Here’s a contemporary hymn for Advent from Joy Patterson. You might try
singing it to the traditional Christmas carol tune Oh, how joyfully (SICILIAN MARINERS), or Angels from the Realms of Glory (REGENT
SQUARE)…or one of these other traditional tunes (in 8.7.8.7.8.7. meter):
LAUDA ANIMA
(Praise, my soul, the King of heaven)
NEANDER
(Open now the gates of beauty)
In the Depth of Winter’s Darkness
In the depth of winter's darkness,
lost in gloomy shades of night,
all
humanity stands watching,
waiting for God's promised Light.
Alleluia,
alleluia,
come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!
Now the
time of preparation--
with repentance hope, resolve,
let us
ready minds and spirits
for the Christ who comes in love.
Alleluia,
alleluia,
come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!
Once he
came, and still he's coming,
mystery both new and old--
what the
hour of his new Advent
prophets have not known or told.
Alleluia,
alleluia,
come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!
Doing
justice, showing mercy,
praying, praising, let us wait
so that we
may greet his coming
ready for the Daystar's Light.
Alleluia,
alleluia,
come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!
~ written by Joy F. Patterson in Come,
You People of the Promise. Words copyright © 1994 Hope Publishing Company. If you
use this hymn in worship, be sure to report it on your CCLI license. Text reprinted here by permission.
For many other new song texts for Advent, visit Hope Publishing Company’s
Online Hymnody website. http://www.hopepublishing.com/