Lord, Set Our Hearts Aright - An Advent Hymn

There are about a zillion Christmas songs.  There are Christmas hymns, folk songs, Santa songs, and winter holiday songs.  There are songs about being with family at Christmas.  There are songs about not being home with family at Christmas.  There are obnoxious novelty Christmas songs.  Songs about Christmas sleigh rides,  about Christmas foods, about Christmas gifts and, and, and, and...

But there is a serious lack of Advent songs.  Yes. Yes.  There are the two that come immediately to mind -O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and  Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus...  but there are few others. So this year I have written a new hymn for Advent.   It's sung to the Hymn Tune Laudes Domini (When Morning Gilds the Sky)

Lord, Set Our Hearts Aright

When winter chill has dimmed
the light of hope within,
Lord, set our hearts aright.
We wait for night to pass
and dawn to come at last,
Lord, set our hearts aright.

May those who sow in tears
now cast away their fears,
Lord, set our hearts aright.
Let laughter fill our mouth
and joy ring in our shouts,
Lord, set our hearts aright.

The second verse is drawn, somewhat, from Psalm 126 - which is part of the lectionary reading for this Sunday (the second week of Advent).  Feel free to use this song in your church.  It's yours if you like it.