Lit advent candles. Photo by Jan-Henrik Franz on Unsplash
From 1-24 December LWF member churches share Advent and Christmas hymns
(LWI) The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a singing communion. Echoing the joy of advent in 2018, the LWF member churches are sharing advent hymns in a 24-day calendar to shows how they prepare for Christ’s coming into this world in music and worship.
“We were greatly inspired by the diversity and beauty of the hymns the churches contributed last year,” said Rev. Arni Svanur Danielsson, LWF’s Head of Communication. “The reception was very positive, with many churches and individuals using social media platforms to share the hymns. This strengthens our connections to each other and through that our sense of being churches in communion.”
The experience was heartfelt among member churches, as a way of contributing to the worldwide communion of Lutherans, and of seeing the breadth and diversity of churches that are in communion.
“This was a great Advent experience for the choir group in the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN). They were excited to share a local hymn with Lutherans around the world,” said Felix Samari, Communications Coordinator for the LCCN. His church contributed the first Advent hymn in 2018.
It was unique to experience communion through the Advent hymns and recognize that we are connected.
“It was unique to experience communion through the Advent hymns and recognize that we are connected,” reflected Agnieszka Godfrejow-Tarnogorska, Communication officer of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland. “We speak different languages, come from different countries and churches, but we sing similar songs to express our joy. It was great opportunity to praise God together.”
Among the churches sharing hymns this year are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mozambique, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia, Salvadoran Lutheran Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea, Protestant Church in the Netherlands, Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Lutheran Church of Australia.
The first hymn will be shared on 1 December which is the First Sunday of Advent, and the final one will be shared on 24 December which is Christmas eve.
- "O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!" – Psalm 95:1-2
