Hello friends!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and Advent starts next week. Here’s something I wrote and arranged for my church choir. We’re using this at the start of the service throughout Advent. (The shhh! at the end is meant to be followed by the lighting of the Advent candle.)

I’ve posted it in two pieces:

This is the text:

Searching and seeking, we hear the Spirit speaking.
The signs are appearing: the Holy One is nearing.

Finding and feeling, the Hidden One revealing,
Invoking, inviting, with every candle lighting.

Mary is bearing, and Joseph is preparing,
The Spirit entwining, and all the stars aligning.

All are expecting our God with us connecting,
Creation awaiting its holy recreating.

Longing and yearning, 
We keep the fire burning.

The time is near, the time is near, 
The time is near, the time is near.

Bells are ringing! Angels singing! 
Drums are drumming! Christ is coming!

The music is simple and dramatic, with three vocal parts (plus cantor) and a repetitive structure in four-bar phrases. I hope this will be useful to someone out there, and I hope it will help you feel the wild hope of Advent.

Happy Thanksgiving!