The Coming of the Lord

When the season of Advent arrives, the choir loft buzzes with a distinct kind of energy, a shift from ordinary time to a period of joyful, urgent preparation. Pepper Choplin’s "The Coming of the Lord" captures this exact mood. Marked with "rhythmic anticipation" on the score, the piece drives forward with an upbeat, almost marching tempo that calls the congregation to wake up and get ready. It is a perfect fit for the early weeks of Advent, setting a tone of active expectation rather than quiet waiting.

The lyrics draw heavily on the prophetic calls of Isaiah and the familiar cries of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." As the choir sings of making the highway straight and lifting up the gates, the music builds a sense of genuine excitement for the Nativity. A particularly moving moment occurs midway through, when a solo voice rings out with the ancient plea to ransom captive Israel, floating above the rhythmic pulse of the full choir.

For a worship leader, this anthem is a fantastic way to stir the parish. It moves past the solemnity often associated with the season and reminds the church that the arrival of Emmanuel is a reason to celebrate. When the voices finally unite to declare that the deaf will hear and the lame will leap for joy, the promise of Christmas feels incredibly close.