Our offertory this morning is a hymn that may date back as far as the fifteenth century. Originally written in German and titled “Es ist ein Ros ensprungen,” the text combines the story of Christ’s birth with the prophecies in Isaiah about the “rose” from the “stem of Jesse.” (Isaiah 11:1)
Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming, From tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming, As men of old have sung.
It came, a flower bright, Amid the cold of winter
When half-gone was the night.
