A hymn for the first Sunday in Advent
God, You Alone Know What You've Planned
CAROL 8.6.8.6 D (It Came Upon the Midnight Clear)
God, you alone know what you've planned For earth and sky and sea.
Creation waits your loving hand To bring in what will be.
When things we trust in shift and shake And sorrows multiply,
We hear you calling, "Keep awake! Redemption is close by!"
O Christ, you taught us, "Watch the trees As seasons change each year,
For when they bud and grow new leaves You know that summer's near."
May we look round this changing earth And see with faith-filled eyes
Your signs of newness, life and birth That witness to the wise.
Though heav'n and earth will pass away, Your word will still be true.
O Son of Man, on that great day, We'll be secure in you.
For at the close of history When all that's past shall end,
The one who judges us will be No stranger, but a friend.
So by your Spirit may we share The life you're bringing forth:
May we seek justice, end despair, And work to heal the earth.
For there's a new day coming near With no more death or pain;
Till then, we'll seek to serve you here And welcome in your reign.
Biblical References: Luke 21:25-36;
Matthew 24:29-36;
Mark 13:24-32;
Romans 8:34;
John 15:13-15;
Romans 8:16-17;
Isaiah 1.17;
Luke 4:18;
Revelation 22:2; 21:4; 11:15;
Matthew 6:9-14; 33.
Tune: Richard Storrs Willis, Church Chorals and Choir Studies, 1850.
Text: Copyright © 2009 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.
All rights reserved.
Email: bcgillette@comcast.net
The Presbyterian
Outlook magazine
commissioned this hymn and sells it ($9.95) with the
hymn text and music together as a downloadable bulletin insert.
Your purchase helps support this excellent religious magazine.
Consider buying these books for yourself, your church library
and your public library, where they have the potential of touching
the lives of people you might never meet.
Helpful Reading on Christian Hope
-
Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection,
and the Mission of the Church
by N. T. Wright:
A popular writer and top biblical scholar, Wright explores
"new heavens and a new earth," the
"second coming" of Jesus and Christian hope.
He argues that what we believe about life after death
impacts what we believe about life before death.
Wright's book carefully explains that God intends to renew
the whole creation, starting at Easter, and therefore the Church
cannot stop at "saving souls" but must work for God's
reign in the whole world with healing and hope for today. This
understanding of a biblical-grounded Christian hope empowers Jesus'
followers today to faithful service today.
-
Christian Doctrine
by Shirley Guthrie:
This book, originally written for an adult Sunday School class, became a
bestselling overview of the Christian beliefs. Carolyn had it as a
college textbook; it was later revised and it has been used for adult
classes in two churches where she has been a pastor. This book has an
excellent chapter on Christian hope for individuals and the world;
see pages 373-400.
- Books on the Apostles' Creed include commentaries and insights
on the Creed's affirmation that "he will come to judge the
living and the dead."
-
The Apostles' Creed for Today
by Justo L. González
is one of the newest books on the creed. This gifted church historian
and theologian shows the creed's meaning for today with discussion
questions at the end of each chapter.
-
A Christian Primer: The Prayer, the Creed, the Commandments
by Albert Curry Winn
is a very readable book filled with new insights into the pillars
of the faith: The Lord's Prayer, The Apostles' Creed,
and The Ten Commandments. Carolyn has given this book to new members
in her church.
-
Exploring and Proclaiming the Apostles' Creed
edited by Roger E. Van Harn
is a rich collection of essays by top theologians from diverse
backgrounds on each part of the creed followed by sermons of
outstanding preachers.
-
"I Believe": Exploring the Apostles' Creed
by Alister E. McGrath
is a popular evangelical writer's examination of how
this traditional statement of faith speaks to Christians today.
-
The Apostles' Creed
by William Barclay
offers biblical insights about the creed by this popular writer
of Daily Study Bible commentaries on the New Testament.
