New Hymn for Advent

Here’s a beautiful new hymn text for Advent written by Laurence Lee Levett-Olson.  See below for tune suggestions.

Light is Dawning

Light is dawning, fields and mountains shine the day's first hints of gold,
warming all our watching faces with earth's beauty rich and old.
We are worn out by our waiting: too much struggle, too much pain.
Now our hearts can soar with singing as God's promise comes again.

All around, creation pauses we can feel the eager sigh
as the breath of God blows through us, lifting eyes and voices high
to the Jesus who still calls us from the cross and empty grave;
every human hurt and hunger shares the prayer his dying gave.

Now the light comes spilling crimson on the road we help to build,
where all pilgrims can dance homeward; every pit and valley filled,
every lonely climb eased for us, we unite in one vast choir
to join praises for the God Child who is born in blood and fire.

You were here before we knew it and have never gone away;
word and sacrament reveal it from the dawn of that first day.
The whole cosmos joys to meet you, for you have made all things well:
let your light lead us that we may share your name, Emmanuel!

— written by Laurence Lee Levett-Olson and posted on David Beswick’s Home Page

Tune suggestions: The hymn is in 8.7.8.7.D. meter.  Try one of the following:
HARRIS (“O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus”)
NETTLETON (“Come Thou Fount of Ev’ry Blessing”) 

For more worship resources for the second Sunday of Advent (December 4, 2011), click on Advent 2 in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page, or see this Advent Worship Resources Index.