"The “O Antiphons” are a series of seven Advent prayers developed by Benedictine monks in the Middle Ages. Based on Isaiah’s prophecies about Jesus, each one begins with the beseeching “O” and then addresses Christ using a particular title (Wisdom, Lord, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Dayspring, King, Emmanuel). We often pray these prayers ourselves when we sing the ancient hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” This service is an adaptation from two other services, one by Robert H. Busch and the other from W. Thomas Smith. —RW
Immanuel
O Immanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the desire of the Nations and their salvation
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Hymn
"O Come, O Come, Immanuel" (st.1) Latin, 12th cent.
Scripture: Isaiah 8:6–10
Prayer
O Immanuel, Child of Promise and Sign of hope,
you come from a distance far beyond our reach,
yet to be closer to us than we are to ourselves:
remain with us in our own days of expectation
that we may give birth to what is just, true, beautiful and good;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
who with you and the Holy Spirit, abides with us,
one God now and forever. Amen.
Hymn
"Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus" Wesley
Wisdom
O Wisdom, who came forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end of the earth to another, ordering all things mightily and sweetly:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
Hymn
"O Come, O Come, Immanuel" (st. 2) Latin, 12th cent.
Scripture: Jeremiah 10:12–16
Prayer
O Wisdom, your words uttered in the beginning
generated a world of beauty and goodness,
giving purpose and value to each creature;
instruct us in the way of prudence
that we may nurture the world with justice and joy.
Help us to resist evil and to obey you,
that we may walk in your ways,
so that the beauty of your creation may flourish;
through the one whom we know as the Wisdom of the Ages,
even Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn
"Of the Father's Love Begotten" Prudentius
Adonai
O Adonai, ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Mount Sinai:
Come, and with your outstretched arm redeem us.
Hymn
"O Come, O Come Immanuel" (st. 3) Latin, 12th cent.
Scripture: Exodus 3:1–9
Prayer
O Lord of Might, Master of the universe
and ruler of the house of Israel,
your mighty acts have rescued remnants of your people
from the midst of slavery, exile, war and holocaust:
raise your scepter over us
that your saving rule may be extended to all people, in all places;
for the sake of him whom we know as Lord of all,
even Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Hymn
"Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light" Rist, Johnson
Root of Jesse,
O Root of Jesse, who stands as an ensign to the peoples; before whom kings shall keep silence and all nations bow in worship:
Come and save us, and do not delay.
Scripture: Isaiah 11:1–9
Hymn
"O Come, O Come Immanuel" (st. 4) Latin, 12th cent.
Prayer
O Root of Jesse,
you reach deep down into the darkness of the earth
and stir the world's longings for deliverance and hope:
raise up within our own lives a spirit of courage and strength,
of wisdom and insight,
that we may do your work for the coming of your kingdom;
through the merits of the one we know as the beginning of the ages,
even Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn
"Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" German, 15th cent.
Key of David,
O Key of David, Scepter of the house of Israel, you open and no one closes; you close and no one opens:
Come and deliver from prison all captives who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Hymn
"O Come, O Come Immanuel" (st. 5) Latin, 12th cent.
Scripture: Revelation 3:7–13
Prayer
O Key of David and throne of glory,
you open the way to the future and no one closes;
you close the way to the past and no one opens.
Release us and all your people from the oppressions of the past
that we may face the future with boldness and purpose;
through the merits of the Son of David,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn
"Once in Royal David's City" Alexander
Bright and Morning Star
O Bright and Morning Star, Brightness of the light eternal, and Sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Hymn
"O Come, O Come Immanuel" (st. 6) Latin, 12th cent.
Scripture: 2 Peter 1:16–19
Prayer
O Rising Dawn,
you shine with warm brightness and clean freshness,
chasing the fearsome shadows of the night away:
enlighten the lives of your people with visions of shalom,
until you bring all things into the harmony of your kingdom;
for the sake of him we call the Light of the world,
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn
"How Bright Appears the Morning Star" Nicolai, trans. Mercer
King of nations
O King of nations and the Desire of nations, cornerstone that binds two into one:
Come and deliver us whom you formed from the dust of the earth.
Hymn
"O Come, O Come Immanuel" (st. 7) Latin, 12th cent.
Scripture: Haggai 2:2–10
Prayer
O King of nations,
your reign spreads through all the lands,
you defend the cause of the poor and plead for the wretched of the earth.
Fashion us into an obedient people,
that we may spread the good news of your reign of perfect peace and justice,
until all creation will finally rejoice in your perfect will,
until all bend the knee to the King of kings and Lord of lords,
in whose name we pray,
even Jesus Christ, your Son and our Savior. Amen.
Hymn
Joy to the World Watts
