O Come, Emmanuel

by Giles, Gordon

• ISBN13: 9781557255150
• ISBN10: 1557255156
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-11-01
• Publisher: Paraclete Pr

Summary

Make Christmas special this year by exploring the legends, message, and theology behind some of your favorite carols and hymns. This book of daily devotions will take you from December 1 to January 6, from the first days of Advent, through Christmas, ending at Epiphany. Each day, Gordon Giles invites you to draw closer to God through spiritual and historical explorations of beloved, familiar music. As you read and reflect, you will be asked to consider the meaning of some of the famous Christmas carols that we sometimes sing without a passing thought. You will be introduced to obscure saints as well as living poets and musicians of faith, and you will hear the timeless truths of love and forgiveness, pain and loss, darkness and light. "If, like me, you have always been confused by the imagery of ls"The Twelve Days of Christmas,rs" you will find this book both compelling and illuminating. Gordon Giles has selected a kaleidoscopic mixture of musical settings of scripture, hymns and carols, from Gibbons to Taizeacute;, Plainchant to Kendrick, via Bach, Berlioz, Vaughan Williams, Menotti and many others. He writes with engaging insight and perception, providing us with material for reflection, prayer and meditation." -John Scott, Organist and Director of Music, St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York City

Table of Contents

Introduction	v
December
The Advent responsory (Matthew 25:31-33,41-46)	1	(4)
Come, Thou Redeemer of the earth (Isaiah 9:6-7)	5	(4)
Christus vincit (Revelation 11:15--18)	9	(4)
Lo! he comes with clouds descending (Revelation 1:3--8)	13	(4)
Wait for the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:4--11)	17	(3)
St. Nicholas (1 Timothy 3:1--7)	20	(4)
This is the record of John (Luke 1:68--79)	24	(5)
Thou whose almighty word (Luke 12:35--38)	29	(4)
Earth was waiting, spent and restless (Romans 8:18--25)	33	(4)
People, look East (Isaiah 60:1--5)	37	(4)
Born in the night (Isaiah 59:20--60:5)	41	(4)
The Lamb (John 1:29--37)	45	(4)
Santa Lucia (Matthew 5:14--16)	49	(3)
Of the Father's heart begotten (Matthew 1:1--17)	52	(5)
This is the truth sent from above (Genesis 2:7, 15--18, 21--25)	57	(4)
Adam lay ybounden (Genesis 3:1--8)	61	(5)
O come, O come, Emmanuel! (Part One) (Isaiah 7:4, 11:10, 22:22; Malachi 4:2)	66	(5)
O come, O come, Emmanuel (Part Two) (Luke 21:20-28)	71	(3)
Once in royal David's city (Luke 2:1--7)	74	(5)
Gabriel's message (Luke 1:26--38)	79	(4)
Ave Maria (Luke 1:39--45)	83	(4)
Masters in this hall (Luke 1:46--55)	87	(5)
The cherry tree carol (Matthew 1:18--25)	92	(5)
Hark! the herald angels sing (Luke 2:8--14)	97	(5)
While shepherds watched their flocks by night (Luke 2:15--20)	102	(3)
Good King Wenceslas (Matthew 25:34--40)	105	(5)
The candle song (John 1:1--9)	110	(3)
The Coventry Carol (Matthew 2:16--18)	113	(4)
The childhood of Christ (Matthew 2:13--15)	117	(5)
In the bleak midwinter (Philippians 2:5--11)	122	(5)
Christmas oratorio (Hebrews 1:1--6)	127	(4)
January
What child is this? (Matthew 2:1--6)	131	(4)
The twelve days of Christmas (Part One) (Esther 9:17, 19--22)	135	(5)
A new dial: The twelve days of Christmas (Part Two) (The Apostles' Creed)	140	(5)
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day (Ecclesiastes 3:1--8, 11)	145	(5)
Ahmal and the Night Visitors (Luke 4:14--22)	150	(5)
We three kings (Matthew 2:7--11)	155	(6)
Suggestions for group discussion or individual reflection	161