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Hymn of the Week: Sunday, December 7, 2025
Prepare the Way
Author: Frans Mikael Franzen (1772-1847)
Translator: Augustus Nelson (1863-1949)
Adaptor: Charles P. Price (1920-1999)
Composer: Old Swedish melody, harmonized by Otto Olsson (1879-1964)
For the second week of Advent, our Hymn of the Week is another hymn written specifically as an Advent Hymn. The author was already well known as a Swedish/Finnish poet before he wrote this hymn. He was born in a part of Sweden which is now in Finland, lived in Finland until Finland was annexed by Russia in 1809, then moved to Sweden where he was ordained in the Church of Sweden, became a Professor of Philosophy and a Librarian, and published many poems. “Prepare the Way” was written and published in 1812 but was not well-received. The author listened to the feedback about the text and revised it for a second publication in 1819, after which it became more popular. American Charles Price adapted the hymn with significant additional words that increased the mood of joyfulness about the coming of Christ. That adaptation was for The Hymnal 1982, compiled for the Episcopal Church. Our hymn book uses that version only slightly altered in 1989. Like many other excellent hymns, use in worship across denominations is common. “Prepare the Way” was written by a Swedish Lutheran writing in Swedish, translated into English by an American born in Sweden, harmonized by a Swedish organist for a 1930 Lutheran Hymnal, then finally the text was adapted by an American hymnwriter for use in the 1982 Episcopal Hymnal–and now we sing it joyfully as modern American Presbyterians!
Suggested Scripture:
Luke 3:1-6
1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”
Lyrics:
Prepare the way, O Zion, your Christ is drawing near!
Let every hill and valley a level way appear.
Greet One who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story.
Oh blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.
Christ brings God’s rule, O Zion; he comes from heaven above.
His rule is peace and freedom, and justice, truth, and love.
Lift high your praise resounding, for grace and joy abounding.
Oh blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.
Fling wide your gates, O Zion; your Savior’s rule embrace.
And tidings of salvation proclaim in every place.
All lands will bow rejoicing, their adoration voicing.
Oh blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.
