Advent – a Time of Preparation
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the rough places be made smooth"...
The building of the viaduct on the Arthur's Pass road was a major undertaking. You can see a photo of it here. It was the major link between our home on the West Coast and the city of Christchurch. Every time we traversed the pass, both during and after its building, these words from Isaiah 40 ran through my head. They are, to me, the epitome of Advent.
As we begin a new Church year, C year of the lectionary's cycle, our readings take us through a time of preparation. Drawing together prophecies of the coming of the Son of Man in glory and the Saviour of the World in quiet humility, and reminding us of the standards of living in the Messiah’s world: hope, peace, joy, and love.
I hope that you will find music in this album that supports your own time of preparation, and helps lead your congregation through this time of Advent.