Nancy Ferree-Clark - "The Night Is Far Spent..." (December 1, 1985)

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	(singing in foreign language)	0:11
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	2:08
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	2:10
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	2:14
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	2:17
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	2:21
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	2:26
	♪ Amen ♪	2:32
	(trumpets blaring)	2:52
	(traditional Catholic singing)	3:07
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	7:41
	(traditional Catholic singing)	7:46
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	7:59
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	8:03
	(traditional Catholic singing)	8:15
	(traditional Gospel singing)	9:45
	(soft music)	11:53
-	Grace and peace to you from the Lord Jesus Christ.	14:06
	We welcome you to this service of worship	14:10
	at Duke University Chapel on this first Sunday of Advent.	14:13
	I'd invite you to join us again in the very near future.	14:16
	We are pleased to welcome the	14:20
	Broughtin Carolina Spirit Choral Ensemble	14:23
	from Broughtin High School in Raleigh, North Carlina	14:25
	to this service of worship today.	14:28
	This is their fifth year to participate	14:30
	in services here at the chapel,	14:33
	and we are very grateful for their lively	14:34
	contribution to our service.	14:37
	I would draw your attention to the other announcements	14:40
	as they are printed in the bulletin.	14:42
	And now hear these words of scripture	14:45
	as we prepare for worship.	14:48
	It is full time now for you to wake from sleep,	14:51
	for salvation is nearer to us now than when	14:55
	we first believed.	14:58
	The night is far gone.	15:00
	The day is at hand.	15:03
	Let us then cast off the works of darkness,	15:04
	and put on the armor of light.	15:08
	Amen.	15:11
	(soft music)	15:17
	(traditional Catholic singing)	16:03
	When we examine our lives and are honest with ourselves,	19:26
	we come face to face with our many shortcomings	19:30
	and become aware of how far we have fallen short	19:34
	of God's righteousness.	19:37
	With humble and penitent hearts,	19:40
	let us make our confession before Almighty God	19:42
	and one another.	19:45
	Be seated.	19:48
	Oh Almighty God, who has taught us that the night	19:58
	is far spent and the day is at hand,	20:03
	we humbly confess that we have not loved thee	20:07
	with all our heart and soul and mind and strength.	20:10
	And that we have not loved one another	20:15
	as Christ has loved us.	20:18
	Thy life is within our souls.	20:21
	But our selfishness hath hindered thee.	20:24
	We have not lived by faith.	20:26
	We have resisted thy Spirit.	20:29
	We have neglected thine inspirations.	20:32
	Forgive what we have been.	20:35
	Help us to amend what we are.	20:38
	And in thy Spirit, direct what we shall be,	20:41
	that thou mayest come into the full glory	20:45
	of thy creation in us and in all people.	20:48
	Through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.	20:53
	Hear the good news.	21:00
	Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.	21:02
	That as God's own proof of His love toward us.	21:06
	In the name of Jesus Christ you are forgiven.	21:09
-	Thank Jesus Christ.	21:15
-	Let us pray.	21:28
	Open our hearts and minds, oh God	21:31
	by the power of your Holy Spirit,	21:34
	so that as the word is read and proclaimed,	21:37
	we might hear with joy what you say to us this day.	21:40
	Amen.	21:46
	The first lesson this morning is taken from	21:47
	the book of Jeremiah.	21:50
	Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord	21:53
	when I will fulfill the promise I made	21:58
	to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.	22:00
	In those days and at that time I will cause	22:05
	a righteous branch to spring forth for David.	22:09
	And he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.	22:15
	In those days, Judah will be saved and Jerusalem	22:20
	will dwell securely.	22:25
	And this is the name by which it will be called.	22:27
	The Lord is our righteousness.	22:30
	Here ends the reading of the first lesson.	22:34
-	Our psalter lesson this morning is taken from Psalm 25.	22:45
	Will you please stand and join me in this reading.	22:49
	To thee oh Lord, I lift up my soul.	22:59
	(congregation reading out loud)	23:03
	Make me to know thy ways oh Lord.	23:13
	Teach me thy paths.	23:16
	(congregation reading out loud)	23:19
	Be mindful of they mercy oh Lord,	23:29
	of thy steadfast law.	23:31
	For they have been from of old.	23:34
	(congregation reading out loud)	23:38
	The Lord leads the humble in what is right	23:45
	and teaches the humble His way.	23:48
	All the paths of the Lord are steadfast	23:51
	love and faithfulness for those who keep	23:54
	His covenant and His testimonies.	23:57
	(soft music)	24:02
	(traditional Catholic singing)	24:10
-	The second lesson is taken from Paul's first letter	25:13
	to the Thessalonians.	25:17
	For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you?	25:20
	For all the joy which we feel for your sake	25:25
	before God, praying earnestly night and day	25:27
	that we may see you face to face	25:31
	and supply what is lacking in your faith.	25:33
	Now may our God and Father, Himself	25:37
	and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.	25:39
	And may the Lord make you increase and abound	25:44
	in love to one another and to all men,	25:48
