Guiding Worship
For those who plan and lead worship events.
Music, Advent, and Mission
By Marlene Kropf
“What’s the connection between Advent and a missional church?” a colleague asked. “How can you justify focusing worship on such an irrelevant ancient tradition as Advent?”
Good questions, I thought. One of the difficulties of the Advent-Christmas season is a temptation to revert to sentimental images of a sweet, innocent baby in a manger. We get caught up in the lush sounds of highly-polished choirs and orchestras and forget how politically potent the angel’s song of “peace on earth” was in a world of refugees, taxes, and foreign occupation. We fail to remember that the Babe of Bethlehem was “destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel” (Luke 2:34).
Advent, if we really understand it, is not a season for soft-minded sentimentalists. It is tough, unflinchingly relevant, and vitally connected with the church’s mission in the world. The true character of Advent shines most clearly, perhaps, in the music of the season.
Looking forward to liberation
Look, for example, at the chant that traditionally ushers in the season in
many congregations, “O come, O come, Immanuel” (HWB 172). As
worshipers sing the resonant opening unison lines, they may be lulled into
nostalgia—but only if they aren’t paying attention to either
the text or the music.
Before the first line is finished, the text pleads for captive people to be delivered from their slavery—as missional a goal as one could ever find. The urgency of the cry is emphasized by a powerful melody that builds and explodes in an ecstatic refrain anticipating the liberation of God’s people: “Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.” What if a song leader invited the congregation to imagine singing this cry for liberation alongside oppressed people in Zimbabwe or in a drug-infested neighborhood? Would it make a difference? Would we join the revolution?
Or take another frequently sung Advent hymn, “Hark! The glad sound!” (HWB 184). Written as a commentary on Luke 4:18-19, Jesus’ inaugural sermon at Nazareth, this hymn spells out Jesus’ clear understanding of God’s mission in the world—releasing prisoners from bondage, enriching the humble poor, remitting the debts of all who cannot pay. With its repetitions and driving energy, the tune creates momentum for joining God’s liberating, healing work in the world. What if a song leader introduced this song as a battle cry for freedom?
The hymn suggested as a theme song for Advent by the writers of this year’s church-wide resources, “Hail to the Lord’s anointed” (see page 28), begins with similar images of military conquest by the Messiah, but moves quickly to earthy, pastoral images. The Lord’s coming is compared to showers falling upon the fruitful earth, and hope is described as springing to birth like flowers in the path of the Anointed One.
Esteemed Mennonite song leader Mary Oyer, in her commentary on the Mennonite Hymnal, observes that the author of this text was deeply interested in missions and that the song is considered “a fine mission hymn” proclaiming God’s reign of righteousness and peace. Might worshipers better understand the connection between Advent and God’s mission if the songs of Advent were also sung on other Sundays of the year, when the church’s calls to witness, service, and peacemaking are proclaimed?
A muscular song of celebration
No song speaks more powerfully of the mighty missional themes of Advent than
Mary’s song of praise in Luke 1:46-55. Thomas Cahill, in Desire
of the Everlasting Hills, described the Magnificat as “the most
muscular song of celebration in all of ancient literature.” Because
Mary has so often been portrayed as a meek, gentle maiden, we may not hear
the radical theology embedded in her song.
This girl-singer knows and trusts a God who intervenes in human history, raising up a mighty Savior, breaking the bonds of oppression, giving sight to the blind, and ridding the world of injustices such as people-profiling and ethnic cleansing. What if the congregation spent a whole worship service during Advent singing Mary’s song? And what if they reflected together on how their images of God’s mission were expanded by this rich feast of song?
The tender babe will grow up to become a compassionate Savior—but also a fearless prophet proclaiming God’s vision
Because Mary’s song has been set to music by so many composers, music leaders can choose from a lavish array of possibilities. Among those to be found in our own Mennonite music collections are the following:
- “My soul proclaims with wonder” (HWB 181), an engaging setting by Mennonite composer J. Harold Moyer, emphasizes the rich abundance of God’s dreams for the world.
- “Sing we a song of high revolt” (Hymnal Subscription Service 901) uses contemporary words paired with a vigorous 15th century tune to portray a God “at war with human wrong” and to call God’s people to “seek for what is just and right, to sing and live Magnificat.”
- Another setting of “Magnificat,” from the Taize Community in France (HSS 902), expands from a simple unison melody to 14 or more richly harmonic parts, all building momentum to proclaim the glory of God’s gift of salvation.
- A traditional Irish tune, “Wild Mountain Thyme,” arranged by J. David Haas, offers a tender version in the lyrical setting, “My soul is filled with joy” (HSS 1054).
Perhaps one of the best ways to set worshipers free to hear the mission messages of Advent and Christmas music in fresh ways is to sing Christmas carols in the context of a communion service. As Christmas approaches, plan to include communion as a response to a sermon. Invite worshipers to come forward to receive the bread and cup as they sing an amazingly fitting text such as the following from “O little town of Bethlehem” (HWB 191):
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of the heav’ns.
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.
So what is the connection between the Advent-Christmas season and a missional church? In the gift of Jesus, God has made the ultimate “missional” gesture toward humankind. A babe wrapped in swaddling clothes is God’s tender and tough response to the aching needs of our world. The tender babe will grow up to become a gentle, compassionate Savior; the tender babe will also grow up to become a fearless prophet proclaiming God’s vision for justice and righteousness in the world.
The glorious gift of music during this season offers a fresh revelation of God’s purposes for the world. Singing with passion and power unmatched by any other season—except perhaps Easter—worshipers are filled with awe and wonder as they behold and receive God’s gracious gift. Then, in concert with the heavenly hosts whose praise filled earth and sky, the church is energized to join with God’s loving, healing, and restoring work in the world.
Marlene Kropf of Elkhart, Ind., directs the Office of Congregational Life for Mennonite Church USA. She coordinates the development of seasonal worship resources included in Leader.