O Come Emmanuel

Gordon Giles

From Praxis: News of Worship - September 2008

Based on a carol a day from 1 December to 6 January, this book may be used as a prayer companion during Advent and the 12 days of Christmas. Each chapter begins with a scripture passage, followed by a substantial reflection on the text of each carol and the context in which it was written, ending with a short prayer.

As well as the usual standard carols, there are some surprises, such as Graham Kendrick's 'Candle Song' and the 'Ave Maria'. In discussing various settings of the latter, Gordon Giles described the Bach/Gounod setting as one of the greatest ecumenical works - an unplanned collaboration between Lutheranism and Catholicism. Observations such as this made me smile as I followed the daily routine of reading this book for most of Advent. At such a busy time of year, there was no opportunity to use the questions for weekly group discussion, but as the next season of Advent approaches, I would find this book useful for background information for carol concerts and services.

Reviewed by Teresa Brown

From The Church Times 28 October 2005

In O Come Emmanuel, Gordon Giles, a Parish priest in north London, follows up his Lent and Easter volume, The Harmony of Heaven . He offers daily meditations running from 1 December to 6 January, drawing on the words of carols and hymns. The reflections are more substantial than many for this genre (four to five pages for each day); they all begin with a few Bible verses (printed in full in the NRSV) and end with a prayer.

Thus 10 December starts with Isaiah 60:1-5 (“Arise, shine; for you light has come…”), moves to a discussion of the hymn “People look East”, and continues with a reflection on Christmas cards: “Through cards received and sent, we re-enter periods of joy and pain that shaped us, and we delve into distant memories. Such reflection can be good for us, leading us on to reflect on other things – the passage of time, our relationship with God.” The approach is both thoughtful and thought-provoking: it will provide plenty of material for those who want to work through the season seriously.

Reviewed by Rachel Boulding

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