	as we do to you so that he may establish your hearts	25:51
	unblameable in holiness before our God and Father	25:56
	at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.	26:00
	Here ends the reading of the second lesson.	26:05
	♪ Lord we give thanks to thee ♪	26:56
	♪ We give thanks to thee for these, thy servants ♪	26:59
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	27:03
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah amen ♪	27:07
	♪ Hallelujah amen ♪	27:13
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	27:17
	♪ Hallelujah amen ♪	27:21
	(traditional Catholic singing)	27:29
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	27:58
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	28:01
	(traditional Catholic singing)	28:05
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	28:06
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	28:07
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	28:11
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	28:16
	(traditional Catholic singing)	28:17
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	28:19
	♪ Lord we give thanks to thee ♪	29:15
	♪ We give thanks to thee for these, thy servants ♪	29:19
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	29:23
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah amen ♪	29:27
	♪ Hallelujah amen ♪	29:32
	♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪	29:36
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	29:43
	♪ Amen ♪	29:49
	A reading from the Gospel according to Saint Luke.	30:45
	And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars,	30:52
	and upon the earth, distress of nations in perplexity	30:56
	at the roaring of the sea and the waves.	31:01
	Man, fainting with fear and with foreboding	31:05
	of what is coming on the world.	31:08
	For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.	31:10
	And then they will see the son of man	31:14
	coming in a cloud with power and glory.	31:16
	Now when these things begin to take place,	31:20
	look up and raise your heads because your redemption	31:23
	is drawing near.	31:27
	And he told them a parable.	31:30
	Look at the fig tree and all the trees.	31:33
	As soon as they come out in leaf	31:36
	you see for yourselves and know that the summer	31:39
	is already near.	31:42
	So also, when you see these things taking place,	31:44
	you know that the kingdom of God is near.	31:49
	Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away	31:53
	until all has taken place.	31:57
	Heaven and earth will pass away,	32:00
	but my words will not pass away.	32:03
	But take heed to yourselves,	32:06
	lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation	32:09
	and drunkenness and cares of this life.	32:12
	And that day come upon you suddenly, like a snare.	32:15
	For it will come upon all who dwell	32:20
	upon the face of the whole earth.	32:23
	But watch at all times.	32:26
	Praying that you may have strength to escape	32:30
	all these things that will take place	32:33
	and to stand before the son of man.	32:36
	Here ends the reading of the lesson.	32:41
	With the possible exception of the weather,	32:49
	it seems there are few topics	32:53
	of more general interest than time.	32:55
	People worry about it.	32:59
	Legislators argue about it.	33:01
	Total strangers converse about it.	33:03
	I have a good friend who swears he met his wife	33:06
	by asking her what time it was.	33:09
	I was recently accosted on one of my	33:13
	rare forays to the fabric shop by a woman	33:16
	who was desperate to express her anxieties about time.	33:19
	Can you believe it's that time of year again already?	33:24
	Why it just seems like yesterday that we took	33:28
	that Christmas tree down.	33:30
	I don't know how I'll ever get it all done.	33:32
	Things used to be less complicated,	33:34
	but they just get worse every year.	33:37
	If misery loves company, she certainly must	33:41
	have been comforted after this outburst,	33:44
	for her anxiety was infectious.	33:46
	By the time I had left the store, I along with a clerk	33:49
	and at least two other shoppers were convinced,	33:53
	practically, that there was no hope left	33:56
	in this season of hope.	33:59
	Under very different circumstances,	34:02
	I entered into another conversation about time	34:05
	and that was with my 13 year old nephew.	34:08
	Can you believe I'm going to be 14 next week, he said.	34:11
	His enthusiasm caught me off guard.	34:17
	Having reached the point where I celebrate birthdays	34:20
	a little less exuberantly, I had to ponder	34:23
	his question for a moment.	34:27
	Yes, I can believe you'll be 14 next week.	34:29
	As a matter of fact, I remember the day you were born.	34:33
	So what's so great about being 14 anyway, I asked,	34:36
	revealing just how little I knew about his world view.	34:40
	Because then I'm only two years away	34:44
	from getting a drivers license.	34:47
	Of course, I mumbled.	34:50
	Embarrassed to have forgotten the thrill	34:52
	of reaching one of time's great milestones, a 16th birthday.	34:55
	What a remarkable contrast to the woman in the fabric shop.	35:00
	While my nephew could hardly wait to charge	35:05
	straight ahead into the future, she simply dreaded it.	35:07
	Clearly we are all time bound in this	35:12
	earthly existence of ours.	35:15
	And some seem to cope with it better than others.	35:17
	You Steven Spielburg fans will remember	35:21
	what a strong case he made in Back to the Future.	35:24
	For the option of going backward or forward in time	35:28
