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This week’s Prayer Meeting Podcast is an extended worship jam based on the theme of Advent.

1:27 Creator of the Stars of Night
3:25 Wake Awake for Night is Flying/All Our Trials
8:42 O Come, Divine Messiah
11:33 O Come O Come Emmanuel
15:40 Arise the Kingdom is at Hand
18:32 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus/ Be Still and Know
21:50 How Brightly Beams the Morning Star
25:47 Hark a Herald Voice is Sounding
28:15 Behold, the Bridegroom Comes

Feel free to pass this podcast along to anybody whom you feel would be blessed by it. Also, if you’re a musician or worship leader, feel free to use these songs in your own circles.

I have compiled all of the songs into one master Advent resource.  To download, right click “The Free Advent Hymn Songbook for Guitar“ and select “Save As.”  You have my permission to use these in your own circles.  Enjoy.

Lyrics below:

CREATOR OF THE STARS OF NIGHT
Latin 9th century
CONDITOR ALME

Creator of the stars of night
Thy people’s everlasting light
Jesus, Redeemer of us all
And hear Thy servants when they call.

Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the medicine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruined race.

Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to evening-tide;
Proceeding from a virgin shrine,
The spotless Victim all divine.

At Whose dread Name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
And things celestial Thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

O Thou Whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From every insult of the foe.

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honor, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally.

WAKE AWAKE FOR NIGHT IS FLYING/ ALL OUR TRIALS
Philip Nicolai, 1599
Harm. by J.S. Bach, 1731

“All our trials” – Spiritual

1 “Wake, awake, for night is flying,”
the watchmen on the heights are crying;
“Awake, Jerusalem, arise!”
Midnight hears the welcome voices
and at the thrilling cry rejoices:
“Where are the maidens pure and wise?
The Bridegroom comes: Awake!
Your lamps with gladness take!
Alleluia!
With bridal care and faith’s bold prayer,
to meet the Bridegroom, come, prepare!”

2 Zion hears the watchmen singing,
and in her heart new joy is springing.
She wakes, she rises from her gloom.
For her Lord comes down all-glorious
and strong in grace, in truth victorious.
Her star is risen, her light is come!
Now come, O Blessed One,
Lord Jesus, God’s own Son.
Sing hosanna!
We answer all in joy your call;
we follow to the wedding hall.

All our trials, Lord, soon be over.

3 Lamb of God, the heavens adore you,
the saints and angels sing before you
with harp and cymbals’ clearest tone.
Of one pearl each shining portal,
where, joining with the choir immortal,
we gather round your radiant throne.
No eye has seen that light,
no ear the echoed might
of your glory;
yet there shall we in victory
sing shouts of joy eternally!

Public Domain

O COME DIVINE MESSIAH
Abbe Simon-Joseph Pellegrin 1663-1745
Tr. by Sr. Mary of St. Philip 1825-1904

O come, divine Messiah;
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph
And sadness flee away

O Christ, whom nations sigh for,
Whom priest and prophet long foretold
Come, break the captive’s fetters,
Redeem the long lost fold.

Dear Savior haste!
Come, come to earth.
Dispel the night and show Your face
And bid us hail the dawn of grace.
O come, divine Messiah;
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph
And sadness flee away

You come in peace and meekness
And lowly will Your cradle be
All clothed in human weakness
Shall we Your Godhead see.

O COME O COME EMMANUEL
Latin 9th Century
Arr. by Nick Alexander

1 O come, O come, Immanuel,
Come ransom captive Israel.
O come, Dear Wisdom from on high,
O come, yes, come, Great Lord of might,

Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel!
Behold, shall come, Emmanuel.

2. O come, You Bright and Morning Star,
Come, bring us comfort from afar!
O come, Great King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.

3. O come, teach us Your ways to go.
To us, Your path of knowledge show
O come, Dear Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home.

ARISE THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND
Johann Rist, 1651 Tr. by Cath. Winkworth, 1858
verses added H. Lewars, 1913
Mel. 1598

Arise, the Kingdom is at hand
The King is drawing nigh
Arise with joy, you faithful band
To meet the Lord most high!
Go forth in bright array
He comes salvation bringin
With loud hosannas singing
Go meet Him on His way.
Go meet Him on His way.

