Contemporary Hymn for Advent

Here’s a new hymn for the advent season written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.  It’s based on Mark 13:1-37; Matthew 24-25; Luke 21:8-36; Romans 13:11-14.  See below for copyright information.


There Is a Mighty Question
ANGEL'S STORY 7.6.7.6 D (O Jesus, I Have Promised)

There is a mighty question we ask when nations rage:
Just when will be Christ's coming, the ending of the age?
Take care, said Jesus clearly, for many will appear;
They'll claim to be Messiah, yet people should not fear.

For in the days of Noah, the people went along
In eating and in drinking, in merriment and song —
Then suddenly the world changed with great, surprising power;
So too will be Christ's coming, and no one knows the hour.

So keep awake and watchful; salvation is at hand!
Our hope is in Christ Jesus, and by God's grace we stand.
The night is almost over, we wait for God's new day,
And through the Holy Spirit, we follow Jesus' way.

Be ready in your living, for when you feed the poor,
Or give to thirsty children the water they long for,
And when you welcome strangers and help the ones in need,
Christ says: "Receive my kingdom, for you are serving me."

Biblical References: Mark 13:1-37; Matthew 24-25; Luke 21:8-36; Romans 13:11-14
Text: Copyright © 1998 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
From Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today's Worship by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Geneva Press, 2000).

Hymn Use Permission: Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today's Worship by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Geneva Press, 2000) includes a permission note for those who own this book to use this hymn (along with the 44 other new hymns in the book) in their local church's worship services. People who do not own Gifts of Love are asked to contact Carolyn (bcgillette@comcast.net) for permission to use the hymn and to get a copy of the hymn formatted for worship bulletin use.