	at the push of a button.	35:31
	It was an intriguing possibility,	35:33
	but I for one was just as glad to walk out of the theater	35:35
	and know it was the year 1985.	35:39
	For the marking of time is important in ordering our lives	35:43
	and reflecting upon life's deeper meaning.	35:47
	Consider the effort this year alone	35:51
	that has gone into celebrating the 50th anniversary	35:53
	of Duke Chapel.	35:56
	The 40th anniversary at the end of World War Two,	35:58
	and the 300 birthdays of Bach, Handl, and Scarlotti.	36:02
	Especially during the upcoming holiday season,	36:07
	many of us will note the passing of time	36:10
	as memories take us back to the days when memories began.	36:13
	Our first Christmas stocking.	36:18
	The year Santa brought a real bike with training wheels.	36:21
	Baby's first Christmas.	36:26
	Christmas after the death of a loved one.	36:28
	It's one of the trademarks of the season.	36:32
	A time for remembering,	36:35
	and that helps us to know who we are.	36:36
	Likewise in the church, we mark time by the use	36:40
	of the liturgical calendar as a way	36:45
	of remembering who we are as the people of God.	36:47
	Today, the first Sunday of Advent,	36:51
	ushers in not only a new season,	36:54
	but a brand new liturgical year.	36:56
	But unlike a calendar which like a clock	36:59
	measures kronos, humanity's time,	37:02
	this new beginning in the church calendar	37:05
	points us towards kyros, God's time.	37:09
	Time beyond time.	37:13
	Whereas the month of December may prompt us	37:16
	to reflect upon past Decembers,	37:18
	the season of advent challenges us to look	37:21
	both to our past and to our future.	37:24
	And here in lies a common misunderstanding of this season.	37:28
	Advent is not all sweetness and light	37:32
	as we await the silent rushing of angel's wings	37:36
	on Christmas Eve.	37:39
	It is a time of prayerful, attentive	37:42
	watching in the darkness.	37:45
	Though it represents a beginning,	37:48
	we ponder the ending, the ending of all history.	37:50
	According to our gospel lesson,	37:55
	there will be signs in sun and moon and stars,	37:57
	and upon the earth, distress of nations	38:01
	in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves.	38:03
	Man fainting with fear.	38:08
	And with foreboding of what is coming in the world,	38:10
	for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.	38:13
	Advent for all of its delights is therefore	38:17
	a time of great tension.	38:21
	Even as we give thanks for the gift of the infant Christ	38:23
	born in a manger, we patiently watch for the coming	38:27
	of the risen Christ on clouds descending.	38:31
	The streams of silent night, holy night	38:35
	may tempt us to look toward the past.	38:38
	Yet our opening hymn anchors us in the point	38:42
	of today's gospel reading.	38:45
	As it calls us to look toward the future.	38:47
	Every eye shall now behold Him,	38:50
	robed in dreadful majesty.	38:53
	Those who set at not and sold Him,	38:57
	pierced and nailed Him to the tree,	39:00
	deeply wailing, deeply wailing	39:03
	shall the true Messiah see.	39:06
	It could be said that liturgically speaking,	39:10
	Advent is often the most unsuccessful fragment	39:13
	of the church year.	39:16
	And why should this be the case?	39:18
	One very good reason may be our preference	39:21
	for a pastoral nativity scene	39:24
	over depictions of the end of history.	39:26
	Aren't most of us set on edge by groups	39:30
	that claim to know the exact way and means	39:32
	by which the end will come?	39:35
	I heard of a man who was worried about whether his feet	39:38
	would be wafted from the earth before Jesus touched ground.	39:41
	We smile at such literalism.	39:46
	Yet the simple fact is that none of us	39:49
	know what to expect.	39:51
	What we do know is that the coming of the kingdom	39:54
	is creation coming to be what it was meant to be.	39:57
	The joy and glory of all creation,	40:01
	working together with the creator.	40:04
	It implies the redemption,	40:07
	not the destruction of creation.	40:10
	As the scripture read today,	40:12
	now when these things begin to take place,	40:14
	look up and raise your heads	40:17
	because your redemption is drawing near.	40:19
	I once heard this analogy applied to the second coming.	40:23
	If no one on a given planet could see,	40:27
	the other senses would take over	40:31
	and everyone would get along just fine.	40:33
	But if you try to explain the joy of seeing	40:36
	to a resident on that planet, it could not be done.	40:40
	No one could understand something so glorious,	40:44
	who didn't have the proper frame of reference.	40:47
	Multiply that gap between a blind planet	40:50
	and a seeing one, a billion times	40:54
	and we'll still be far from understanding	40:57
	the difference between creation now	41:00
	and creation in the fullness of the kingdom.	41:02
	Is it possible that with this kind of fulfillment	41:06
	to anticipate we might learn to look forward	41:10
	to God's final reign with joy?	41:13
	Not simply with dread?	41:15
	The second battle that advocates for advent must fight	41:18
	is with the overwhelming power of nostalgia.	41:23
	Memories that get carried away.	41:27
	Bill Meal who is homolytics professor	41:30
	at Yale Divinity School, has declared Advent	41:33
	a season of profound nostalgia.	41:36
	According to Mr. Meal, we begin to sing	41:39
	come thou long expected Jesus, but it sounds strangely	41:43
	like Jingle Bells, the way Jingle Bells	41:47
	used to sound when faith was easy	41:50
