God’s World is Changing: New Hymns for Advent and Christmas

“Written by one of our generation’s leading hymn writers, this Advent devotional is a rich conversation between biblical texts associated with this season and various issues within our rapidly changing contemporary world. Framed by the poetry of Gillette’s modern hymn texts, and accompanied by theological meditations and questions for personal or group reflection, this wonderful resource for the four weeks before Christmas deals with the traditional Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love but in relationship to our Changing Climate (Hope), Changing Conversations (Peace), a Changing Calling (Joy), and the Changing Church (Love). Additional hymn texts and reflections are provided for “Blue Christmas” or the “Longest Night” for those people in grief or alone at this “happy” time of year. Whether read in solitude or in an on-line or in-person group, this resource will deepen your engagement with the anticipated coming of the Christ child during the Advent season and inspire you to be Christ’s light for our wounded world today.”—The Rev. Dr. Kathy Black, Professor Emerita, Gerald H. Kennedy Professor of Homiletics and Liturgics, Claremont School of Theology “”Acclaimed hymn-writer Carolyn Gillette has done it again with God’s World is Changing . She has produced another exceptional resource for public worship and private daily devotions, this one related to the season of Advent. As the title suggests, the theme of this season is change, how the world is changing rapidly, how we require new hymns that articulate our new concerns, how we need to change during this time, and how hymns can play a role in bringing about that change. For each day of Advent (and twice on Sundays) Carolyn provides one of her remarkable hymn texts set to traditional music along with the biblical basis for the lyrics. Each day also includes a brief meditation that often explains the inspiration for the lyrics and follow-up questions that grow out of the hymns. While Carolyn is a gifted poet and lyricist, her theological training and extensive pastoral experience shine through her hymns and meditations. This is evident in Section Four entitled “”Longest Night – Blue Christmas,”” which is aimed at ministering to those who are overwhelmed with grief and loneliness during a season that too often emphasizes joy and celebration. Her treatment of issues such as immigration, the environment, racism, and poverty in other hymns and meditations makes this volume both timely and timeless. What Carolyn has produced is another book that is theologically-sound, socially-sensitive, and remarkably creative. I would highly recommend this work to worship leaders, church musicians, and anyone interested in deepening their faith in today’s world. Whether you read this volume from cover to cover or use it more selectively, you will not be disappointed by God’s World is Changing.”” -The Rev. Charles (Buz) Myers, Ph.D., Presbyterian minister and Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at Gettysburg College Carolyn Winfrey Gillette has been a pastor in rural, small town, suburban and city settings; she has served as a hospice chaplain and a hospital chaplain; she is a wife, mother and grandmother, and she has been a foster mother and a school bus aide. She is the author of three earlier books: I Sing to My Savior: New Hymns from the Stories in the Gospel of Luke Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor and Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today’s Worship Her hymns have been sung by thousands of congregations around the world, and they have been included in over 20 books. They have also been featured in newspaper stories and in Christian Century, The New Yorker, Sojourners, on National Public Radio and on PBS TV. — ISBN13: 9798362981679