Advent Songs
It’s Advent, the time of the year when we anticipate Jesus’ coming. It’s followed by Christmas, the time of the year when we celebrate Jesus’ birth. In some parts of the church around the world people make a great distinction between the two seasons. In other parts of the church around the world, people really don’t make a distinction between the two seasons. Some of the people who make a great distinction between the two say we should only sing Advent hymns during Advent, and only Christmas songs on and after Christmas Eve. And there is a difference between them.
At Tokyo Union Church, we do sing both Advent hymns and Christmas carols. And there is a difference. This one goes: “Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free.” This is a hymn of longing – Come! We have been expecting you, Jesus! This is clearly an Advent hymn, sung in expectation of Christmas. Then there is “Joy to the world! The Lord is come!” This is clearly a Christmas song celebrating that Jesus has already arrived among us on earth. There are other Advent songs like, “O Come, O Come, Immanuel” which is a song of longing for the coming of Christ. Then “Hark, the herald angels sing ‘Glory’ to the newborn king.” This is definitely a Christmas song, hailing that Jesus is already born.
At Tokyo Union Church we sing them all, both Advent and Christmas songs. We do them all because that’s who we are at TUC. We come from many different traditions and we share them at Christmas time. The truly TUC part is that we share them together. Now we are sharing them live and in person in the sanctuary on Sundays. And we will have Christmas Eve services where we will share these songs and sing together in the sanctuary on that most special night. We enjoy live candles and in-person singing and one another.
If you have not yet, I hope you will come back to the sanctuary soon. It is such a joy to be together. And, of course, we will continue to gather via the online Livestream option as well. Come celebrate that Jesus will come at Christmas, that Jesus has come at Christmas, and that Jesus will come again. Hallelujah.