Arise, the Kingdom Is at Hand

[Haruo]

(1: Tamar)
Who'd have thought the Lord Almighty from all women on the earth
Would have chosen Tamar the wily to prepare for Jesus' birth?
But he chose her, and we laud her for her chutzpah and her brains,
In gratitude we applaud her: Hallelujah! Jesus reigns!

(2: Rahab)
Who would dream the God of Moses, and of Joshua son of Nun,
Would elect a Jericho harlot — and a traitor — for his Son
To descend from? Yet he picked her! Praise the wisdom of his choice:
Hallelujah! God is with us! Let us marvel and rejoice!

(3: Ruth)
Who'd imagine, of all nations, God would call on Moab's aid
To advance the cause of salvation? that a needed role played
A widowed exile sprung from Sodom — and from incest — that her part
Would be great-grandmother, in Israel, of a man after God's own heart?

(4: Bathsheba)
Who would guess that when, in wartime, on her roof Bathsheba lay
And occasioned maybe the worst crime in the annals of her day,
God, the righteous Lord of Zion through that lust would vict'ry win,
From their union bringing a scion who'd annihilate all sin.

(5: Mary)
Who'd suppose a country girl such as Mary would attract
The Creator of the whole world? But she did, and that's a fact.
She conceived and bore a child by the Spirit of the Lord —
Our Redeemer, "meek and mild", sharper than a two-edged sword!

(6-8: Reprise)
Who'd believe that these five ladies, and so many nameless more,
In God's great assault upon Hades would be called and chosen for
The advancement to perfection of the Lord's ongoing plan
By a process of election to bring forth the Son of Man?

Mudstained cloth and damaged vessels are the means our Lord has used,
Yet our sense of pride still wrestles with the meaning of these truths:
Not the holy and the haughty, but the humble and the flawed —
Be they prostitutes or monarchs — are the forebears of our God.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu!
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu-hu-hu!
So we sing their praises gladly, named and nameless, brash and shy,
For the offspring of their body is the Apple of God's eye!

Text: Leland Bryant Ross, 1996
Tune: CHEATING GAME ( ) - which I thought when I composed it was a variant of SCARLET RIBBONS, but later realized was probably based on childhood memories of SILVER THREADS AND GOLDEN RIBBONS ( )

Note: I wrote this in memory of Jesus female ancestors, especially those mentioned in Matthew 1 (Luke ignores women's part, apart from Mary's, in the lineage entirely); Matthew singles out 5 -- out of a potential 42 -- for special mention, and interestingly they are all in some way (sexually or ethnically or both) scandalous. Each of the first five stanzas is intended to cap a brief homily on the woman in question and the iconoclasm of her inclusion among Jesus' forebears—the lections are Genesis 38: impersonates prostitute in order to get her father-in-law to impregnate her (v. 1), Joshua 2: traitor to her country, Jericho; bordellista (v. 2), Genesis 19 with a glance at Deut. 23:3: illegal alien descended from the incestuous survivors of Sodom (v. 3), 2 Samuel 11: she's cute; have him killed (v. 4), Luke 1: the word on the street is, it was a Roman soldier (v. 5)—with a summation on the shock of the gospel preceding stanzas 6-8. I used it twice in worship services, once at a local nursing home where Fremont Baptist put on an occasional service for residents, and once at our own evening service.

[Haruo]

Out on the plains the brolgas are dancing
Lifting their feet like warhorses prancing
Up to the sun the woodlarks go winging
Faint in the dawn light echoes their singing
Orana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day.

Down where the tree ferns grow by the river
There where the waters sparkle and quiver
Deep in the gullies bell-birds are chiming
Softly and sweetly their lyric notes rhyming
Orana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day.

Friar birds sip the nectar of flowers
Currawongs chant in wattle tree bowers
In the blue ranges lorikeets calling
Carols of bush birds rising and falling
Orana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day.

Text: John Wheeler, 20th c.
Tune: William G. James, 20th c. -

Glossary:
Brolga :
A red-headed grey crane (Grus rubicunda) of north eastern Australia, noted for its graceful courtship dances.
Currawong :
A large black bird (Strepera graculina) of eastern Australia, with an attractive call including the sounds "curra – wong".
Friar Bird :
A large brown honeyeater (Philemon corniculatis & spp), of eastern Australia, with the head bare of feathers, to allow access deep into flowers.
Lorikeet :
Any of a number of small, arboreal parrots found in different parts of Australia.
Orana :
Aboriginal word (not sure which language) for dawn ... or, in this context, greetings or perhaps hail!.

[Haruo]

Veni, Clavis Davidica,
Regna reclude caelica,
Fac iter tutum superum,
Et claude vias inferum

Приди, Давида Ключ святой,
нам двери в Царствие открой!
Чтоб враг нам смертью не грозил,
приди, приди, Еммануил!

O come, thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads to thee
And close the path to misery.

The rest of today's offerings will come in the evening... I threw in a verse in Russian to tide you over!

