There is a beautiful song I first heard during a workshop to introduce the Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal called Ososo, ososo (Come Now, O Prince of Peace) by Geonyong Lee, ELW #247.
Ososo, ososo (Come Now, O Prince of Peace)
Text & music by Geonyong Lee ©, translation Marion Pope
Come now, O Prince of peace, make us one body. Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile your people.
Come now, O God of love, make us one body. Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile your people.
Come now and set us free, O God, our Savior. Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile all nations.
Come, Hope of unity, make us one body. Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile all nations.
It is somewhat haunting in its melody but so beautiful when combined with the words that plead for Jesus to “reconcile your people” and “reconcile all nations.” The first time I heard it I was in the company of about 200 Lutheran pastors and ministers of music, so of course everyone broke into the appropriate choral parts. I nearly cried with emotion at the beautiful sound that filled the worship space with this human plea to our Savior, the Prince of Peace.
If there was ever a song to define Jesus’ role as the Prince of Peace, I think this might be it. We plead with the Prince of Peace to make us one body [in Christ], set us free [from sin], and reconcile all peoples and nations. Imagine what the world would be like if this could be so!
The ELW hymnal places this song in the Advent section. Rightly so, but I also know that this is a timeless hymn well worth singing any day of the year. In its simplicity, it can easily become one of those mantra-type songs, like many Taize songs, that get stuck in your head. There is a lot worse stuff to have running around in your head, why not try this tune?
Join us for Christmas Eve worship:
4:00 pm Children’s Service
8:30 & 10:30 pm – Traditional Candlelight Services of Holy Communion
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
335 Reynolds Ave., Parsippany, NJ 07054
(973) 887-6713
Directions: http://www.elcaandy.org/directions.asp
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