The season of Advent is a short one, with only four Sundays prior to Christmas. Thus the singing of Advent hymns is usually limited to the season—with perhaps a few exceptions when pastors and worship committees deliberately choose one or more Advent hymns in other seasons of the liturgical church year.
I enjoy singing the Advent hymns, and lament not being able to sing them more often—especially when congregations prefer to sing Christmas carols during Advent instead of the Advent hymns. I like both the lyrics and theology of several Advent hymns, as well as a number of the hymn tunes, to enhance an atmosphere of quiet, thoughtful reflection upon these hymns’ words and the seasons themes of, among others: hope, peace, joy, love, anticipation, preparation, judgement, justice, and the coming of Jesus at Christmas and his coming again in the future, at the consummation of history. Many of these Advent hymns are based on and inspired by several beautiful biblical passages.
One of my favourite Advent hymns is the contemporary “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah,” written by Wayne L. Wold, #240 in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. There are four short stanzas, and often congregations sing stanza one on the first Sunday in Advent, and stanzas one and two in the second Sunday in Advent, and so on. It is sung while the Advent wreath candles are being lit.
The lyrics are as follows: 1 “Light one candle to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness./He shall bring salvation to Israel, God fulfills the promise.” The light in this hymn, as I interpret it, refers to Jesus our Messiah, who described himself in the Gospels as “the light of the world.” In our Northern hemisphere, when the days are so short and dark, light is a sign for us of life and hope. The life, ministry, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus banish the darkness of sin, death, and evil. The exhortation “to watch for Messiah” highlights the emphasis in Advent of watchfulness, expectation and preparation for Jesus.
2 “Light two candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness./He shall feed the flock like a shepherd, gently lead them homeward.” This stanza reminds us of Jesus the Good Shepherd, who lovingly cares for each one of us and, in response, we trust him with our life’s destination.
3 “Light three candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness./Lift your heads and lift high the gate-way for the King of glory.” With the exhortation to lift our heads, we will be able to see what heads gazing downwards will miss—namely, the coming Jesus, King of glory. Reference to “lift high the gate-way” I interpret as making room in our lives for Jesus with open hearts and minds, which involve careful and joyful watching, observing, anticipating and expecting.
4 “Light four candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness./He is coming, tell the glad tidings. Let your lights be shining!” Now the expectation, and joy are nearing their climax as Jesus’s coming at Christmas is closer. The exhortation to “tell the glad tidings” is an exhortation to share the story of Jesus’s birth. The exhortation to “Let your lights be shining” may involve deeds of loving-kindness toward others, especially those in greatest need.
According to Hymnary.org: “Wayne L. Wold was born April 16, 1954 in Fosston, Minnesota. He presently serves as Associate Professor of Music and College Organist at Hood College in Frederick, MD. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Music degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, a Master of Sacred Music degree from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia.”
His professional accomplishments are as follows: “Over 200 compositions in print.
Numerous articles, several hymn and anthem texts, and two books in print.
Performed with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, in Lincoln Center, and in numerous churches across the U.S. and in Europe.
Past president of Region One of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.
Member of the editorial committee for the ELCA's Evangelical Lutheran Worship.”1
The hymn tune is a Yiddish folk tune, TIF IN VELDELE, the metre is: 10.7.9.6. It is a very “catchy” tune, for me it has, on more than one occasion become an earworm.
In closing, I’d like to include the following citation from The Days Before Christmas, (p. 33), by Professor W.A. Poovey, in which he encourages the faithful to sing the Advent hymns at home, in addition to during worship services: “The hymns written to be sung during the days before Christmas may never be listed among “My Ten Favourite Hymns,” but they all underscore the message of a coming Saviour and king. They are worth our study and meditation. Sing them at home during this season. Advent hymns make the message of the coming Christ more personal and vital.” To that, I say: “Amen! May it be so!”
1 Found at Hymnary.org: <http://bach.calvin.edu/person/Wold_Wayne>.
