ADVENT HYMN

This is the Nativity we have put up every year since the kids were small. A friend who did ceramics painted and fired it for us. She just couldn't believe I wanted it left a natural cream color, but I preferred it that way.

I've included a beautiful Advent hymn we seldom hear,

'Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus'.

Christ's birth in a lowly manger was the fulfillment of all of the many Old Testament prophecies fortelling this miraculous event.

(Please mute PlayList first.)

COME, THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS
Words - Charles Wesley
Music - Rowland H. Pritchard
(from the English Hymnal)

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 strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious Kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

The first verse focuses on the coming of Jesus, fulfilling Israel's longing for the Messiah.
The second verse tells us why He came...to set us free from sin and to bring us salvation by His death.
He truly is the 'Joy of every longing heart'!