Sing With Joy, You Advent People!

I hear from people who wish there was more Christmas music in Advent services. As someone who enjoyes the diversity of the liturgical year, I just can’t bring myself to plan Christmas carols/hymns before Christmas Eve. I was also thinking how few songs are written specifically with the four Sundays of Advent in mind.

MISSION: A familiar Christmas tune paired with a text that conveys Joy for the third Sunday of Advent.  Aside from “Joy to the World” (too obvious), no other Christmas hymn makes me feel as joyful as “Angels We Have Heard on High.”

You could also choose another familiar 8.7.8.7. meter hymn tune and omit the refrain. STUTTGART or QUEM PASTORES might work well, but they’re not as joyful.

This text setting is for the original French carol tune which is only slightly different than the more familiar GLORIA. For that reason, I’ve created a printable PDF with the musical notation: Sing With Joy, You Advent People!

*If you decide to use this text, please leave a comment telling where it will be sung!*

Sing With Joy, You Advent People
LES ANGES DANS NOS CAMPAGNES  8.7.8.7. with refrain (“Angels We Have Heard on High”)

Sing with joy, you Advent people!
Hopeful hearts inspire your song.
Fill the Earth with alleluias
For the wait will not be long.

Refrain:
Joyful hearts sing with exultation!
Joyful hearts sing with exultation!

Draw with joy the springing waters
Bursting from the Well of God.
See the wondrous Gift of Heaven,
Key of David, Jesse’s Rod.

Refrain

Shout with joy, O Daughter Zion!
Sing aloud, Jerusalem!
Now your God is coming nearer.
Sorrow’s time is at an end.

Refrain

Tune: Traditional French Carol
Scriptural References: Isaiah 11:1, 12:3, 22:22; Zephaniah 3:14
Text: Copyright © 2012 by David Wood. All rights reserved.
Permission is given for duplication and use within worship settings.
Written for the congregation of First United Church, Bloomington, IN – http://firstuc.org