Day 3: A light has dawned
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress…The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:1-2).
Blessed are You, Sovereign God of all,
to You be praise and glory forever.
In Your tender compassion
the dawn from on high is breaking upon us
to dispel the lingering shadows of night.
As we look for Your coming among us this day,
open our eyes to behold Your presence
and strengthen our hands to do Your will,
that the world may rejoice and give You praise.
Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God forever.
~ A Methodist Prayer of Thanksgiving
Hail to the brightness of Zion’s glad morning!
Joy to the lands that in darkness have lain!
Hushed be the accents of sorrow and mourning;
Zion in triumph begins her mild reign.
Hail to the brightness of Zion’s glad morning!
Long by the prophets of Israel foretold;
Hail to the millions from bondage returning!
Gentiles and Jews the blest vision behold.
Lo, in the desert rich flowers are springing,
Streams ever copious are gliding along;
Loud from the mountaintops echoes are ringing,
Wastes rise in verdure, and mingle in song.
See, from all lands, from the isles of the ocean,
Praise to the Savior ascending on high;
Saints come to Zion with songs of devotion,
Shouts of salvation are rending the sky.
~ Thomas Hastings ~ pub. 1831
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