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29 DECEMBER BRANCH OF JESSE'S STEM O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem, Unto your own and rescue them! From depths of hell your people save, And give them victory o'er the grave. Isaiah 11 In my seminar y days, I trained as a worship leader at a local church in Greenwood Village and learned from my pastors that a worship leader not only sings songs and plays instruments, but also discerns the spiritual implications of the songs we invite the church to sing. With ever y congregational song, we are to ask: "Is this song biblically accurate?", "Does it convey the gospel truth?", "Is it musically pleasing/interesting?", "Is it singable?" On each of these accounts, O Come, O Come Immanuel is a shining example of an Advent hymn. Its lyrics originate from the Medieval Ages O Antiphons that were chanted as refrains at vespers on the last seven days of Advent. The seven antiphons invoke seven biblically rich names of Christ (Immanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia), which are mirrored in the hymn's present seven verses. The tune also deser ves mention. Known as Veni Emmanuel, it was originally used for a Requiem Mass and other 15th centur y processionals. But one might ask, "Who thought to link a funeral tune with Advent?" Credit goes to Thomas Helmore, who first linked the words to Veni Emmanuel in 1851, and J. T. Neale, who popularized it by translating it into English in 1861. Given the immense success of the hymn, one might regard this pairing a stroke of genius or a happy accident. But I humbly submit it was God Himself who weaved the works of these men and the original authors of the O Antiphons and Veni Emmanuel to grant us a song through which we can savor the true meaning of Christmas. What I love about O Come, O Come Immanuel is that the music brilliantly complements its message. For instance, verse four alludes to the prophecy of Isaiah 11 and invokes Jesus as a tender "shoot" who grows out of Jesse's "stump." The imager y is that of life springing out of what is already dead, reminding us that apar t from Jesus, we are all but singing at our own funerals. But thanks be to God! The Advent hymn reminds us to look heavenward and pray, "give [us] victor y o'er the grave!" Singing this hymn, we lament our pitiable state in the minor key. But at the sight of our Deliverer, we turn our mourning into gladness and proclaim in confidence: "Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel / Shall come to you O Israel!" Ahnna Cho Park, MDiv, Coordinator of Korean Studies Program and Instructional Designer and Alumna O Come, O Come Immanuel John Mason Neale (1861)