Advent is the beginning of a new year of waiting, but it is an active and watchful waiting. It is tapping into the world's longing for redemption, salvation, and transformation. The beautiful and singable hymn Toda la Tierra, 210 in the United Methodist Hymnal, is a reminder of what is at stake. “All the world, bound and struggling, seeks true liberty” in the first verse allows us to look back to the story of the Incarnation and to look forward to the coming of the kingdom of heaven, when the will of God will be done on earth as in heaven. All of earth is waiting for this fulfillment. In worship, we can see the signs of the nearness of Emmanuel, God with us.

Abbreviations

UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
TFWS: The Faith We Sing
W&S: Worship and Song

Theme Hymns:

Toda la Tierra Espera al Salvador UMH 210
The King of Glory Comes TFWS 2091

Music Notes:

There is more to Advent than a countdown to Christmas. Advent is a reminder that we are heading somewhere. We have a destination as a people. Advent lets us stop and ask, “Are we there yet?” The implication is that we know where “there” is. We have a vision of where we are heading, so we start every Advent season with a check of the map.