Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

The season is upon us. The season of “the hustle”. Our
calendars are filled with work parties, shopping trips,
volunteering at local organizations, ridiculously long
Christmas programs in stifling school gyms with unbearable
bench seating…It really is the most wonderful time of the
year, isn’t it? In the midst of this chaos it can be easy to lose
sight of the reason we celebrate! Advent is a time of
preparation and anticipation of not just the physical gifts we
give one another but also a time to ready our hearts for the
gift we have received through Jesus Christ.
As we begin this first Sunday of Advent, we (the worship
leadership team) would like to invite you to step away from
the hustle for a moment and reflect on a song from our set
list each week that focuses on Christ’s entrance into this
world. This first Sunday of Advent we will be singing Charles
Wesley’s, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”. This familiar
hymn is a prayer of supplication, pleading with the Lord to
return and set us free from pain, suffering, fear, sin and the
bondage it creates. It’s a song that reminds us that we are
waiting for our King! Just as Israel awaited their redemption,
so we patiently and expectantly wait for the Second Coming
of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a child that eagerly and
joyously anticipates opening those gifts on Christmas
morning, so we should look forward to our King’s return to
rule and reign for eternity.
“Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people
free”. Let this be your prayer this Advent season.

Come thou long expected Jesus
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.