	because we had seen Santa Claus at Sears.	41:53
	With the best of intentions, we try to work up	41:57
	a mood of expectation, but find ourselves	41:59
	trying to remember, did it really snow	42:02
	every Christmas Eve when we were young?	42:04
	Lectionary and liturgy to the contrary notwithstanding,	42:08
	the prevailing mood of advent is often a memory	42:12
	of earlier expectations.	42:15
	Not a renewal of the anticipation of Christ's return,	42:18
	but a nostalgic attempt to replay days gone by.	42:22
	It was said by the likes of Augustine or Aquinas	42:28
	that nostalgia should be numbered among the mortal sins.	42:30
	Perhaps, rightly so.	42:35
	The recurring homesickness to which are all subject	42:37
	can mortgage the possibilities of the future	42:41
	to the emotional engagements of the past.	42:43
	Our memories inevitably record the sunny hours	42:47
	and make a hobby of invidious comparisons.	42:51
	No shore ahead is ever as lovely	42:55
	as the recollection as one left unwillingly behind.	42:57
	No challenges seem quite as stirring.	43:02
	No friends as faithful, no teachers as profound	43:05
	as those enshrined in the desire to go back in time.	43:09
	Nostalgia can turn memory against us	43:14
	and make yesterday the template for tomorrow.	43:17
	On this first, a new year,	43:22
	we come to the Lord's table	43:24
	both to remember who we are	43:26
	and to anticipate who we will be.	43:29
	Not with the sentimental glow peculiar to evergreens	43:32
	and soft candlelight in church.	43:35
	But with a conviction to work for the kingdom	43:38
	we so anxiously await.	43:41
	If we long for God's final shalom and justice,	43:44
	peace, righteousness, and reconciliation,	43:48
	the day when the wolf will lie down with the lamb	43:53
	and a little child shall lead them.	43:55
	Then let us live as if we believe it.	43:58
	For in remembering the babe in the manger,	44:02
	we recognize the kind of kingdom he first introduced	44:05
	and calls us to be a part of.	44:09
	Even as we await its consummation,	44:12
	we either prepare the way through our own participation	44:15
	in God's promise, or we obstruct it	44:19
	through our own obliviousness.	44:22
	A story was once told about a nursery school	44:26
	Christmas pageant by the proud father	44:29
	of one of the participants.	44:32
	As the characters began their processional	44:34
	onto the stage, a vague uneasiness came over me,	44:36
	says the father.	44:39
	From the wings came three virgin Mary's,	44:41
	prompting him to ask his wife, why are there three of them?	44:45
	Because they have three virgin Mary costumes	44:49
	of course, she said.	44:51
	And as the logic of nursery school pageants go,	44:53
	there had to be therefore three virgins.	44:57
	The Mary's were followed by two Josephs	44:59
	who took up their sullen postures near the box of straw	45:02
	and began to make embarrassing gestures.	45:05
	Next came the angels, about 20 little girls	45:08
	dressed in diaphanous white gowns,	45:12
	flaunting amidst gauze wings.	45:15
	They were followed by an equal number	45:18
	of little boys dressed in burlap sacks	45:20
	who clutched an assortment of makeshift crooks.	45:23
	About this time, just as the angels were deploying	45:27
	themselves with holy aplomb across the stage,	45:31
	it came to the attention of the shepherds	45:35
	that the marks on the stage, which the teacher	45:37
	had instructed them to stand on were being covered up	45:39
	by the angels.	45:43
	No one had foreseen that the angels,	45:45
	as they descended upon the stable	45:48
	in their long, flowing robes would cover not only their	45:50
	circles but the adjacent crosses	45:54
	meant for the shepherds to stand on.	45:57
	The shepherds, driven by their relentless determination	46:00
	to do what they had been told began frantically looking	46:03
	for their places on the stage.	46:06
	And you can well imagine, the angels were shocked	46:09
	by just disrespectful treatment	46:12
	at the hands of shepherds of all people.	46:14
	At last one little boy, desperate to create	46:18
	order out of chaos, turned to his teacher in the wings	46:20
	and announced angrily, those damned angels	46:23
	are fouling up the whole show.	46:26
	They've hidden all the crosses.	46:28
	Needless to say, according to the teller of this tale,	46:34
	his mother and I were greatly embarrassed.	46:38
	Shall this advent be for us a time to conceal	46:44
	or to reveal the crosses so discretely	46:49
	intermingled in our world?	46:51
	Shall we prepare the way of the Lord or obstruct it	46:54
	through out participation or lack there of	46:59
	and the promises of God.	47:01
	We are indeed damned angels in the words	47:04
	of the shepherd boy.	47:07
	Possessors of gifts and insights	47:09
	which we turn to works of destruction.	47:12
	Victims of burdens and infirmities,	47:15
	which can become occasions for glory.	47:17
	With the best of intentions, we do the worst of things.	47:21
	And then almost by accident, perform miracles of love.	47:25
	Our flesh drives and afflicts us from birth to death.	47:30
	And we have the gall to affirm that it	47:35
	once sheltered the eternal.	47:38
	Mortal creatures that we are,	47:42
	we even transcend the shackles of time	47:43
	in those moments of selfless giving.	47:46
	A mere glimpse of the immortality	47:49
	still to be revealed in Christ's final glory.	47:52
	What time is it?	47:57
	The night is far spent and the day is at hand.	48:00
	Come Lord Jesus, do we dare cry?	48:05
	Lord Jesus, quickly come.	48:09
	(soft music)	48:21

