HymnSite.com's Suggested Hymns

Don't miss A HOLY CHRISTMAS 1998

2nd Sunday of Advent

December 6, 1998

Unifying Theme:
Christ, our Lord and Messiah,
the true Root of Jesse. May we bear fruit.

 Advent--2nd week
Scripture Theme Hymns
Isaiah 11:1-10 The Root of Jesse 216: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 Fruits of righteousness 154: All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
155: All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
Matthew 3:1-12 The One is coming. Woe to roots that bear no fruits 196: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Romans 15:4-13 The Root of Jesse--the hope of the Gentiles 203: Hail to the Lord's Annointed
247: O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright

Featured Hymn
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

Hymn #216
Words 15th cent. German;
translated by Theodore Baker
Music from Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengesang;
harmony by Michael Praetorius
Tune Name: ES IST EIN ROS

Symbols are a curious thing. Some have universal meaning. Others are more coloquial, having significance only in a smaller community. Some have both. Many years ago I spoke with a man who had prepared a translation of the Bible in an African language. He had a problem when he came to the phrase, "white as snow." You see, that community had never seen or experienced snow. There was no word in their language for snow, and adopting a word for snow would have been meaningless. So he spoke with people to find out what one thing was considered to be the purest white. In the Bible translation that he prepared, sins became as "white as popcorn!" Substituting this symbol may sound strange to many of us, but it carried a more powerful meaning for the people receving the Word in that language.

The rose has been a symbol of many things. Many consider it to be the mightiest and most beautiful of all flowers. It is a symbol of beauty and love. "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys." (Song of Solomon 2:1) It has been used as the symbol of mighty families. It is also a symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ. The scriptures make a number of references to flowers. Most of them allude to the flower fading and dying away. Unique to Christ, though, is the knowledge that this Rose blooms eternally. From the frail, tender stem of man blooms the beautiful, mighty, eternal Rose.

This week's featured hymn reaches back through 500 years of tradition to tell with beauty and grace the wonderful story of the coming of the Rose.

1. Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming
from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming,
as those of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright,
amid the cold of winter,
when half spent was the night.		 2. Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
the Rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it,
the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God's love aright,
she bore to us a Savior,
when half spent was the night.

This Rose is the Lord for whom we prepare during Advent. Enjoy the beauty and sweetness.

God bless you--
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God bless you!

Passages suggested are from The Revised Common Lectionary: Consultation on Common Texts (Abingdon Press, 1992) copyright © by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT), P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Reprinted with permission of CCT.