Advent Hymns from Lutheran World Federation’s Hymns of Advent and Christmas

The Lutheran World Federation’s Hymns of Advent and Christmas continues with offerings from around the world: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana, "Re tsamaya Lesedingla Modimo" ("Walk in the Light of God"); Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana, "Come O Come, Emmanuel"; The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia, "How Beautiful"; Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony, "Veni, veni Emmanuel"; Evangelical Lutheran Church in Colombia, "Bella María"; Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church, "E Dhorom Isại Hoṛ"; Malagasy Lutheran Church, "Fa zaza no teraka" ("A child is born to us"); Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine, "Il est né le divin enfant" ("A Divine Child is Born").

Advent 2021: Week Four Study Guide and Children’s Sermon

We are nearing the end of Advent and the start of that special holiday, Christmas. In the United States, stores have been filled with seasonal music for six months now (it feels that way, at least), garlands and lights are draped over homes and lampposts, and pine trees are adorned with baubles of all shapes and sizes. In many countries, Christmas markets have taken over city squares. As the old carol says, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”

ELCA, Resources, Worship ResourcesBrian FlatgardDecember 16, 2021Hunger, ELCA World Hunger, 2021 Advent and ChristmasComment

Faith Lens: Magnifying Lens

Chances are you are looking at these words on a screen or that you looked at them on a screen prior to printing them out. According to a study released by the JAMA Pediatrics in November 2021, screen time for teenagers has increased during the pandemic from 3.8 hours per day to 7.7 hours per day. The 7.7 hours per day is for recreation (gaming and videos) and social interaction (social media and texting). That does not include online schooling, which can represent another 5-7 hours per day.

Worship Resources, ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardDecember 15, 2021Faith Lens, Youth and Young AdultComment

Faith Lens: Happy Advent You Brood of Vipers

Right off the bat we see why Hallmark has a robust industry in Christmas cards and not Advent cards. “Happy Advent, You Brood of Vipers” might not sell too well as a holiday card, but these words are certainly a wake-up call for the audience of John the Baptizer.

Worship Resources, ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardDecember 8, 2021Faith Lens, Youth and Young Adult, 2021 Advent and ChristmasComment

Advent Hymn: Give Thanks, Protestant Christian Batak Church

The Protestant Christian Batak Church presents "Give Thanks", featuring the Protestant Christian Batak Church (HKBP) Department of Diakonia, Indonesia.

Advent Hymn: Tiempo de Esperanza, Christian Lutheran Church of Honduras

The Christian Lutheran Church of Honduras presents "Tiempo de Esperanza" ("Time of Hope").

Advent Hymn: Wake and look toward the new star, Nepal Evangelical Lutheran Church

The Nepal Evangelical Lutheran Church presents "Wake and look toward the new star," featuring the Biratnagar Congregation.

Advent Hymn: Boha Otce všichni chvalme, Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren

The Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren presents "Boha Otce všichni chvalme" ("All praise God the Father"), featuring Ladislav Moravetz.

Advent Hymn: Gloria a Dios, Lutheran Church in Chile

The Lutheran Church in Chile presents "Gloria a Dios" ("Glory to God"), featuring Santiago Synod Iglesia Evangélica Luterana El Redentor.

Advent Hymn: Krisztus Urunknak áldott születésén, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Romania

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Romania presents "Krisztus Urunknak áldott születésén" ("On the birth of our Lord Christ") featuring the Mátka Folk Group.

Advent Hymn: The night comes to an end, Protestant Church in the Netherlands

The Protestant Church in the Netherlands presents "De nacht loopt ten einde…" ("The night comes to an end…") featuring the Lutheran Parish in Amsterdam.

Faith Lens: Barrier-Free Love

Two years after the original projected date of completion, the Minoru Centre for Active Living in Richmond, VA is open. It’s not every day that a community gets a new center for events with indoor swimming facilities. It’s also not every day that such community centers win international prizes for their accessibility.

Worship Resources, ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardDecember 1, 2021Faith Lens, Youth and Young AdultComment

Celebrating One Year of All Creation Sings

All Creation Sings, the worship and song supplement to Evangelical Lutheran Worship, released in late November 2020.

The ELCA Worship Staff would like to know how you’ve gotten to know All Creation Sings since its release last Advent. What is a newly discovered hymn or song that has worked very well in your assembly? Have you used elements of Settings 11 or 12 over this past year?

ELCA, Resources, Worship ResourcesBrian FlatgardDecember 1, 2021All Creation Sings, Augsburg FortressComment

Advent 2021: Week Two Study Guide and Children’s Sermon

Zechariah’s prophecy in the first chapter of Luke, our reading for this second Sunday in Advent, is sometimes overlooked in favor of the Magnificat of Mary in the same chapter. Mary’s song, which we will read later in Advent, is a theological ode to God, who “lift[s] up the lowly” (Luke 1:52).

ELCA, Resources, Worship ResourcesBrian FlatgardDecember 1, 2021Hunger, ELCA World Hunger, 2021 Advent and ChristmasComment

Advent Hymn: Come Let Us Adore Him, Lutheran Church in Singapore

The Lutheran Church in Singapore presents Come Let us Adore Him, featuring the Queenstown Lutheran Church in Singapore.

Advent Hymn: Tras hermoso lucero, Salvadoran Lutheran Church

The Salvadoran Lutheran Church presents Tras Hermoso Lucero. Featuring the Children Choir in the Lutheran Church Pueblo de Dios, Calderitas.

Advent Hymn: There is no Child, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada presents There is no Child by vocalists from the Eastern Synod.

Advent Hymn: Alimkudza wasoni munthu, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi presents Alimkudza wasoni munthu (He is Coming, The Man of Sorrows) featuring the ELCM Praise and Worship Team, Lilongwe Cathedral.

ELCA Worship News: November 2021

This Advent brings several reasons for hope: children can soon receive vaccinations for COVID-19, many congregations are gathering again in person, families look forward to holiday celebrations. Yet humanity grieves losses and experiences great suffering and forms of oppression, as does the planet itself.

Two new hymns in All Creation Sings that address this, see “Can You Feel the Seasons Turning” and “Abba, Abba, Hear Us” among others in the “Lament” and “Creation” sections.

ELCA, News, Resources, Worship ResourcesBrian FlatgardNovember 24, 2021ELCA Worship, 2021 Advent and ChristmasComment

Faith Lens: When Your Temple Crumbles

In his book, Silence the Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise, Thich Nhat Hanh talks about two kinds of knots. The first knot is our notions, ideas, concepts, and knowledge. These things are not bad, but when we get stuck on them we miss out on the truth of life.

The second knot is our afflictions, fears, anger, discrimination, despair, and arrogance. Thich Nhat Hanh believes that until these knots are undone we remain bound up and not truly free.

Worship Resources, ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardNovember 23, 2021Faith Lens, Youth and Young AdultComment

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