	(organ music)	0:04
	♪ Come Thou long expected Jesus ♪	0:38
	♪ Born to set Thy people free ♪	0:44
	♪ From our fears and sins release us ♪	0:51
	♪ Let us find our rest in Thee ♪	0:58
	♪ Israel's strength and consolation ♪	1:06
	♪ Hope of all the earth Thou art ♪	1:12
	♪ Dear desire of every nation ♪	1:20
	♪ Joy of every longing heart ♪	1:28
	♪ Born Thy people to deliver ♪	1:38
	♪ Born a child and yet a King ♪	1:44
	♪ Born to reign in us forever ♪	1:52
	♪ Now Thy gracious kingdom bring ♪	1:59
	♪ By Thine own eternal Spirit ♪	2:06
	♪ Rule in all our hearts alone ♪	2:13
	♪ By Thine all sufficient merit ♪	2:20
	♪ Raise us to Thy glorious throne ♪	2:28
-	The Lord be with you.	2:41
-	And also with you.	2:42
-	Let us pray.	2:44
	Almighty God, Lord of all creation,	2:58
	and the Lord we would have reign in our hearts,	3:01
	you who give all things life,	3:06
	help us in these coming days and weeks	3:09
	to watch for your advent	3:12
	and to await your coming	3:14
	with a sense of joy and expectation.	3:15
	Make your love to grow and bloom anew in our hearts.	3:19
	Cause us to leave behind the darkness of the night	3:24
	and to be reborn in the spirit of the Christ	3:27
	so that the whole of our beings may shine with your light	3:31
	and may sing with your love and joy.	3:35
	Lord of grace, we pray this morning	3:39
	for all your children who have needs.	3:43
	For those whom we know and for those who we do not know.	3:46
	Help us to be sensitive to their pain and suffering.	3:50
	Help us to respond with caring and with the very best	3:54
	that we have within us.	3:58
	We ask that, even as you always remember your children,	4:01
	we too will be led to remember our sisters and brothers	4:05
	who are sad or lonely, who are hungry or cold,	4:08
	who are anxious or depressed, who are weary or brokenhearted	4:13
	so that we will reach out to alleviate their needs.	4:19
	Remind us if we should try to forget	4:24
	that we cannot truly love you unless we love those	4:26
	who seem to us to be the most unlovable.	4:29
	Our world cries aloud, oh God, for the fulfillment	4:34
	of your gift, once offered in the manger of Bethlehem.	4:37
	We pray that your peace may come and be known	4:41
	all across our world.	4:44
	In Northern Ireland, in South Africa, in Nicaragua	4:46
	and El Salvador, in Afghanistan and in Poland,	4:51
	and in the Middle East.	4:56
	May your holy star of justice and righteousness,	4:58
	of love and peace be seen once more.	5:01
	May it expose all places where there is want or need,	5:04
	oppression or violence.	5:09
	Holy Spirit we open our hearts to you this morning.	5:12
	Hear our secret prayers and nourish our cherished hopes	5:17
	and dreams for the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven.	5:19
	We are bold to make our prayer in the name of the Christ	5:24
	who emptied himself, taking the form of a servant,	5:27
	and being born in our likeness.	5:30
	Amen.	5:34
	Out of the richness with which we have been blessed,	5:39
	let us now return a portion of that bounty to God	5:43
	through our tithes and offerings.	5:47
	("Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain" by Handel)	5:58
	♪ Worthy is the Lamb ♪	7:09
	♪ That was slain ♪	7:14
	♪ And hath redeemed us to God ♪	7:19
	♪ By his blood ♪	7:26
	♪ To receive power and riches and wisdom ♪	7:30
	♪ And strength and honor and glory and blessing ♪	7:35
	♪ Worthy is the Lamb that was slain ♪	7:43
	♪ And hath redeemed us to God ♪	7:54
	♪ To God by his blood ♪	8:00
	♪ To receive power and riches and wisdom ♪	8:06
	♪ And strength and honor and glory and blessing ♪	8:10
	♪ Blessing and honor glory and power ♪	8:18
	♪ Be unto him ♪	8:21
	♪ Be unto him ♪	8:23
	♪ That sitteth upon the throne ♪	8:25
	♪ And unto the Lamb ♪	8:27
	♪ Blessing and honor glory and power ♪	8:31
	♪ Be unto him ♪	8:33
	♪ Be unto him ♪	8:34
	♪ That sitteth upon the throne ♪	8:36
	♪ And unto the Lamb ♪	8:39
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	8:44
	(continue singing in a round)	8:48
	♪ Forever ♪	9:33
	♪ Blessing and honor glory and power ♪	9:35
	♪ Be unto him ♪	9:36
	♪ Be unto him ♪	9:37
	♪ Blessing and honor glory and power ♪	9:39
	♪ Be unto him ♪	9:41
	♪ Be unto him ♪	9:42
	♪ Blessing ♪	9:45
	♪ Honor ♪	9:46
	♪ Glory ♪	9:47
	♪ And Power be unto him ♪	9:48
	♪ That sitteth upon the throne ♪	9:51
	♪ That sittith upon the throne ♪	9:54
	♪ And unto the lamb ♪	9:57
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	9:59
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	10:01
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	10:04
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	10:07
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	10:10