-
The Creed: What Christians Believe and Why it Matters
by Luke Timothy Johnson
is a wonderful, ecumenical explanation of the Nicene Creed
by a top Roman Catholic scholar who teaches the New Testament
at a Methodist seminary (Emory).
Books on Year B and Advent
-
Daily Feast: Meditations from Feasting on the Word, Year B,
edited by Kathleen Long Bostrom and Elizabeth F. Caldwell,
is a wonderful, new (2011) daily devotional that contains Scripture
passages for the coming Sunday from the lectionary, excerpts from
these very popular commentaries for reflection, a response, and a
prayer. Additional material is provided for each Sunday.
-
Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 1, Advent through Transfiguration,
edited by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor,
looks at each lectionary passage from the four perspectives
(exegetical, theological, pastoral and homiletically)
by great pastoral preachers, seminary professors of Bible and preaching.
-
Something Is About To Happen: Sermons for Advent and Christmas,
by Thomas G. Long,
is a wonderful collection of sermons by one of today's best preachers
on the Advent passages for Year B. Long is currently professor of
preaching at Chandler School of Theology after previously teaching
at Princeton Theological Seminary.
-
The Birth of the Messiah:
A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives
in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke
by Raymond E. Brown
is the classic study of the Christmas stories by a top Catholic
biblical scholar who taught for many years at Union Seminary
in New York.
-
Preaching God's Transforming Justice: A Lectionary Commentary, Year B,
edited by Ronald J. Allen, Dale P. Andrews and Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm,
looks at each Sunday's lectionary texts from social justice
perspectives as well as additional special days (Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day, Earth Day, etc.). Writers are pastors, social writers
and seminary professors of preaching, Bible and ethics.
-
An Adult Christ at Christmas:
Essays on the Three Biblical Christmas
Stories — Matthew 2 and Luke 2
by Raymond E. Brown
is a very readable book for people in the pews (and pastors in pulpits)
filled with insights on the Christmas stories (sort of a Reader's
Digest Condensed Version from this top biblical scholar's classic
753-page The Birth of the Messiah).
-
The People's New Testament Commentary
by M. Eugene Boring and Fred B. Craddock
is a wonderful single volume commentary that Carolyn used in teaching
a course for commissioned lay pastors and is one she recommends to all
pastors and lay people.
Books on Mark
-
Mark (Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible)
by William C. Placher
is a new commentary filled with unique theological reflections by a
wonderful theologian who was a long-time writer for Christian Century
magazine.
-
Conversations With Scripture: The Gospel of Mark
by Marcus Borg
offers the new insights by a popular (and controversial) writer
and biblical scholar. The book includes wonderful questions for
individual study and small group discussions.
-
Mark: A Commentary (New Testament Library)
by M. Eugene Boring:
This is the best, in-depth commentary on Mark filled with insights
by a top biblical scholar.
-
Mark: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching
by Lamar Williamson
is an outstanding commentary by a former mission worker in Africa
and long-time seminary professor that offers two sections on each passage,
excellent biblical examination of the text and then great ideas for its
significance for today.
-
Preaching Mark
by Bonnie Bowman Thurston
is a wonderful guide by a biblical scholar who is also an authority
on spirituality, especially the works of Thomas Merton.
-
Preaching the Gospel of Mark: Proclaiming the Power of God
by Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm
offers great ideas by a professor of preaching who shows how the
gospel relates to today's world.
-
Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark's Story of Jesus
by Ched Myers:
When this book came out Walter Wink said this book was the most
important commentary on the Bible since Karl Barth's one on Romans.
The 20th anniversary edition continues to offer unique insights for
those concerned with being faithful and working for peace and justice.
-
Preaching Mark in Two Voices
by Brian K. Blount and Gary W. Charles
is a wonderful combination of insightful reflections and sermons
by a top biblical teacher/preacher (now seminary president)
and gifted preacher.
-
The People's New Testament Commentary
by M. Eugene Boring and Fred B. Craddock
is a wonderful single volume commentary that Carolyn used in teaching
a course for commissioned lay pastors and is one she recommends to all
pastors and lay people.