While most churchgoers are familiar with the ubiquitous Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” few may realize just how ancient its text is. It is an English versification of a Latin hymn that in turn is based on an early church text that became known as the “O Antiphons” (see sidebar, p. 5). The O Antiphons are seven short chants that each invoke a different title for Jesus. They continue to be used liturgically in many churches in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The Advent hymn based on these antiphons not only calls on Jesus to be present in his church, but also calls us to contemplate the character of the God whose advent we welcome. As such, this hymn is a fitting text around which to design an Advent worship series.
This series was designed and prepared for the First Presbyterian Church of Sugar Land, Texas. Each weekly service focuses on a different title for Jesus taken from the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and the Scripture it references. At First Presbyterian, the third Sunday of Advent is reserved for a choir cantata or Service of Lessons and Carols, so that service was different from the rest of the series. However, for the purposes of this column, the Reformed Worship editors created and selected materials for this third week following the same pattern as the other services.
Different hymnals may include different numbers of stanzas or textual variations; this worship series will use the text and verse numbers found in Glory to God but will also cross-reference Lift Up Your Hearts and Santo, Santo, Santo. The first stanza about God as Emmanuel is highlighted each week through the Advent candle lighting and call to worship. The regular practice at First Presbyterian Church is to sing in preparation for the prayer for illumination and reading of Scripture, so “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” appears again at that point in the service. Stanzas are added as the Sundays in Advent progress.
Complete sermon manuscripts for three of the weeks and some additional sermon notes for the fourth week can be found at tinyurl.com/RW149Sermons.
Come, Dayspring
Lighting of the First Advent Candle and Call to Worship
In this season we sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” “Emmanuel” means “God with us.”
We light candles as a visible sign that we look to the advent, or coming, of Christ. We invite you to join in the call to worship from the gospel of Matthew and the book of Revelation:
All this . . .
All the things we talked about in Advents and Christmases past,
and all the things we will talk about in the weeks ahead,
“All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord
through the prophet [Isaiah]:
‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,’
which means,
‘God is with us.’”
Zechariah the prophet spoke of
“the rising sun [that] will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
And this same Jesus declared in Revelation,
“I am the Root and Offspring of David,
and the bright Morning Star,”
and he promised,
“Yes, I am coming soon.”
And so we have hope.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
—based on Matthew 1:22–23 (NRSVA); Luke 1:78–79 (NIV); Revelation 22:16, 20 (NIV)
Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (st. 1) Helmore and Weaver, GtG 88, LUYH 61, SSS 73
Prayer of Confession
[The following prayer should be read first individually in silence, then aloud in unison.]
God of our light and salvation,
the bright Morning Star,
we confess that we have grown accustomed to darkness.
In your light we see challenges to our stability and comfort.
We look at ourselves
and into our own hearts and deepest thoughts,
and we do not like what you show us.
Forgive us our many sins.
In this season of Advent and beyond,
teach us to walk in your light, in the power of your Holy Spirit,
as disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Assurance of God’s Grace
“God Reigns! Earth Rejoices” (st. 2, 4) Morgan, LUYH 91
Prayers of the People, Ending with the Lord’s Prayer
Preparation for the Word
Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (st. 1, 6) Helmore and Weaver, GtG 88, LUYH 61, SSS 73
Prayer for Illumination
Hearing the Word
Scripture Readings: Malachi 4:1–2 and Luke 1:78–79
Sermon: “Come, Dayspring”
The full manuscript is available at tinyurl.com/RW149Sermons.
Sermon Notes
The title for Jesus we’re focusing on this morning is “Dayspring” or “Morning Star.” Darkness is an Advent theme. The days in the Northern Hemisphere grow noticeably shorter and darker in December, and in our Scripture readings for today, times are dark as well. In Malachi, we find some of the last words proclaimed by a prophet of Yahweh before four hundred years of divine silence. Darkness has fallen over the land. Divine judgment is coming. But for people of faith, even amid deep darkness light can shine. In Malachi’s proclamation, the “Sun of Righteousness” will rise.
In the New Testament reading, the first glow of sunrise is on the horizon, discernible to the faithful eyes of the priest Zechariah. He has just regained the power of speech after nine months of silence. Perhaps he is cradling his baby son, John, newly circumcised and named, as praise wells up from deep within: “The rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:78–79).
