The university choir opened the Advent Vespers in Friedensau Chapel with a Paul Gerhardt song from the 17th century.
"How shall I receive you and how shall I meet you, O desire of all the world, O adornment of my soul? O Jesus, Jesus, set me the torch, so that what delights you may be known and known to me."
The Friedensau University Choir opened this year's Advent Vespers on December 8, 2023 in the Friedensau Chapel with this chorale. To get in the mood for Christmas, the musicians of the Theological University, under the direction of Sebastian Kuhle, director of the choir and the Institute for Church Music at the university, and theology student Itje Zepnik, offered a varied program of very different Christmas music. Traditional, gospel, modern, humorous – young and old alike enjoyed it and felt festively attuned to the approaching Christmas. The message of all the music can be summed up in the text by Paul Gerhardt, who had to endure hardship in his life, especially during the 30 Years' War, yet remained deeply faithful and is considered one of the most important hymn writers:
"Nor should you be afraid of your sins' guilt; no, Jesus wants to cover them with his love and mercy. He comes, he comes to the sinners to comfort and true salvation, creates that with God's children their inheritance and part remain.
What do you ask for the cries of the enemy and their treachery? The Lord will scatter them in a moment. He is coming, he is coming, a king to whom all the enemies on earth are truly far too little to resist.
He comes to the judgment of the world: to curse those who curse him, with grace and sweet light to those who love and seek him. Oh come, oh come, O sun, and bring us all to eternal light and bliss in your hall of joy."