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	10:13
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	10:16
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	10:22
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	10:32
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	10:34
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	10:37
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	10:39
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	10:42
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	10:45
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	10:48
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	10:50
	♪ For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ♪	10:53
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	11:00
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	11:02
	♪ For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ♪	11:05
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	11:13
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	11:15
	♪ For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ♪	11:18
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	11:25
	(continue singing in round)	11:28
	♪ For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ♪	11:37
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	11:43
	♪ The kingdom of this world ♪	11:48
	♪ Is become the kingdom of our Lord ♪	11:58
	♪ And of His Christ and of His Christ ♪	12:06
	♪ And He shall reign for ever and ever ♪	12:12
	♪ And He shall reign for ever and ever ♪	12:18
	♪ And He shall reign for ever and ever ♪	12:24
	♪ And He shall reign for ever and ever ♪	12:31
	♪ King of Kings ♪	12:39
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	12:41
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	12:43
	♪ And Lord of Lords ♪	12:45
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	12:48
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	12:50
	♪ King of Kings ♪	12:53
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	12:55
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	12:58
	♪ And Lord of Lords ♪	13:00
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	13:03
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	13:06
	♪ King of kings ♪	13:08
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	13:10
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	13:12
	♪ And Lord of Lords ♪	13:15
	♪ King of Kings and Lord of Lords ♪	13:18
	♪ And he shall reign forever and ever ♪	13:23
	♪ And he shall reign forever and ever ♪	13:27
	♪ King of Kings ♪	13:35
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	13:37
	♪ And Lord of Lords ♪	13:39
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	13:41
	♪ And he shall reign forever and ever ♪	13:44
	♪ King of Kings ♪	13:51
	♪ And Lord of Lords ♪	13:53
	♪ King of Kings ♪	13:55
	♪ And Lord of Lords ♪	13:57
	♪ And he shall reign forever and ever ♪	14:00
	♪ Forever and ever ♪	14:07
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	14:10
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	14:13
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	14:16
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	14:17
	("Doxology")	14:32
	♪ Praise God from whom all blessings flow ♪	14:50
	♪ Praise Him all creatures here below ♪	14:55
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	15:01
	♪ Praise Him above ye heavenly host ♪	15:11
	♪ Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost ♪	15:14
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	15:19
	♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪	15:25
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	15:32
	♪ Amen ♪	15:40
-	The Lord be with you.	15:50
-	And also with you.	15:52
-	Lift up your hearts.	15:54
-	Give thanks to the Lord.	15:55
-	Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.	15:58
-	It is right to give our thanks and praise.	16:01
-	Almighty God, in this season when we celebrate	16:04
	the coming of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,	16:07
	we give you thanks and praise.	16:11
	You created all things and called them good.	16:14
	You made us in your own image.	16:18
	Even though we rebelled against your love,	16:21
	you did not desert us.	16:23
	You delivered us from captivity and made covenant	16:26
	to be our sovereign God.	16:29
	You spoke to us through prophets who looked for that day	16:32
	when justice shall roll down like waters	16:36
	and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream,	16:39
	when nations shall not lift up sword against nation,	16:43
	and neither shall they learn war anymore.	16:46
	Therefore with the prophets and all who have looked for	16:50
	a better age to come, with your people in all ages	16:53
