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LENTEN DEVOTIONALS

As part of our Lenten journey together as a church to Easter, we will be posting Lenten reflections and practices from a variety of sources.

To read a devotional, please click a link below.

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Welcome to Musings! As participants in the conversations on this blog, we covenant together that we will maintain a spirit of good will, of openness to each other, and of mutual respect in our discussions; that we will listen to each other and endeavor to understand each other, especially those whose views differ from ours; and that we will remember that we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Why Musings?

  • The Musings Page will be a place to consider thought-provoking, evocative, sometimes polemical but not overtly political, writings, quotes, ideas, and poetry on the Christian life in all its facets: spiritual, religious, ethical, and practical.

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Musings

December 15, 2011

posted on December 15, 2011 by Musings

Third Thursday in Advent – Keep Your Lamps Burning

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise…

…And those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly, I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Matthew 25:1-13

Ah, the vast array of choral music written on this text! And despite my strongest efforts to resist the temptation of using song lyrics for this devotional, I simply cannot deny my baser instincts – after all, once a church musician, always a church musician. My hope is that each who reads this will hum along, because at least one of these texts is bound to be familiar. And as for the unfamiliar ones, perhaps it can help illuminate the Biblical text in an all new way.

Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
The time is drawing nigh!
Children, don’t get weary ‘til your work is done.
Christian journey soon be over,
The time is drawing nigh!
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
The time is drawing nigh!
Spiritual

Give me oil in my lamp, keep it burning.
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray. (Hallelujah!)
Give me oil in my lamp, keep it burning,
Burning till the break of day.
Sing hosanna to the King of kings!
There’s no oil in my lamp, for its burning.
There’s no oil in my lamp of clay.
There’s no oil in my lamp, for its burning,
Burning till the break of day.
We have oil in our lamps, keep them burning.
We have oil that will light our way. (Hallelujah!)
We have oil in our lamps, keep them burning,
Burning till the break of day.
Sing hosanna to the King of kings!
Traditional American

“Wake, O wake!” With tidings thrilling
The watchmen’s cry the air is filling:
“Arise, Jerusalem, arise! Midnight strikes!
No more delaying: the hour has come!”
We hear them saying;
“Where are ye all, ye virgins wise?
The Bridegroom now is nigh:
Stand forth! Your lamps raise high!
Hallelujah! In bright array this nuptial day
Go forth and meet him in the way!”
Zion hears the watchmen singing,
Her heart for joy within her springing;
She wakes, and eagerly attends;
See her Friend, from heaven descending,
Adorned with truth and grace unending!
Her light shines clear, her star ascends.
Appear, thou precious Crown!
God’s Son, to earth come down!
Sing “Hosanna!” Now rise we all to that glad hall
Where to thy feast thou dost us call.
Text by Philipp Nicolai, musical setting by J. S. Bach


Prayer: Keep us watchful, Lord, that we may not miss the glorious opportunity to feast with you in your eternal kingdom.

Today’s reflection was written by Holly Watson, Choir Director and Organist at First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport.

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