Look up, you drooping hearts today!
The King is very near:
Oh, cast your griefs and fears away
For lo, your Help is here!
He is your very Lord;
His kingdom with you sharing
High comfort to you bearing,
In Sacrament and Word
In Sacrament and Word

Arise with footsteps joyous
You Saviour King to greet
He comes, the Prince all glorious
Strong God, yet gentle, sweet.
Come all with one accord;
Your hearts with ardor yearning
Your lamps well trimmed and burning
Go forth to meet Your Lord.
Go forth to meet Your Lord.

Public Domain

COME THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS
HYFRODOL; Rowland H. Prichard, 1811-1887

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s hope and consolation
Hope of all the strength Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart.

Public Domain

BE STILL AND KNOW
Author unknown

Be still and know that He is God
He is the Lord that heals Thee.
In You, O Lord, we put our trust.

Copyright unknown.

HOW BRIGHTLY BEAMS THE MORNING STAR
Johann Adolf Schlegel 1765
Tr. by Catherine Winkworth 1863
Tune: WIE SCHON LEUCHTET

How brightly beams the morning star
What sudden radiance from afar
Doth glad us with its shining?
The ray of God that breaks our night
And fills the darkened souls with light
Who long for truth we’re pining
Thy Word, Jesus,
Truly feeds us, rightly leads us
Life bestowing.
Praise, oh praise such love o’erflowing.

Through Thee alone can we be blest;
Then deep be on our hearts imprest
The love that Thou hast borne us
So make us ready to fulfill
With burning zeal Thy holy will,
Though men may vex or scorn us;
Savior, let us,
Never lose Thee, For we choose Thee
Thirst to know Thee.
All we are and have we owe Thee!

O praise to Thee who came to save
You conquered death and burst the grave;
Each day new praise resoundeth.
You are the Lamb who once was slain,
The Friend whom none shall trust in vain
Whose grace always aboundeth;
Sing, you heavens:
Tell the story of His glory
Till His praises
Flood with light earth’s darkest places.

Public Domain

HARK A HERALD VOICE IS SOUNDING
Latin 6th Century
En clara vox redarguit
Tr. by Fr. E. Caswall, 1695
Tune: Merton (Monk) 1850

Hark a herald voice is sounding
“Christ is nigh!” it seems to say;
Cast away the dreams of darkness
O ye children of the day!

Startled at the solemn warning
Let the earthbound soul arise;
Christ her sun, all sloth dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies

Lo! the Lamb so long expected
Comes with pardon down from heav’n.
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow.
One and all to be forgiv’n.

So when next He comes with glory,
Shrouding all the earth in fear
May He then as our Defender
On the clouds of heav’n appear.

Honour, glory, virtue, merit
To the Father and the Son
With the coeternal Spirit
While eternal ages run.

Public Domain

BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM COMES
George A. Macfarren (alt.)
MIDNIGHT
New arrangement by Nick Alexander

Behold the Bridegroom comes
Arise in the middle of the night
And blest is he prepared and steeled
Whose lamp is burning bright;
But woe to that dull servant, whom his Master shall surprise
With lamp untrimmed, unburning and with slumber in his eyes.

Keep watch, my soul, keep watch, beware
Lest you in sleep, sink down
Unless you be giv’n o’er to death
And lose your golden crown
But see that you be sober
With a watchful eye, and thus
Cry “holy, holy, holy God
Have mercy upon us!”

That day of fear shall come
My soul, slack not your toil
But light your lamp and feed it well
Make it bright with oil
You do not know how soon may sound that cry at eventide
Behold our Bridegroom comes; Arise!
He comes to meet His Bride

Beware my soul, take your good heed
Let you in slumber lie
And like the five, remain withou,
And knock and vainly cry;
But watch and bear your lamp undimmed,
And Christ shall gird you on
His own bright wedding robe light
The Glory of the Son.

That day of joy shall come
My soul, slack not your toil
So light your lamp and feed it well
Make it bright with oil
You do not know how soon may sound that cry at eventide
Behold our Saviour comes; Arise!
He comes to meet His Bride

Public Domain

Do you have a favorite Advent song?  Share it in the comments box below.