	and the whole company of heaven,	16:57
	we join the song of unending praise,	16:59
	saying Holy, holy, holy Lord,	17:02
	God of power and might,	17:06
	heaven and earth are full of your glory.	17:08
	Hosanna in the highest.	17:11
	Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.	17:14
	Hosanna in the highest.	17:17
	Holy is your name and blessed is your son, Jesus Christ,	17:19
	who you sent in the fullness of time	17:24
	to be a light to the nations.	17:27
	You scatter the proud and the imagination of their hearts	17:30
	and have mercy on those who fear you	17:34
	from generation to generation.	17:36
	You put down the mighty from their thrones	17:38
	and exalt those of low degree.	17:41
	You fill the hungry with good things,	17:44
	and the rich you send empty away.	17:47
	Your own Son came among us as a servant	17:50
	to be Emmanuel, your presence with us.	17:53
	He humbled himself in obedience to your will	17:57
	and freely accepted death on a cross.	18:00
	On the night he offered himself up for us,	18:10
	he took bread, gave thanks to you,	18:13
	broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said,	18:16
	"Take, eat.	18:20
	"This is my body which is given for you.	18:21
	"Do this in remembrance of me."	18:24
	When the supper was over, he took the cup,	18:28
	gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples and said,	18:30
	"Drink from this, all of you, for this is my blood	18:35
	"of the new covenant, poured out for you	18:38
	"and for many for the forgiveness of sins.	18:41
	"Do this, as often as you drink it,	18:44
	"in remembrance of me."	18:47
	By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection	18:51
	you gave birth to your Church, delivered us	18:54
	from captivity to sin and death,	18:57
	and made with us a new covenant.	18:59
	Therefore in remembrance of all your mighty acts	19:02
	in Jesus Christ, we ask you to accept this,	19:06
	our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving,	19:09
	which we offer in union with Christ's sacrifice for us,	19:12
	as a living and holy surrender of ourselves.	19:16
	Send the power of your Holy Spirit on us	19:20
	and on these gifts, that in the breaking of this bread	19:23
	and the drinking of this wine, we may know the presence	19:27
	of the living Christ.	19:30
	Be one body in him, cleansed by his blood,	19:32
	faithfully serve him in the world, and look forward	19:35
	to that day foretold by prophets and apostles	19:40
	when the one who came in humility,	19:42
	and who comes today in word and spirit,	19:45
	shall come in final victory.	19:49
	Through him, with him, and in him,	19:51
	in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory	19:55
	is yours, Almighty God, now and forever.	19:59
	Amen.	20:03
	Our Father, who art in heaven,	20:05
	hallowed be thy name.	20:08
	Thy kingdom come, thy will be done	20:10
	on earth as it is in heaven.	20:13
	Give us this day our daily bread	20:15
	and forgive us our trespasses	20:17
	as we forgive those who trespass against us.	20:20
	Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.	20:24
	For thine is the kingdom, the power,	20:28
	and the glory forever.	20:30
	Amen.	20:33
	(organ music)	20:55
	Let us pray.	35:18
	Lord, we give thanks for these holy mysteries	35:22
	which bring to us, here on earth,	35:25
	a share in the life to come through Christ our Lord.	35:27
	Amen.	35:32
	("O Come O Come Emmanuel")	35:39
	♪ O come O come Emmanuel ♪	36:24
	♪ And ransom captive Israel ♪	36:31
	♪ That mourns in lonely exile here ♪	36:39
	♪ Until the Son of God appear ♪	36:46
	♪ Rejoice rejoice Emmanuel ♪	36:54
	♪ Shall come to thee O Israel ♪	37:02
	♪ O come Thou Wisdom from on high ♪	37:12
	♪ And order all things far and nigh ♪	37:20
	♪ To us the path of knowledge show ♪	37:27
	♪ And cause us in her ways to go ♪	37:35
	♪ Rejoice Rejoice Emmanuel ♪	37:43
	♪ Shall come to thee O Israel ♪	37:52
	♪ O come desire of nations bind ♪	38:02
	♪ In one the hearts of all mankind ♪	38:09
	♪ Bid envy strife and quarrels cease ♪	38:16
	♪ And be Thyself our King of peace ♪	38:26
	♪ Rejoice Rejoice Emmanuel ♪	38:31
	♪ Shall come to thee O Israel ♪	38:40
	♪ O come Thou Dayspring come and cheer ♪	38:51
	♪ Our spirits by Thine advent here ♪	38:59
	♪ Disperse the gloomy clouds of night ♪	39:06
	♪ And death's dark shadows put to flight ♪	39:14
	♪ Rejoice rejoice Emmanuel ♪	39:22
	♪ Shall come to thee O Israel ♪	39:32
-	And now may the God of hope fill you with all joy	39:47
	and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope	39:51
	by the power of the Holy Spirit now and forevermore.	39:55
	♪ Amen ♪	40:04
	♪ Amen ♪	40:11
	♪ Amen ♪	40:21
	♪ Amen ♪	40:30
	♪ Amen ♪	40:36
	♪ Amen ♪	40:49
	(organ music)	41:21

