The Advent Playlist
Music can act as a signal. The day after Thanksgiving, or sometimes the days before Thanksgiving, you walk into a store and hear your first round of Jingle Bells and you know it's buying season. Initial Christmas music is like the first snow. Exciting at first, but by the end of the season you feel glad you have the rest of the year to recover from it.
I first tried the idea of creating a playlist for Advent music thanks to ideas from Aslan's Library. What is Advent music? It is music that anticipates the coming of Jesus, not focuses on the celebration of Jesus coming (as in Christmas). There are beautiful songs about Jesus returning in power and about the New Jerusalem. These are perfect kinds of Advent songs that stir real longing for our hope yet fulfilled.
Our family enjoys Advent music from the last Sunday in November until December 24th when we make the big switch to Christmas music. Advent music might be my favorite playlist of the year. It does act as a signal. It feels decidedly not yet. The theme is waiting and longing and expecting and thanks to so many beautiful new versions of old hymns, it creates a lovely backdrop to a season of intentional hope-building.
And Christmas music? The first time I tried this, I stood in a church service on Christmas Eve singing Silent Night for the first time that season and cried because the anticipation led to something so wonderful. The richness of that experience made a believer out of me. We sing and listen to Christmas music in celebration of the twelve days of Christmas. It turns out twelve days is about right for me.
My playlist is not high tech because there is nothing high tech about me. I used YouTube, so it's free and available to anyone. There have been songs or versions of songs I prefer and can't find, but generally, it's worked for our family. Use this or create your own using Spotify, Apple Music or something that works for you.
Advent Playlist Ideas:
O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Red Mountain Music
There Is A Land Of Pure Delight - Red Mountain Music
All Things New - Red Mountain Music
The Sands of Time are Sinking - Indelible Grace
Fernando Ortega - Come, Thou Long Expecter Jesus
See, He Comes
Tender Mercy (Zechariah's Song)
Come Ye Sinners - Amy Grant & Fernando Ortega
Comfort Comfort All My People
All Who Are Thirsty - Brenton Brown
Come, Oh Redeemer, Come - Fernando Ortega
Jars Of Clay - Gabriel's Message
"All Things New" - ELEVATION WORSHIP
AMY GRANT - Christmas Hymn
Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus - Red Mountain Music
Savior of the Nations, Come - Hymn 2
Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior - Red Mountain Church
Welcome to Our World | Chris Rice (A Christmas Song)
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - Red Mountain Music
Of the Father's Love Begotten
Creator of The Stars of Night - High Street Hymns
Breath of Heaven - Amy Grant / Lyrics (Mary's Song)
Third Day - Your Love Oh Lord - Christmas Offerings
Fernando Ortega: Jesus, King of Angels
Come Down O Love Divine Fernando Ortega
Savior of the Nations, Come - Hymn 2
Andrew Peterson: "Deliver Us" (Behold The Lamb of God)
Red Mountain Music - Come All Ye Pining - 12 - All Things New (2010)
O Savior throw the heavens wide ..... Johannes Brahms
Peace on earth - chris rice
Immanuel - Michael Card
"EVERLASTING GOD (we set our hope)"
Love divine all loves excelling
Fernando Ortega - A Place On The Earth
Emmanuel/Little Town/Christmas Hymn - Amy Grant w/lyrics
Winter Song by Fernando Ortego
Fernando Ortega - Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Fernando Ortega - City Of Sorrows
Carol of the Birds - Fernando Ortega
Love Came Down at Christmas - High Street Hymns
Agnus Dei by Michael W. Smith with lyrics
On Jordan's Stormy Banks - Jars of Clay (feat. The Blind Boys of Alabama)
Andrew Peterson- Gather 'Round, Ye Children, Come
Andrew Peterson: "Matthew's Begats"(Behold The Lamb of God)
Prepare The Way - Charlie Hall
Fernando Ortega - Give me Jesus
This is the Christ - Sandra McCracken Christmas Hymn
New Jerusalem (Live) - Matt Gilman
Shane & Shane - In a Little While
Alison Krauss - Be Thou My Vision [Live]
Magnificat (with Wexford Carol) - Keith & Kristyn Getty
Bebo Norman - The Broken (Acoustic)
All Saints ("O if the Lord would come and meet")
Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding - Chicago Metro Presbytery Music
Fernando Ortega - Open My Lips
George Frederic Handel - 'Behold the Lamb of God' from "The Messiah"
Andrew Peterson: "Behold the Lamb of God" (Behold The Lamb of God
King of Heaven - Paul Baloche
Concordia - Wake, Awake For Night Is Flying
The Sands of Time Are Sinking [Katy Bowser]
O come, O come, Emmanuel - (Piano/Cello) - The Piano Guys
Ruby's Advent Song
