We are going to take a break from the Anglican, Religious, Financial, Cultural, and other news until later in the Christmas season to focus from this evening forward on the great miracle of the Incarnation–KSH.

Buendía!

Ángeles en las alturas
Con sus voces de cristal
Van cantando gloria al niño
A los hombres cantan paz

Gloria
In Excelsis Deo

Niño que de noche vienes
No nos dejes de mirar
Si tus ojos se durmieran
El amor los abrirá
(Villancico)

Domenico Ghirlandaio "Natività" 1492 pic.twitter.com/IKplhxXCXe

— Miguel Calabria (@MiguelCalabria3) December 24, 2024

This section of the poem offers two images of Mary, each extraordinary in its own way. Elsewhere among the Advent Lyrics, Mary is the subject of ‘O virgo virginum’ and of the dialogue which begins ‘O Joseph’; the latter brings to life the tension and pain in the story of her child-bearing, dramatising the anguished thoughts of a couple who have had a world-changing miracle erupt in the middle of their marriage. That’s an emotional, intimate conversation – the Incarnation as personal human drama.

This poem gives us a very different view of Mary. Here she is a queen, and on a cosmic scale – ruler of the forces of heaven, earth, and hell. God and Mary are described in language and tropes drawn from Anglo-Saxon heroic poetry: they are the brytta and his bryd, the generous ring-giving lord and his resolute queen. Described thus, they might easily be Hrothgar and Wealhtheow in Beowulf, or even Cnut and Emma. Like many another woman in Anglo-Saxon poetry, Mary is a bride ‘adorned with rings’ (beaga hroden), but this bride is far from a passive figure: she is courageous and determined (þristhycgende, ‘steadfast in mind’). This poem frames her situation in a distinctive way, presenting it as if she has decided to undertake a diplomatic mission from earth to heaven. Though literally this decision is made when she accepts Gabriel’s message to her, the poem describes it as if she set out to travel on a journey to unite herself with God…

Read it all.

'You are the door in the wall…
Intercede for us now, bold in your words,
that he may not allow us any longer
to go astray in this deadly valley.'

An Anglo-Saxon poem to Mary, queen of three realms, door in the wall between the worlds: https://t.co/kg1YIeyOjQ pic.twitter.com/L23OPaM7df

— Eleanor Parker (@ClerkofOxford) December 24, 2024

O Wisdom, that camest out of the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to another, firmly and gently ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of understanding.

O Adonai, Captain of the house of Israel, who didst appear to Moses in the flame of the burning bush, and gavest him the law on Sinai: Come and deliver us with thine outstretched arm.

O Root of Jesse, who standest for an ensign of the people, before whom kings shall shut their mouths, to whom the nations shall seek: Come and deliver us and tarry not.

O Key of David, Sceptre of the house of Israel, who openest and no man shutteth, and shuttest and no man openeth: Come and bring forth out of the prison-house him that is bound.

O Day-spring from on high, Brightness of Eternal Light, and Sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.

O King of nations, thou for whom they long, the Cornerstone that makest both one: Come and save thy creatures whom thou didst fashion from the dust of the earth.

O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Desire of all nations and their Saviour: Come and save us, O Lord our God.

(For those interested in more about this, please read further there).

einen friedlichen und gesegneten 4. Advent pic.twitter.com/QrMxOGvR7j

— Edition Hochfeld (@VHochfeld) December 22, 2024

Almighty Father, whose blessed Son at his coming amongst us brought redemption unto his people, and peace to men of goodwill: Grant that, when he shall come again in glory to judge the world and to make all things new, we may be found ready to receive him, and enter into his joy; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Advent pic.twitter.com/gnqa8UhuSB

— Barbara H-R (@tellthee) December 22, 2024

And his father Zechari’ah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, when the day shall dawn upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

–Luke 1:67-80

Zechariah in the Temple #baroque #janlievens https://t.co/u1zGPhIb8d pic.twitter.com/0BgCyr32ik

— El Gran Museo (@elgranmuseo) September 16, 2022

Lord God Almighty, King of glory and love eternal, worthy art thou at all times to receive adoration, praise, and blessing; but especially at this time do we praise thee for the sending of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, for whom our hearts do wait, and to whom, with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, be honour and dominion, now and for ever.

—Prayers for the Christian Year (SCM, 1964)

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and as we are sorely hindered by our sins from running the race that is set before us, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

ও️Ich wünsche euch einen ruhigen und besinnlichen
4. Advent, habt einen schönen Tag.️♡ pic.twitter.com/oSBJhGCVKz

— Constanze Riegel (@ConstanzeRiegel) December 22, 2024

We beseech thee, O Lord, to purify our consciences by thy daily visitation; that when thy Son our Lord cometh, he may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Winter Solstice…. The shortest day .. wet and wild … pic.twitter.com/sk7eItYczL

— Alison O’Neill ~ Shepherdess (@woolismybread) December 21, 2024

O thou, who hast foretold that thou wilt return to judgment in an hour that we are not aware of, grant us grace to watch and pray always, that whether thou shalt come at even, or at midnight, or in the morning, we may be found among the number of those servants who shall be blessed in watching for their Lord, to whom be all glory now and for evermore.

