: Advent and Christmas: 38 original pieces on hymns and carolsOxford Hymn Settings for Organists: Advent and Christmas: 38 original pieces on hymns and carolsSeven Preludes on Advent HymnsSeven Preludes on Advent HymnsO Come, O Come, EmmanuelO Come, O Come, EmmanuelWillis Music O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Early Inter Level) Willis Series by Carolyn C. SetliffWillis Music O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Early Inter Level) Willis Series by Carolyn C. Setliff

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO7ySn-Swwc[/embedyt]

The Piano Guys O Come, O Come Emmanuel is one of my favorite renditions of this popular Advent song. I do scour YouTube for Advent hymns and will be sharing my favorites in the month to come.

A more traditional version of O Come, O Come Emanuel YouTube edition is the performed by a traditional choir.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xtpJ4Q_Q-4[/embedyt]

I like both. Which is your favorite?

Links to follow the Lutheran Advent Season of Reflection

Tomorrow I will share another of my favorite hymns for Advent Season: Savior of the Nations Come.