Morning Exsultet
Let’s say you are a pastor or worship planner whose church doesn’t do an Easter Vigil. But you want to share some of the rich tradition of that service with your congregation members. What do you do? Why, you adapt the Exsultet for use during the ordinary prayer time on Easter morning! This is my … Read more
Deserving Death, Mercy, and Good Friday
The religious leaders tell Pilate “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die…” (John 19:7) because Jesus has committed blasphemy. Hearing that read at today’s Good Friday service reminded me of this passage in J R R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Frodo and Gandalf are discussing Gollum, who … Read more
What to Get a Savior Who Already Has Everything?
There’s a lot of talk these days about Christ and Christmas, and what’s appropriate to say and do at this time of year, especially as a person of faith. With so many going to worship this evening to inaugurate the Christmas season, I thought perhaps a brief word on the subject might be appropriate. One … Read more
O Emmanuel (December 23)
O EMMANUEL, our ruler and lawgiver, the expectation and savior of the nations: Come and set us free, O Lord our God. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lowly exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O Rex Gentium (December 22)
O RULER OF THE GENTILES, their treasure and the cornerstone that binds them in one: Come and save those whom you formed from the dust. O come, Desire of nations bind all peoples in one heart and mind. From dust thou brought us forth to life; deliver us from earthly strife. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall … Read more
O Oriens (December 21)
O DAWN from on high, splendor of God’s light and sun of justice: Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness, in the shadow of death. O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thy justice here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel … Read more
O Clavis David (December 20)
O KEY OF DAVID and scepter of Israel: You open and no one shall shut; you shut and no one shall open. Come and release from the prison house those who sit in darkness, in the shadow of death. O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home. The captives from … Read more
O Radix Jesse (December 19)
O ROOT OF JESSE: You stand as a signal before your people. Monarchs close their mouths because of you; to you all nations shall bow. Come and deliver us without delay. O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree, an ensign of thy people be; before thee rulers silent fall; all peoples on thy mercy call. … Read more
O Adonai (December 18)
O ADONAI, leader of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the burning bush, and at Sinai gave him the Law. Come and redeem us by your outstretched arm. O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height in ancient times once gave the law in cloud … Read more
O Sapientia (December 17)
O WISDOM, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end of the earth to the other: You order all things well with strength and gentleness. Come and teach us the way of knowledge. O come, thou wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh; to us the … Read more
