ok×ÊÔ´Íø

On Dec. 2, 2025, students, faculty and members of the ok×ÊÔ´Íø community gathered for the annual Perkins Advent Service, featuring musical ensembles from the Perkins School of Theology and the Meadows School of the Arts.

This year marked the 66th year of the event. Instituted in 1959 by professors Grady Hardin and Lloyd Pfautsch, the Advent and Christmas service has become a foundational tradition for the broader ok×ÊÔ´Íø community.

A Team Effort

Led by Marcell Silva Steuernagel, associate professor of church music and director of the Master of Sacred Music Program and the Doctor of Pastoral Music Program, the Perkins Advent Service has long been closely tied to the development of the Master of Sacred Music Program, which began in 1960.

For this year’s chapel service, Silva Steuernagel selected “hope” as the central theme and credited the performers for their execution of each role.

“Having Joe Stobaugh playing the sax in the echo chamber of the organ, which is under the floor of the sanctuary, was a nice touch,” he said. “The collaboration with Prof. Margaret Winchell and the Chamber Singers was crucial to the service, and I wrote a new composition, "A Thing With Feathers," that they premiered.”

Silva Steuernagel credited the combination of uniquely talented participants as a key factor in the service’s success, which drew more than 170 attendees.

Hymns and Worship Songs Featured

The service featured a wide range of hymns, scripture settings, and worship music, including:
• “Poeme pour le temps de l’Advent” by Rachel Laurin
• “Creator of the Stars of Night” (Conditor alme siderum)
• “First Coming” by Madeleine L’Engle
• “A Thing With Feathers” by Marcell Silva Steuernagel
• “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (Veni Emmanuel), arranged by Timothy L. Bandy
• “Machet die Tore weit” by Andreas Hammerschmidt
• “We Long to Know Her” (Star in the East)
• “Which Was the Son of …” (Luke 3:23–38) by Arvo Pärt
• “Come to Be Our Hope, O Jesus” (Esus Nossa Esperança)
• “In principio erat verbum” (John 1:1–14) by Paul Hindemith
• “The Time Has Come” (Wexford Carol)
• “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland,” BWV 599, by Johann Sebastian Bach
• “We Long to Know Her” (Southern Harmony), harmonized by Alice Parker
• “Vem, Jesus, nossa esperança / Tu, Jesus, nuestra esperanza / Come to Be Our Hope, O Jesus”
• “The Time Has Come” by Chris Shelton

Advent in the Future

When asked about the vision for future Advent services, Silva Steuernagel emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between Perkins and Meadows.

“The idea is always to fuse Advent liturgical traditions with innovative musical repertoire and performance aspects,” he said. “We'll continue to do that in future years, especially through collaboration with students, Meadows faculty and ensembles, and Sacred Music alumni.”