Friday, December 4, 2020

December 5, Saturday prior to Advent 2

The hymn of the day, On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry (LSB 344), recounts the Old Testament and Gospel readings of the work of John the Baptist. It closes with a doxological stanza which proclaims the Good News that Jesus’ ‘advent sets Thy people free.’ This is Good News, indeed!

 

On Jordan’s Bank was a Latin hymn written by Charles Coffin in 1736 and translated into English by John Chandler in 1837.

 



Picture John,
Cousin of Jesus,
Standing in the
River Jordan
Baptizing.
When suddenly
John, with stomach
Full of locusts
And other assorted goodies
Announces that the
Lord is coming
And will bring
Glad tidings
For all.
 
John has prepared
The path,
The way made straight.
In our heart let us
Prepare a home for
our Lord.
 
 Let us receive his grace
For without it we
Are like a flower which
Grows, blooms, dies and decays.
Let us allow Jesus to
Work in us, to
Work through us, to
Be a light shining from us, to
Show others the earth’s
True loveliness once more.
Let us encourage and enthuse others
To praise God’s eternal son
Whose advent sets us all free.
“The Lord is nigh”, the Baptist cried
“Praise him for all he brings.”[1]

 

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[2]


[1] Poem by Nick Percival www.urcbarnsleygroup.org.uk
[2]Collect for Advent 2 Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

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