The Sun of Righteousness of Malachi, the Dayspring of Zechariah, is the Lord Jesus. He is the Light that has already come into the world and could not be smothered by the darkness. He is also the Light we are still awaiting, the one who will “disperse the gloomy clouds of night” and bring God’s justice and healing to the world.
Response to the Word / Affirmation of Faith
Responsive Litany: from the O Antiphons, a traditional litany for December 17–23
O Adonai, Ruler of the House of Israel,
you appeared in the burning bush to Moses
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come with outstretched arm to save us.
Come, Lord Jesus.
O Radiant Dawn, Splendor of Eternal Light, Sun of Justice:
Come, shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death.
Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
—Reprinted by permission from Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved.
Dedication of Offerings
Hymn Suggestions
“O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright” Ambrose of Milan, LUYH 374, GtG 666
“My Soul in Stillness Waits” Haugen, LUYH 63, GtG 89, SSS 75
“I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” Thomerson, LUYH 730, GtG 377, SSS 352
Benediction
(see sidebar at the end of the article)
Doxology
“This Little Light of Mine” African Amer. spiritual, LUYH 930, SSS 257
Come, Wisdom
Lighting of the Second Advent Candle and Call to Worship
In this season we sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!” “Emmanuel” means “God with us.” We light candles as a visible sign that we await the advent, the coming of Christ, the Wisdom of God.
Today we light the second Advent candle, the candle of peace. Please join in the call to worship from Psalm 85, words of wisdom that speak of the promise of peace.
We join the psalmist in declaring:
I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
The Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
—Psalm 85:8–13
Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (st. 2) Helmore and Weaver, GtG 88, LUYH 61, SSS 73
Prayer of Confession
[The following prayer should be read first individually in silence, then aloud in unison.]
God of steadfast love and mercy, we confess our sins before you. In your light, we recognize how many of our decisions and our priorities are shaped by the wisdom of this present age. We have brought much trouble and pain upon ourselves, and we have contributed to the trouble and pain of others. Forgive us in your grace and mercy, and teach us your ways through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son and Wisdom.
Assurance of God’s Grace
Proverbs 2:3–5, 10–11, 6
Prayers of the People, Ending with the Lord’s Prayer
Preparation for the Word
Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (st. 1, 6, 2) Helmore and Weaver, GtG 88, LUYH 61, SSS 73
Prayer for Illumination
Hearing the Word
Scripture Readings: Proverbs 8:1, 6, 22–36; 1 Corinthians 1:18–25
Sermon: “Come, Wisdom”
The full manuscript is available at tinyurl.com/RW149Sermons.
Sermon Notes
This time of year, many of us dig into the treasure chests of Christmases past. Some of the decorations we put out are visible reminders of loved ones, the experiences we shared with them, and the lessons they passed on to us. Yet there is a voice that comes to us out of the even more distant past: that of wisdom at the start of Proverbs 8:6—“Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.”
There is a beautiful portrait of wisdom in that chapter of Proverbs. Wisdom is far more than the body of knowledge, the sum of all the facts that human beings can learn. Wisdom is deeply personal. In both Old Testament Hebrew and New Testament Greek, “wisdom” is a feminine noun. In Proverbs 8, wisdom sounds like an excited child, thrilled to accompany the Creator as the creation is called and spun into being.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul is beginning a pastoral intervention with the church in Corinth. Some of the members had no problem with low self-esteem; they considered themselves highly gifted and intelligent. Paul reminds them that the personification of divine wisdom is Jesus Christ—and Christ crucified, at that. Jesus is the wisdom of God. He is not a subject to be studied and mastered, a body of knowledge to be committed to memory, debated over, or used for personal advancement, but a living person.
Jesus, the wisdom of God, is part of the past. He is also living and present—as close as bread that can be torn apart and tasted, or a cup of sweet juice that can be savored. Christ embodies and contains all the wisdom of heaven, and he will share what we need for our daily lives and struggles.
Response to the Word
Responsive Affirmation of Faith (from the O Antiphons)
O Root of Jesse, rising as a sign for all the peoples, before you earthly rulers will keep silent, and nations give you honor:
Come quickly to deliver us. Come, Lord Jesus.
O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, pervading and permeating all creation, you order all things with strength and gentleness:
Come now and teach us the way to salvation. Come, Lord Jesus.
—Reprinted by permission from Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved.
