On Sunday past, we gathered for what I consider the most glorious service of Lessons and Carols we have done together. If you were there, then you know the deep beauty and power of sound and song holding us, finding ourselves in the story of God's love told through the ancient stories of the Bible. One particular anthem took my breath away, and I share the lyrics with you here. The anthem, "Come, Renew Us" was written by Eleanor Daley, using the words of Anglican priest and poet, David Adam. The piece was commissioned by Christ Church, Cambridge, MA for the 250th anniversary of the dedication of their church—so, this wonderful piece has a close connection to us all, here in our diocese.
Come, Lord, come to us, enter our darkness with your light.
Fill our emptiness with your presence.
Come, refresh, restore, renew us.
In our sadness, come as joy,
In our troubles, come as peace,
In our fearfulness, come as hope,
In our darkness, come as light,
In our frailty, come as strength,
In our loneliness, come as love.
Come, refresh, restore, renew us.
David Adam (1936-2020)
These words from David Adam are the words of a praying heart. They speak of the Christmas joy and promise we celebrate in the coming days: God is Emmanuel, God with us, God come to us. We often think of Christmas as the birthday of Jesus the Christ, born in Bethlehem—and this is right. But, like every promise of God and every high holy day, what we celebrate here and now is not simply what was, but what is, and is to come: God, come near to us, "as joy..as peace..as hope..as light..as strength..as love." This Christmas, wherever and with whomever you find yourself, I pray that these words will be yours not only in hope, but in truth. Amidst the light and sounds, may the deepest and most desired gift be the knowledge and truth of God with you and in this, by the tether of the Spirit, the knowing that we are together, always.
Advent blessings to you this day, in hope, and waiting,
Nick