[Dave Roberts]

I really like your composition. Those women deserve more attention.

[Haruo]

Veni, veni, O Oriens
Solari nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nebulas
Dirasque mortis tenebras.

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.

[Haruo]

Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria!
Hail, mother of mercy and of love, O Maria!
Triumph, all ye cherubim!
Sing with us, ye seraphim!
Heav'n and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!

Our life, our sweetness here below, O Maria!
Our hope in sorrow and in woe, O Maria!
Triumph...

And when our life-breath leaves us, O Maria!
Show us thy son, Christ Jesus, O Maria!
Triumph...

[Haruo]

오소서 오소서 병화의 임금
우리가 한몸 이루게 하소서

오소서 오소서 사랑의 임금
우리가 한몸 이루게 하소서

오소서 오소서 자유 의임금
우리가 한몸 이루게 하소서

오소서 오소서 통일 의임금
우리가 한몸 이루게 하소서

Come now, O Prince of Peace, make us one body,
come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile all people.

Come, O God of love, make us one body,
come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile all people.

Come now, and set us free, O God our Savior,
come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile all people.

Come, hope of unity, make us one body,
come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile all people.

Text and tune: Geonyong Lee, © 1988; English paraphrase, Marion Pope.

[Haruo]

Veni, veni, Rex gentium,
Veni, Redemptor omnium,
Ut salvas tuos famulo
Peccati sibi conscios.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
all peoples in one heart and mind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease;
and be thyself our King of Peace.

[Haruo]

Hail, Queen of heaven, the ocean star,
Guide of the wanderer here below,
Thrown on life's surge, we claim thy care,
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, Star of the sea
Pray for the wanderer, pray for me.

O gentle, chaste, and spotless Maid,
We sinners make our prayers through thee;
Remind thy Son that He has paid
The price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, Star of the sea,
Pray for the sinner, pray for me.

Sojourners in this vale of tears,
Blest advocate, to thee we cry,
Assuage our sorrows, calm our fears,
And soothe with hope our misery.
Refuge in grief, Star of the sea
Pray for the mourner, pray for me.

And while to Him Who reigns above
In Godhead one, in Persons three,
The Source of life, of grace, of love,
Homage we pay on bended knee:
Do thou, bright Queen, Star of the sea,
Pray for thy children, pray for me.

Text: Fr. John Lingard, paraphrasing "Ave Stella Maris"
Tune: STELLA (English), English traditional tune arr. F. H. Hémy, 19th c.
()

[Haruo]

Hail to the brightness of Zion's glad morning!
Joy to the lands that in darkness have lain!
Hushed be the accents of sorrow and mourning;
Zion in triumph begins her mild reign.

Hail to the brightness of Zion's glad morning,
Long by the prophets of Israel foretold!
Hail to the millions from bondage returning!
Gentiles and Jews the blest vision behold.

Lo, in the desert rich flowers are springing,
Streams ever copious are gliding along;
Loud from the mountain-tops echoes are ringing,
Wastes rise in verdure, and mingle in song.

See, from all lands, from the isles of the ocean,
Praise to Jehovah ascending on high;
Fallen are the engines of war and commotion;
Shouts of salvation are rending the sky.

Text: Thomas Hastings
Tune: WESLEY (Mason)

[Haruo]

Veni, veni Emmanuel,
Captivum solve Israel
Qui gemit in exilio,
Privatus Dei Filio.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Tomorrow we will recapitulate the antiphons as a hymn, sung in reverse order so that the initial acrostic: SARCORE: resolves itself into the phrase "ERO CRAS", i.e. "I'll be [with you] tomorrow!"

[Haruo]

Mary had a little lamb,
whose fleece was white as snow.

And everywhere that Mary went,
the lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day
which was against the rule.

It made the children laugh and play,
to see a lamb at school.

[Haruo]

Heir of all the waiting ages,
Hope of ages yet to be;
Light to those who dwell in sorrow,
Living truth to make us free;
Stricken souls shall know the comfort
Of your gracious ministry.

Angel voices in the heavens
Joyfully proclaim your birth;
Singing a foretold dominion,
Reign of righteousness and worth;
Songs of prophecy and promise,
Peace, goodwill to all on earth.

You shall be the great physician
For the ills of humankind;
You shall heal the wounded spirit,
And give strength to mean and kind;
Larger life for all who seek it
In the childlike ear and mind.

Text: Marion Franklin Ham
Tune: PICARDY (French carol tune most frequently found with the text "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence")

There is a fourth stanza,

Child of peace, the warring nations
In your name shall sheathe the sword;
Justice, scorned, forgotten, trampled,
By your rule shall be restored;

but I am missing the last two lines. Will insert them if I can find them today.

[Haruo]

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Desire of nations, bind
all peoples in one heart and mind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease;
and be thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, thou Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads to thee
and close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save
and give them vict'ry o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, O Adonai in might,
who to thy folk on Sinai's height
in ancient times didst give the Law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show
and cause us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!

