St. Hilary's Miniature Church Advent Calendar 2009

Tuesday 1st December 2009

Priscilla Jane and Tom thought this photo would work well here of themselves during one of their Advent Sunday School lessons.  You can see them checking out the altar cloth and noting that it is purple.  Tom and Priscilla were learning all about Advent and that the colour purple is often used in churches during this time because it represents royalty.  Advent is a time we all await the arrival of a royal  king.......Jesus!

See below the carol the children have chosen for today...........as you can see by the words it is all about the arrival of our new king.........or as the word is used here, "Emmanuel",  which means "God with us".


("Veni, Veni, Emanuel" translated into English by John Mason Neale)

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, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, 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 on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel