No room at the inn

Alexis Chauvet (1837-1871) wrote an Offertoire for the Third Sunday in Advent, an arrangement of a 15th century French Noël, Nous voici dans la ville.  The carol poetically chronicles the excuses offered by various Bethlehem innkeepers to Mary and Joseph, all while the evening was advancing and the moment of Christ’s birth drew nearer.

Yet in the city of David, where man could spare no room, was born for us a Saviour, Who would prepare a place for us in His Father’s house, which, He assures us, has “many rooms” (John 14:2).

Here is Chauvet’s setting of that tune, played by our organist.