2nd Day of Advent, December 3, 2018

​In Church, we celebrate Advent with selected music, spoken words are said, and by the lighting of candles In an Advent wreath.  Over the years the most commonly sung song during the candle Lightings in my life, was O Come. O Come Emanuel. Many times, the tradition called for a single verse to be sung the first week, and more verses added each week, until the full fivefold lightings were accomplished.

I have always loved this song and setting, and I even developed over time my own special bass baritone harmony to embellish the chorus phrase:
Rejoice, rejoice Ema-a-an-u-El, shall come to Thee, O Israel. This private harmonic made the chorus more personal to and for me, and over time all the more celebratory.

Join me now at your table if you dare: sing loudly!
 
Rejoice, rejoice, Emanuel shall ransom captive, I-is-ra-el.
 
Wasn’t that a secret delight? 


That delight IS what Advent IS truly all about. Come, let us adore Him!  Christ! The LORD!

​-Submitted by Jon Elvrum