Pause. Reflect. Pray.

In this season of anticipation, join us in reflection and song. You will find a short audio program added each day of Advent. Only a few minutes long, each installment includes scripture, reflection, and a musical selection presented by a member of the GIA staff.

Fourth Week of Advent (Christmas Eve)

by Christian Jesse | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you.  And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his Kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever. (2 Samuel 7)

Music selections:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (arr. Sondra K. Tucker) and “Eit Barn er Født i Bethlehem” (Ørjan Matre).

Fourth Week of Advent (Thursday)

by Michael Boschert | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

“So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.” (Luke 1)

Music selections:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (arr. Sondra K. Tucker) and “Canticle of Zecariah” (Michael Joncas).

Fourth Week of Advent (Wednesday)

by Kyle Cothern | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.” (Luke 1:44-47)

Music selections:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (arr. Sondra K. Tucker) and “Mary’s Canticle” (Leon Roberts).

Fourth Week of Advent (Tuesday)

by Sarah Wolf | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:43-45)

Music selections:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (arr. Sondra K. Tucker) and “Blessed One” (Aaron Thompson).

Fourth Week of Advent (Monday)

by Matt Reichert | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Music selections:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (arr. Sondra K. Tucker) and “Mary’s Song” (M. Roger Holland).

Fourth Sunday of Advent

by Matt Reichert | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

“And how does this happen to me, 
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, 
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:44-45)

Music selections:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (arr. Sondra K. Tucker) and “Maria Walks Amid the Thorn” (Daniel Burton).

Third Week of Advent (Saturday)

by Adam M.L. Tice | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.  For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. (Matthew 1:19-20)

Music selections:

“Emmanuel” from Colours 2 (Chris de Silva) and “O Joseph, Awaken, Let Go of Your Fear” (text by Chris Shelton, music by Bex Gaunt).

Third Week of Advent (Friday)

by Ed Bolduc | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!

Music selections:

“Emmanuel” from Colours 2 (Chris de Silva) and “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” (arr. Adam and Lori Ubowski, and Sarah Hart).

Third Week of Advent (Thursday)

by Alan Hommerding | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

Though the mountains leave their place
        and the hills be shaken,
    My love shall never leave you
        nor my covenant of peace be shaken,
        says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

(Isaiah 54:10)

Music selections:

“Emmanuel” from Colours 2 (Chris de Silva) and “People Look East” (arr. Robert Edward Smith).

Third Week of Advent (Wednesday)

by Victoria Zibell | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

And Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.  And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” (Luke 7:22-23)

Music selections:

“Emmanuel” from Colours 2 (Chris de Silva) and “Go Out to the World” (Chris de Silva).

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross

by Kate Williams | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed. (Psalm 34:19)

Music selections:

“Emmanuel” from Colours 2 (Chris de Silva) and “Abide” (Dan Forrest).

Memorial of Saint Lucy

by Michael Silhavy | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

I see him, though not now;
      I behold him, though not near:
   A star shall advance from Jacob,
      and a staff shall rise from Israel. (Numbers 24)

Music selections:

“Emmanuel” from Colours 2 (Chris de Silva) and “Let There Be Light” (Richard Proulx, arr. James Biery).

Third Sunday of Advent

by Jennifer Odegard | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water,but one mightier than I is coming.I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3)

Music selections:

“Emmanuel” from Colours 2 (Chris de Silva) and “Tu Pueblo Te Espera” (Rafael Moreno).

Second Week of Advent (Saturday)

by Peter Kolar | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus,
“Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. (Matthew 17)

Music selections:

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” from Seasons of Peace (arr. Bobby Fisher) and “On Jordan’s Bank” (arr. Richard Proulx).

Second Week of Advent (Friday)

by Christian Jesse | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

Thus says the LORD, your redeemer,
    the Holy One of Israel:
I, the LORD, your God,
    teach you what is for your good,
    and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
    your prosperity would be like a river,
    and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
    and those born of your stock like its grains,
Their name never cut off
    or blotted out from my presence.

(Isaiah 48:17-19)

Music selections:

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” from Seasons of Peace (arr. Bobby Fisher) and “Psalm 1” (Nathan Carter).

Second Week of Advent (Thursday)

by Michael Boschert | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

I will plant in the desert the cedar,
    acacia, myrtle, and olive;
I will set in the wasteland the cypress,
    together with the plane tree and the pine,
That all may see and know,
    observe and understand,
That the hand of the LORD has done this,
    the Holy One of Israel has created it. (Isaiah 41)

Music selections:

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” from Seasons of Peace (arr. Bobby Fisher) and “Let Us Give Thanks for Unknown Blessings” (Carol Browning).

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

by Kyle Cothern | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. (Luke 1)

Music selections:

“Ave Maria” from Consoliere Classics (arr. Alison Leudecke) and “Immaculate Mary” (arr. Orin Johnson).

Second Week of Advent (Tuesday)

by Sarah Wolf | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost. (Matthew 18)

Music selections:

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” from Seasons of Peace (arr. Bobby Fisher) and “Wait for the Lord” (Jacques Berthier).

Second Week of Advent (Monday)

by Matt Reichert | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God. (Isaiah 35)

Music selections:

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” from Seasons of Peace (arr. Bobby Fisher) and “When You Come” (Zack Stachowski).

Second Sunday of Advent

by Matt Reichert | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isaiah)

Music selections:

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” from Seasons of Peace (arr. Bobby Fisher) and “Prepare the Way for the Coming of the Lord” (Jalonda Robertson).

First Week of Advent (Saturday)

by Adam Tice | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

The lowly will ever find joy in the Lord, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel, for the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone. (Isaiah 29:19-20)

Music selections:

Veni, Veni Emmanuel’” from Consoliere Classic (Alison Luedecke) and “Canticle of the Turning” (Rory Cooney), recorded by John L. Bell and the Wild Goose Resource Group.

First Week of Advent (Friday)

by Ed Bolduc | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

“Do you believe that I can do this?” 
“Yes, Lord,” they said to him. 
Then he touched their eyes and said,
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.” 
And their eyes were opened.  (Matthew 9:28-29)

Music selections:

Veni, Veni Emmanuel’” from Consoliere Classic (Alison Luedecke) and “Walk in the Light” (Craig Colson).

First Week of Advent (Thursday)

by Alan Hommerding | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

Open to me the gates of justice;
    I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD. (Psalm 118: 19-21)

Music selections:

Veni, Veni Emmanuel’” from Consoliere Classic (Alison Luedecke) and “Rorate Caeli” (arr. Paul French).

First Week of Advent (Wednesday)

by Victoria Zibell | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

Behold, the Lord comes to save his people. Blessed are those prepared to meet him. Alleluia. 

Music selections:

Veni, Veni Emmanuel’” from Consoliere Classic (Alison Luedecke) and “Prepare the Way of the Lord” (Jacques Berthier)

First Week of Advent (Monday)

by Michael Silhavy | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

Come and save us, LORD our God; let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved. (Psalm 80:4)

Music selections:

Veni, Veni Emmanuel’” from Consoliere Classic (Alison Luedecke) and “The Day of the Lord is at Hand” (arr. Marilyn Biery)

First Sunday of Advent

by Jennifer Odegard | Advent Audio Calendar (2021)

The days are coming, says the LORD, 
    when I will fulfill the promise 
    I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time, 
    I will raise up for David a just shoot ; 
    he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe 
    and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; 
    this is what they shall call her: 
    “The LORD our justice.” (Jeremiah 33)

Music selections:

Veni, Veni Emmanuel’” from Consoliere Classic (Alison Luedecke) and “Awake to the Day” (Ed Bolduc)