Dedication of Our Offerings
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
Hymn Suggestions
“Be Thou My Vision” Byrne and Hull, LUYH 859, GtG 450, SSS 640
“May the Mind of Christ, My Savior” Wilkinson, LUYH 334, SSS 638
Charge to Be the People of God
Ephesians 5:15–17, 20
Benediction
(see sidebar at the end of the article)
Doxology
“God of Grace and God of Glory” Fosdick, LUYH 926, GtG 307, SSS 250
Come, Key of David
[Editors’ note: Because Seay’s ministry setting dedicates the third Sunday of Advent to a choir cantata or Service of Lessons and Carols, the RW editorial team put together the following service following the pattern of the others in the series.]
Lighting of the Third Advent Candle and Call to Worship
In this season we sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!” “Emmanuel” means “God with us.” We light candles as a visible sign that we await the advent, the coming of Christ, the Key of David.
Today we light the third Advent candle, the candle of joy.
Please join us in the call to worship:
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious. . . .
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David;
what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
—Zechariah 9:9–10; Isaiah 22:22
Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (st. 5) Helmore and Weaver, GtG 88, LUYH 61, SSS 73
Prayer of Confession
[The following prayer should be read first individually in silence, then aloud in unison.]
God, who mercifully has opened wide the doors to life everlasting,
we confess that we are a people of shut doors and high walls.
Teach us to rejoice in the wide mercy
that breaks down barriers and unlocks doors.
God, who in wisdom closes doors to ways that would do us harm,
we confess we are a people who stubbornly persist
in knocking on those doors anyway.
Teach us to be patient and wait for the wisdom
that comes from accepting your timing in our lives.
In the name of Jesus, the Key of David, we pray. Amen.
—Bethany Besteman, 2023 © Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Assurance of God’s Grace
Revelation 3:7–8, 11–12
Prayers of the People, Ending with the Lord’s Prayer
Preparation for the Word
Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (st. 1, 6, 2, 5) Helmore and Weaver, GtG 88, LUYH 61, SSS 73
Prayer for Illumination
Hearing the Word
Scripture Readings: Revelation 1; 3:7–13
Sermon: “Come, Key of David”
(There is no sermon manuscript available.)
Sermon Notes:
It might seem odd to preach from Revelation during Advent, but remember that during Advent we not only look forward to the celebration of Christ’s first coming, but we also look ahead to his second coming. This text prepares us for both. In this highly mysterious text, John receives a vision that reveals truths about the Jesus whose birth we anticipate.
In Revelation 1, Jesus appears to John, declaring himself to be the First and the Last, affirming his resurrection, and claiming to hold the keys to death and Hades (Revelation 1:17–18). This Jesus, whose birth was under disreputable circumstances, in unusual accommodations, and attended by outcasts, is also the magnificent, powerful Christ in glory. Advent is filled with paradox and mystery.
But what do we make of the reference in our text to Jesus as the holder of keys? In Revelation 1, Jesus holds the keys to death and Hades. Who among us does not possess keys to something—a car, an apartment or a house, a safe deposit box? These days there are digital keys too—passwords that allow access to information and digital tools. Holding these keys gives us the power to gain admission to what they unlock.
Jesus holds the keys to death and Hades. Jesus is the gatekeeper for all that seems most devastating and horrifically powerful in this life, but Jesus is even more powerful. He is the one who promises us a final rescue from both death and Hades. This is a powerful word of comfort to those of us who feel keenly the absence of loved ones this time of year. Jesus again describes himself as a keyholder in his message to the church of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7). This time he holds the key of David. This passage alludes to a force aligned against the church of Philadelphia, a group Jesus identifies as false Jews who would deny this church access to God. By contrast, Jesus, the true determiner of access to God and the fulfillment of all the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament, holds wide the door for the church to walk through.
Who or what in our lives seems to hold power? What are you convinced gives you access to God? Your church attendance? Your pastor? Your daily devotions? Only Jesus holds the keys that open the door to full communion with God. Has anyone tried to bar you from access to God or made you feel unfit to approach God? It is Jesus alone who can lock or unlock those doors. As we celebrate the coming of Jesus, we celebrate the opening of doors—the wide, wide-open doors of Jesus’ love for his church.
—Bethany Besteman, 2023 © Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Response to the Word
Responsive Affirmation of Faith (from the O Antiphons)
O Key of David, Scepter over the house of Israel,
you open and no one can close,
you close and no one can open:
Come to set free the prisoners
who live in darkness and the shadow of death.
Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
—Reprinted by permission from Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved.
Hymn Suggestions:
“My Soul in Stillness Waits” Haugen, LUYH 63, GtG 89, SSS 75
“Hark the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes” Doddridge, LUYH 60
Benediction
(see sidebar at the end of the article)
Doxology
“Blessed Be the God of Israel” Daw, LUYH 67
Come, Desire of Nations
Call to Worship and Lighting of Advent Candle
In this season we sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!” “Emmanuel” means “God with us.” We light candles as a visible sign that we await the advent, the coming of Christ, the Desire of Nations.
Today we light the fourth Advent candle, the candle of love. Please join us in the call to worship.
Because God is a God of love:
“This is what the Lord Almighty says:
. . . ‘I will shake all nations,
and what is desired by all nations will come.”’
With Mary of Nazareth we say,
“The Mighty One has done great things for us—
holy is his name.”
Let us worship God!
—based on Haggai 2:7; Luke 1:49
Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (st. 7) Helmore and Weaver, GtG 88, LUYH 61, SSS 73
Prayer of Confession
[The following prayer should be read first individually and in silence, then aloud in unison.]
God of grace and glory,
we are filled with anticipation as we come closer to Christmas.
Many of us are also tired and feel extra stress as we make our preparations.
We confess our sins against you and the people around us:
our sharp words, our careless actions, our thoughtless responses,
our inability to see past ourselves to the deep needs that surround us.
As we prepare to celebrate our Savior’s coming, lead us by your Spirit
to recognize and hold fast to the things that matter before you.
Teach us to recognize Jesus Christ your Son, our true desire,
and to hunger and thirst for all that only he can give.
Assurance of God’s Grace
Malachi 3:1–3
Dedication to Holy Living
Please join me in a posture of gratitude as we dedicate ourselves to a desire for God and for righteousness.
“I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8).
Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws,
we wait for you;
your name and renown
are the desire of our hearts (Isaiah 26:8).
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever (Psalm 73:24–26).
Prayers of the People, Ending with the Lord’s Prayer
Preparation for the Word
Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (st. 1, 6, 2, 5, 7) Helmore and Weaver, GtG 88, LUYH 61, SSS 73
Prayer for Illumination
Hearing the Word
Scripture Readings: Haggai 2:6–7; Luke 1:26–38, 47–55
Sermon: “Come, Desire of Nations”
The full manuscript is available at tinyurl.com/RW149Sermons.
Sermon Notes
Our Old Testament reading is set in a time of disappointment. Haggai was called to preach during the years soon after the people of Judah returned from decades of exile in Babylon. Coming home had been a dream, a longing of seventy years. But reality was a hardscrabble life in a wrecked Jerusalem with a ruined temple set in a ravaged landscape. Rebuilding the temple was a worthy goal, the people knew, but one that would have to wait until better, easier times. However, God calls them to rebuild the temple first, and God makes some promises.
God promises to “shake all nations.” When an entire world is shaking and heaving, we look for security, for something to which to cling. Sometimes it has been a strong leader—but history has shown repeatedly how that usually ends: with tyranny and ruin and more suffering. God says to the people of Judah, “I’ve got this! I will shake everything and do a new thing.”
And God promises to send “what is desired of all nations.” In the context of Haggai, the people are worried that they do not have the material wealth needed for rebuilding the temple. God’s response to God’s people is, “You worry over many things. I will meet your true and deepest need.” Though they didn’t yet know it, the people’s deepest need—and ours—is God’s only beloved Son.
Response to the Word
Responsive Affirmation of Faith (from the O Antiphons)
O Ruler of the nations,
monarch for whom the people long,
you are the cornerstone uniting all humanity:
Come, save us all,
whom you formed out of clay.
Come, Lord Jesus.
O Immanuel, our Sovereign and lawgiver,
desire of the nations and Savior of all:
Come and save us,
O Lord our God.
Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
—Reprinted by permission from Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved.
Dedication of our Offerings
Hymn Suggestions
“As the Deer Pants for the Water” Scheer, LUYH 332
“I Give You My Heart” Morgan, LUYH 340
“Take My Life and Let It Be” Havergal, LUYH 863, GtG 697, SSS 627
Charge to Be the People of God
Philippians 4:4–5
Benediction
Doxology
“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” Wesley, LUYH 56, GtG 82, SSS 64