Item Info

Title:

Nancy Ferree-Clark - "The Night Is Far Spent..." (December 1, 1985)

Description:

Sermon start time: 32:49. Sermon end time: 48:12.
Advent is a time of looking back to the nativity of Christ and forward to his second coming. Yet, we often forget this latter part of the season. We must, then, strive for two things in this season: 1.) We must learn to anticipate the coming kingdom with joy instead of dread, and 2.) We must guard against the nostalgia of the past. (Abstract created by Duke Divinity School staff.)
Key quotation: “Advent, for all of its delights, is therefore a time of great tension. Even as we give thanks for the gift of the infant Christ born in a manger, we patiently watch for the coming of the risen Christ on clouds descending.”

Permalink:

https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/r4w951289

Date:

December 1, 1985

Speaker:

Ferree-Clark, Nancy

Biblical Book:

Chapter and Verse:

Subject:

Contributor:

Duke University. Chapel

Identifier:

UA.17.01.0003 CS-0297
ref8115_ty7
uachapelsermaud
duke:320410
dcrau001284
ark:/87924/r4w951289
f4a5e677-b176-4cf3-a0f6-dabf632f97f5

Digital Collection:

Duke Chapel Recordings

Source Collection:

Duke University Chapel recordings, 1954-2005

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Language:

English

Location:

United States
North Carolina
Durham (N.C.)

Format:

Provenance:

The Duke University Chapel Recordings were transferred to the Duke University Archives beginning in 1970.

Rights:

Limited Re-Use

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Rights Note:

This material is made available for research, scholarship, and private study. Copyright in this material has not been transferred to Duke University. For reuses of this material beyond those permitted by fair use or otherwise allowed under the Copyright Act, please see our page on copyright and citations: https://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/research/citations-and-permissions.

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Nancy Ferree-Clark - "The Night Is Far Spent..." (December 1, 1985)

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1. Nancy Ferree-Clark - "The Night Is Far Spent..." (December 1, 1985)

Duke University Archives

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Nancy Ferree-Clark - "The Night Is Far Spent..." (December 1, 1985)

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Duke University Archives

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