Veni, veni Emmanuel,
captivum solve Israel
qui gemit in exilio,
privatus Dei Filio.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, veni, Rex gentium,
veni, Redemptor omnium,
ut salvas tuos famulo
peccati sibi conscios.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, veni, O Oriens
solari nos adveniens,
noctis depelle nebulas
dirasque mortis tenebras.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, Clavis Davidica,
regna reclude caelica,
fac iter tutum superum,
et claude vias inferum
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, O Jesse Virgula,
ex hostis tuos ungula,
de secu tuos tartari
educ et antro barathri.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, veni, Adonaï,
qui populo in Sinaï
legem dedisti vertice
in majestate gloriae.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, O Sapientia,
quae hic disponis omnia;
veni, viam prudentiae
ut doceas et gloriae.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.

And here is my Esperanto version...
O Emmanuel... (23 dec)
Ho venu vi, Emanuel'!
Sav-donu nun al Izrael'
ploranta sola en ekzil',
ĝis venos vi, la Dia Fil'!
Ho ĝoj'! Ho ĝoj'! Emanuel'
revenos al vi, Izrael'.

O Rex gentium... (22 dec)
Ho Reĝo de l' Nacioj, nin
nun unuigu laŭ destin';
De timo kaj militminac'
Nin savu, nia Princ' de Pac'.
Ho ĝoj'! ho ĝoj'! Emanuel'
Revenos al vi, Izrael'.

O Oriens... (21 dec)
Ho venu vi, Matena Sun'!
Dispelu noktajn nubojn nun;
Lumante al mort-ombra voj',
Gajigu nin per sankta ĝoj'.
Ho ĝoj'! Ho ĝoj'! Emanuel'
Revenos al vi, Izrael'.

O Clavis David... (20 dec)
Ŝlosil' Davida, venu vi!
Malfermu hejmon antaŭ ni;
Enlasu nin al Dia glor';
Malbonon ĉian baru for.
Ho ĝoj'! Ho ĝoj'! Emanuel'
Revenos al vi, Izrael'.

O Radix Jesse... (19 dec)
Ho Jiŝajido, levu vin,
El ĉenoj liberigu nin,
Kaj savu el la nigra mort'!
Ne venku nin infera fort'!
Ho ĝoj'! Ho ĝoj'! Emanuel'
Revenos al vi, Izrael'.

O Adonai... (18 dec)
Ho venu vi, la Leĝdonint',
El nubo de Sinaja pint'!
Jam nun al via Izrael'
Revenu vi, Emanuel'
Ho ĝoj'! Ho ĝoj'! Emanuel'
Revenos al vi, Izrael'.

O Sapientia... (17 dec)
Ho Saĝo el la buŝ' de Di',
Alvenu, kaj ordigu Vi
La mondon de komenc' ĝis fin':
Laŭ prava voj' irigu nin.
Ho ĝoj'! ho ĝoj'! Emanuel'
Revenos al vi, Izrael'.

[Haruo]

When He comes, when He comes,
We shall see the Lord in glory when He comes!
As I read the gospel story we shall see the Lord in glory,
We shall see the Lord in glory when He comes!
With the Alleluias ringing to the sky,
With the Alleluias ringing to the sky!
As I read the gospel story we shall see the Lord in glory
With the Alleluias ringing to the sky!

When He comes, when He comes,
We shall heart the trumpet sounded when He comes!
We shall hear the trumpet sounded, see the Lord by saints surrounded,
We shall heart the trumpet sounded when He comes!
With the Alleluias ringing to the sky,
With the Alleluias ringing to the sky!
We shall hear the trumpet sounded, see the Lord by saints surrounded,
With the Alleluias ringing to the sky!

When He comes, when He comes,
We shall all rise up tomeet Him when He comes!
When He calls His own to greet Him we shall all rise up to meet Him,
We shall all rise up to eet Him when He comes!
With the Alleluias ringing to the sky,
With the Alleluias ringing to the sky!
When He calls His own to greet Him we shall all rise up to meet Him
With the Alleluias ringing to the sky.

Text: Timothy Dudley-Smith, © 1969 Hope Pub. Co.
Tune recommendation: DAVID, Wayne Hooper, © 1984

[Haruo]

Sleep, baby mine,
A golden star is burning
In God's clear blue above;
And oh, my heart is learning
The miracle of love,
The miracle of love.

Sleep, baby mine,
I hear an angel singing
Above Thy tiny bed;
The scent of heav'n is clinging
About Thy tiny head,
About Thy tiny head.

Sleep, baby mine,
To me who humbly bore Thee
Thy cradle is a throne;
But all the days before Thee
Are known to God alone,
Are known to God alone.

Text: Wihla Hutson
Tune: Alfred Burt
© 1954, 1957 Hollis Music, Inc.

[Haruo]

Advent is over; Christmas songs will appear in .

[KeithE]

[Haruo]