Song for the Day: ELW 266 - All Earth is Hopeful - Toda la tierra

This song will be the communion hymn at the traditional service this Sunday. It is a Spanish song that shares the message of Advent hope and anticipation. I have included both the English and Spanish lyrics. We will be singing it in English!

The tune is lively and upbeat and the words come quickly. So I hope you take time to look at the words, because they are lovely.

Here is a beautiful rendition of this hymn, beginning with a verse in Spanish, then the four English verses below: https://youtu.be/dq5BEfErVVY

ENGLISH

1 All earth is hopeful, the Savior comes at last!

Furrows lie open for God's creative task:

this, the labor of people who struggle to see

how God's truth and justice set ev'rybody free.

2 People of Israel, you heard the prophet tell:

"A virgin mother will bear Emmanuel";

she conceived him, "God with us," our brother, whose birth

restores hope and courage to children of this earth.

3 Mountains and valleys will have to be prepared;

new highways opened, new protocols declared.

Almost here! God is nearing, in beauty and grace!

All clear ev'ry gateway, in haste, come out in haste!

4 We first saw Jesus a baby in a crib.

This same Lord Jesus today has come to live

in our world; he is present, in neighbors we see

our Jesus is with us, and ever sets us free.

SPANISH

1 Toda la tierra espera al Salvador

y el surco abierto, la obra del Señor;

es el mundo que lucha por la libertad,

reclama justicia y busca la verdad.

2 Dice el profeta al pueblo de Israel:

"De madre virgen ya viene Emmanuel,"

será "Dios con nosotros," hermano será,

con él la esperanza al mundo volverá.

3 Montes y valles habrá que preparar;

nuevos caminos tenemos que trazar.

Él está ya muy cerca, venidlo a encontrar,

y todas las puertas abrid de par en par.

4 En una cueva Jesús apareció,

pero en el mundo está presente hoy.

Vive en nuestros hermanos, con ellos está;

y vuelve de nuevo a darnos libertad.

Text: Alberto Taulé, b. 1932; tr. Madeleine Forell Marshall, b. 1946

Spanish text © 1993 and English text © 1995 Centro de Pastoral Liturgica, admin. OCP Publications, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213.

Let us pray: God of Hope, all earth is hopeful, for your Son, our Savior comes at last! May we open our hearts and our lives to see how your truth and justice set everybody free. Amen.