One valid complaint about observing certain themes at certain times of year is that the Bible doesn’t command it.
And it would be wrong to tell every Christian that they had to reflect on the first and second coming of Jesus at this time of year.
But the bible does give prominence to the promise and the expectation.
It is biblical to meditate on them. And for groups of God’s people to do so at the same time.
They are worthy of our reflection, and perhaps more often and more deeply that for certain fixed seasons of the year.
A particular trap is importing elements and attaching meanings to them which can’t be discerned from Scripture.
So this blog is a candle and wreath free zone.
Creator Of The Stars Of Night is John M. Neale’s translation of Latin lyrics dating back to the seventh century. The accompanying tune Conditor or Conditor Alme Siderum is the Latin first line of the song, and its melody give a hint to its origin in chanting.
The lyrics can vary, but here’s six representative verses:
1.
Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear Thy servants when they call.
2.
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.
3.
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.
4.
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.
5.
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.
6.
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.
None of the youtubes impressed me.
So, bandcamp to the rescue.
Here’s a four verse recording by Jaron & Katherine Kamin which uses the original melody.
I like this revised tune by Alex Meijas of High Street Hymns.
And finally this is a chant like version from St. Augustine’s Schola.
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