An Advent Hymn

I'm really looking forward to Advent.  This isn't the greatest hymn, but it's at least a meditation.

This hymn is for Michael Monterastelli, a good friend, and supporter in my weak endeavors to revive Lutheran hymnody.

The tune is Puer Nobis

The Virgin Mary with Christ in her womb.

Awake, you Christians, rise and sing,

To Christ your Advent anthems bring,

For this is He who comes to save,

And wins us vict’ry o’er the grave.

The bondage that the devil wields

Before the pow’r of Jesus yields,

For this is God made man for us

To free us with his righteousness.

We fell in Adam’s sinful fall - 

Our disobedience killed us all,

But Christ’s obedience in our place

Gives life to all our fallen race.

He came to meet the Laws demands

And free us from the devil’s hands;

He came to suffer for our sin

And feel its punishment within;

The death he died to sin is done,

So freedom from our sins is won,

Baptized we have this gift as ours,

Forgiveness and the Spirit’s pow’rs.  

The life we live we live to God,

Who keeps us on the narrow road,

Where now we wait and will remain

For Him who soon will come again.  

Do not be from this comfort moved,

But love, as He, your Savior, loved,

Cling tightly to his means of grace

Until you see Him face to face.

Then we with all the saints will sing

Our Alleluias to our King,

Whom with the Father we adore

And Holy Spirit evermore.