Morning everyone I hope you are well. I do love exploring the various valleys around Ullswater and Brothers Water and with views like this you can see why. Also great to meet @cooldivingdude on my travels. Have a great day.#LakeDistrict @keswickbootco pic.twitter.com/7C2gAzTDES

— Rod Hutchinson (@lakesrhino) December 20, 2024

O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

6 days to Christmas in my mini advent calendar, on a narrow lane in the #peakdistrict, through the fields and trees, over the streams and hills. It was shining and perfect after a fresh fall of snow, the little cottages cosy in the valley. pic.twitter.com/Zzio1MehjO

— peaklass (@peaklass1) December 19, 2024

O Lord our God, in whose hands is the issue of all things, and who requirest from thy stewards not success but faithfulness: Give us such faith in thee and in thy sure purposes, that we measure not our lives by what we have done or failed to do, but by our obedience to thy holy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

—Daily Prayer, Eric Milner-White and G. W. Briggs, eds. (London: Penguin Books 1959 edition of the 1941 original)

Guten Morgen mit einer kleinen Winterimpression aus Danzig.#Polen pic.twitter.com/bmlrEn8Ewv

— Thomas Stiegler (@StieglerThomas) December 18, 2024

O God, who didst send thy messengers and prophets to prepare the way of thy Son before him: Grant that our Lord when he cometh may find in us a dwelling prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who came to take our nature upon him that he might bring many sons unto glory, and now with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end.

–A New Prayer Book (London: Oxford University Press 1923)

Sunrise over Norwich market this morning… @WeatherAisling @ChrisPage90 @StormHour @metoffice #loveukweather @VisitNorwich pic.twitter.com/EY3VauKHCc

— WalkingTractor (@TractorWalking) December 17, 2024

O Lord Jesus Christ, before whose judgment-seat we must all appear and give account of the things done in the body: Grant, we beseech thee, that when the books are opened in that day, the faces of thy servants may not be ashamed; through thy merits, O blessed Saviour, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

Guten Morgen am Montag und eine angenehme neue Woche mit viel Schwung und Freude.
pic.twitter.com/npcmQgmd82

— Brigitta Neurauter (@BrigittaNeurau2) December 16, 2024

Lyrics: I look from afar: and lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering the whole earth. Go ye out to meet him and say: Tell us, art thou he that should come to reign over thy people Israel? High and low, rich and poor, one with another. Hear, O thou shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient toward the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world, we may be found a people acceptable in your sight; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Guten Morgen wünsche euch einen besinnlichen
3. Adventssonntag
Stille und Ruhe bringen die ganze Welt ins rechte Maß zurück
Laotse pic.twitter.com/biiZhj25He

— Renate Kleine (@RenateKleine) December 15, 2024

Grant, O Lord, that we who once again prepare for the commemoration of the coming of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, may so direct our hearts to the fulfillment of thy law, that he may now accept our hosannas, and in the life to come receive us in the heavenly Sion; where with thee and the Holy Ghost he liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end.

Ich wünsche allen einen
geruhsamen 2. ADVENT! pic.twitter.com/tgDrltj0bx

— Christine Maria S. (@gitanasolcris) December 8, 2024

God wants us to understand the depth and breadth of our transgressions against him and come face to face with the utter lostness of our plight. He wants us to own our sad and sorry situation, understanding that our sin offends him and that his wrath is upon us. That without Jesus we are held captive by the Enemy. 

I know what it’s like to be held captive by a sad and sorry situation. Decades ago, when a reckless dive left me paralyzed at the age of 17, my world went dark. My despair seemed like a bottomless pit. I was lost to life as I once knew it—riding horses, playing sports, and hiking through the beauty of God’s creation. But now? I felt enslaved by a life sentence of quadriplegia.   

Lying in the rehabilitation hospital after my injury, I wanted to end my life. Unable to do even that, I determined to end my life spiritually. I told my mother to shut the door and close the drapes. I wanted to shut out the light—shut out the whole world. I was lost. 

Only when we appreciate the fact that we are lost can we fully celebrate being found. Perhaps that’s why James says, “Grieve, mourn, and wail” over your sin and God “will lift you up” (4:9,10). 

Read it all.

Advent calls us out of our despair, writes Joni Eareckson Tada.

Sitting in the dark helps us truly appreciate the light.https://t.co/sZstQnGIQ9

— Christianity Today (@CTmagazine) December 12, 2024

O Heavenly Father, whose most dearly beloved Son has come once to save the world, and will come again to judge the world: Help us, we pray thee, to watch like servants who wait for the coming of their lord.  May we abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost; and, having this hope, may we purify ourselves by thy grace, even as Christ is pure.  Grant this, O Father, for his sake and for the glory of thy holy name.

