WORSHIP NOTES Volume 19, No. 11 (December 2024) THE “O” ANTIPHONS “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is one of the oldest songs in our hymnals. The words are translated from seven Latin antiphons—that is, responsive prayers—that date back to the 8th century. Together these verses are known as the “O Antiphons” since all seven begin with the word “O”: O Wisdom (Sapientia)O Lord (Adonai)O Rod of Jesse (Radix Jesse)O Key […]
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WORSHIP NOTES Volume 18, No. 11 (November 2023) For God, who said,“Let light shine out of darkness,”has shone in our hearts to give the lightof the knowledge of the glory of Godin the face of Jesus Christ.(2 Corinthians 4:6) His Preincarnate Glory “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” (John 17:5) His Incarnate Glory Foretold “These things
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WORSHIP NOTES Volume 15, No. 11 (November 2020) † A Scriptural Meditation † But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for
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WORSHIP NOTES Volume 14, No. 11 (November 2019) As, we look ahead to another Christmas celebration, I really have no new thoughts on the wonder of the Incarnation, so I thought I would direct you back to some previous issues’ reflections on the subject: Worship Notes 1.12 (December 2006): God with Us Worship Notes 2.12 (December 2007): The Canticles of Christmas Worship Notes 3.12 (December 2008): Christmas in Unexpected Places Worship
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WORSHIP NOTES Volume 13, No. 11 (November 2018) And Jacob dreamed, and behold, there was a LADDER set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How
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WORSHIP NOTES Volume 12, No. 7 (July 2017) (original cover artwork by Emily Ozier for our 2010 Festival of Lessons & Carols) THE ELEMENTS OF A LESSONS & CAROLS SERVICE (continued) 2. THE THEME Obviously the theme is the birth of Christ! But often we have looked at the Christmas story from varying angles, with an overarching sub-theme giving direction and focus to the individual lessons and to the
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WORSHIP NOTES Volume 12, No. 6 (June 2017) Those of us involved in church music ministry know all to be well that it is high time that we were about making plans for our 2018 Christmas services. The publishers know that too: they have already been dumping new issues on us for a couple of months now. My now-grown children are grateful that they no longer have to be subjected
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WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 12 (December 2016) O Source of all good, what shall I render to Thee for the Gift of gifts,Thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,my Redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute,His self-emptying incomprehensible,His infinity of love beyond the heart’s grasp. Herein is Wonder of wonders: He came below to raise me above,was born like me that I might become like Him. Herein is love: when I cannot
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 11 (November 2016) As we enter this season of Advent and Christmas, I decided I could do not better than to offer these meditations on the Incarnation from figures down through the centuries. I hope your spirits will be refreshed anew as you meditate on these words. A number of them are quite suitable for use as readings, responsive readings and prayers in Christ services;
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WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 12 (December 2015) This year our elders decided that, for the six Sundays from November 29-January 3, we should combine our Classic and Contemporary Services and all meet together for the Christmas season. (This in response to such positive feedback from combining services about once every two months throughout the year.) It was a challenge, and a lot of work! But it seems to have come
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