He stands in the midst of nations

Make straight all the crooked places

A time of making ourselves ready for whatever chaos and upheaval may come next. - Sister Michelle, OA, Advent 2, 2023

Many parishes sang and prayed this hymn yesterday. We offer it for your reflection. We begin with the Parish of Saint Clements, Seattle. And we close with Saint Mark’s Church, Locust Street, Philadelphia.

1 There’s a voice in the wilderness crying,
a call from the ways untrod:
Prepare in the desert a highway,
a highway for our God!
The valleys shall be exalted,
the lofty hills brought low;
make straight all the crooked places
where the Lord our God may go!

2 O Zion, that bringest good tidings,
get thee up to the heights and sing!
Proclaim to a desolate people
the coming of their King.
Like the flowers of the field they perish,
like grass our works decay,
the power and pomp of nations
shall pass like a dream away;

3 but the word of our God endureth,
the arm of the Lord is strong;
he stands in the midst of nations,
and he will right the wrong.
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd,
the lambs he'll gently hold;
to pastures of peace he’ll lead them,
and bring them safe to his fold.

ASCENSION. Composer - Henry Hugh Bancroft, b. 1904

There’s a voice in the wilderness crying - Saint Mark’s Philadelphia