Guten Morgen am Freitag, den 13.
Es soll ein Glückstag für euch alle sein! pic.twitter.com/oDR8qpVyKV

— Brigitta Neurauter (@BrigittaNeurau2) December 13, 2024

You may listen directly here

Or you may download it there.

Bacchiacca (1494 – 1557)
Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness pic.twitter.com/6CXlpnuAiE

— Solas (@solas_na_greine) June 15, 2024

O God, by whose command the order of time runs its course: Forgive, we pray thee, the impatience of our hearts; make perfect that which is lacking in our faith; and, while we tarry the fulfillment of thy promises, grant us to have a good hope because of thy word; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Winter Morning pic.twitter.com/FpFUK364rp

— PᴇʙʙʟᴇS (@merakime) December 12, 2024

O great and glorious God, holy and immortal, who searches out the policies of nations and tries the hearts of men: Come, we pray thee, in judgment, upon the nations of the world; come and bring to destruction all that is contrary to thy holy will for mankind, and cause the counsels of the wicked to perish.  Come, O Lord, into our hearts, and root out from them that thou seest, and we cannot see, to be unlike the Spirit of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Guten Morgen wünsche allen einen attraktiven Tag
Der namensgebende Fluss Düssel in der Altstadt von Düsseldorf pic.twitter.com/XbzhkN2tT4

— Renate Kleine (@RenateKleine) December 11, 2024

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

The Long Water, Kensington Gardens

Chris O'Donovan pic.twitter.com/4jIGhMLURR

— The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) December 10, 2024

O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power
and come among us,
and with great might succour us;
that whereas, through our sins and wickedness
we are grievously hindered
in running the race that is set before us,
your bountiful grace and mercy
may speedily help and deliver us;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honour and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.

Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 9
Artist: Ronald Lampitt pic.twitter.com/LGMiG8EM7d

— Helen Day (@LBFlyawayhome) December 9, 2024

Make us, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, watchful and heedful in awaiting the coming of thy Son Christ our Lord; that when he shall come and knock, he shall find us not sleeping in sin, but awake and rejoicing in his praises; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 7
‘Winter Farmyard’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt pic.twitter.com/muK9DWhgd5

— Helen Day (@LBFlyawayhome) December 7, 2024

Almighty God, who in thy love didst give to thy servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness on land and sea: Grant, we pray thee, that thy Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Today's the feast of St Nicholas, a 3rd Century Bishop of Myra. His popular legends include bringing three boys back to life who had been killed by a publican and placed in a barrel, as here in collected 16th Century continental glass at Erpingham, Norfolk. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/bJhCiP55bB

— Simon Knott (@SimoninSuffolk) December 6, 2024

Thou who with thine own mouth hast avouched that at midnight, at an hour when we are not aware, the Bridegroom shall come: Grant that the cry, The Bridegroom cometh, may sound evermore in our ears, that so we be never unprepared to meet him, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 6
‘The village’
Artist: SR Badmin pic.twitter.com/oicsv16w73

— Helen Day (@LBFlyawayhome) December 6, 2024

Keep us, O Lord, while we tarry on this earth, in a serious seeking after thee, and in an affectionate walking with thee, every day of our lives; that when thou comest, we may be found not hiding our talent, nor serving the flesh, nor yet asleep with our lamp unfurnished, but waiting and longing for our Lord, our glorious God for ever and ever.

Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 5
‘First Snow’
Artist: Rowland Hilder pic.twitter.com/lnKiTKS8Fb

— Helen Day (@LBFlyawayhome) December 5, 2024

O Lord Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst warn us to prepare for the day when thou shalt come to be our judge: Mercifully grant that being awake from the sleep of sin, we may always be watching and intent upon the work thou hast given us to do; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.

The Advent season has many rich and ancient hymns of its own – songs of prophecy, hope, light and life springing up in the dead of winter.

Here's one example: some medieval English versions of the beautiful evening hymn, 'Creator of the stars of night' https://t.co/FzkwW16HX4 pic.twitter.com/2EXX4W0eMW

— Eleanor Parker (@ClerkofOxford) December 4, 2024

Blessed is your cross, O Jesus, way for the lost, guide for the seeker and strength for the weak. Blessed is your cross, O Jesus, healing for the sick, freedom for the slave and clothing for the naked.

Sunrise – Ardvasar Bay, Isle of Skye #Scotland @angie_weather @ThePhotoHour @StormHour @VisitScotland @bbcweather @itvweather pic.twitter.com/NbqRpzpqDz

— James MacInnes (@Macinnesplant) December 3, 2024

O God, Father of mercies, who didst so love the world that thou didst give thine only begotten Son to take our nature upon him for us men and for our salvation: Grant to us who by his first coming have been called into thy kingdom of grace, that we may always abide in him, and be found watching and ready when he shall come again to call us to thy kingdom of glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar
Window 2
‘Frost’
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe pic.twitter.com/dowa9iZt6w

— Helen Day (@LBFlyawayhome) December 2, 2024