+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence – (In the preparation days of Celtic Advent)
+ We have waited long for You. Deep has been our darkness.
+ We long for You to shine right here among us where we are.
+ We will not fear the shadows that surround us if only You will come among us!
+ We wait for the sound of a cry in the night, the joy that follows pain, the coming of hope.
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Reading: Psalm 103:1-4, 8 & 10 (NLT)
Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name). Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
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The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
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He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
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Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31 (NLT)
“To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.
Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.
O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
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Reading: Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
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Prayer:
Compassionate God: You are filled with unfailing love –
+ You forgive all my sins
+ You heal all my diseases
+ You redeem me from death
+ You crown me with love and tender mercies
Everlasting God: You created the whole earth –
+ You never grow weak or weary
+ Your understanding is beyond my comprehension
+ You strengthen all who trust in You
+ You enable me to soar… to run… to walk
Lord Jesus Christ, Your are the visible image of the invisible God –
+ You are humble and gentle at heart
+ Your Way is not burdensome
+ You offer rest for my soul
+ In You I rest; in You I hope; in You I trust
Amen.
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“Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest)” – Kari Jobe
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Blessing
Make your heart ready for the King of Glory to come in. Pray: come dwell among us and be my peace today.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holly Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence – (In the preparation days of Celtic Advent)
+ We have waited long for You. Deep has been our darkness.
+ We long for You to shine right here among us where we are.
+ We will not fear the shadows that surround us if only You will come among us!
+ We wait for the sound of a cry in the night, the joy that follows pain, the coming of hope.
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Reading: Psalm 96:1-3, 10-13 (NLT)
Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
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Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!” The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. He will judge all peoples fairly. Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he is coming! He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth.
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Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 (NLT)
“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins.”
Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!”
A voice said, “Shout!” I asked, “What should I shout?”
“Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field. The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”
O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, “Your God is coming!” Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
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Reading: Matthew 18:12-14 (NLT)
Jesus and the Lamb art print by Katherine Brown
“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”
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Prayer:
Sovereign God: Your word stands forever!
+ Prepare our hearts for the Day of Salvation, when King Jesus will return in all his glory
+ Fill us with a spirit of true repentance and joyful expectation
+ Shepherd us now with tenderness and kindness along the path of righteousness
+ Displace our fears and anxieties with the assurance of your lovingkindness
Sovereign God: Come to us as the powerful, righteous judge – that every tribe and nation may acknowledge you as Lord – through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
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“Comfort, Comfort, O My People” – The Ignatian Schola
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Blessing
Make your heart ready for the King of Glory to come in. Pray: come dwell among us and be my peace today.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holly Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence – (In the preparation days of Celtic Advent)
+ We have waited long for You. Deep has been our darkness.
+ We long for You to shine right here among us where we are.
+ We will not fear the shadows that surround us if only You will come among us!
+ We wait for the sound of a cry in the night, the joy that follows pain, the coming of hope.
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Reading: Psalm 85:9-14 (NLT)
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, so our land will be filled with his glory.
Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed! Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven. Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings. Our land will yield its bountiful harvest. Righteousness goes as a herald before him, preparing the way for his steps.
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Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10 (NLT)
Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God. With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.”
And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland. The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived.
And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there. Lions will not lurk along its course, nor any other ferocious beasts. There will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will walk on it. Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.
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Reading: Luke 5:17-26 (NLT)
One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus.
Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”
But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”
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Prayer:
Mighty God: prepare our hearts to celebrate the humble birth of your Son, Jesus Christ, whose glorious return is certain –
+ Fill us with a proper sense of humility and reverence at the wonder of it all
+ Transform us with your unfailing love and truth, your righteousness and peace
+ Display your glory and open our eyes to your splendor
+ Strengthen us and encourage us in our weakness
Mighty God: your day of salvation is near; come and save us, and crown us with everlasting joy – in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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We worship God who uses messengers like John the Baptist to call us from darkness to light.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Prayer:
Your kingdom is at hand, O God of justice and peace:
+ You made John the Baptist its herald to announce the coming of Christ Jesus, who baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
+ Give us a spirit of repentance that we may enter your kingdom.
+ Let complacency yield to conviction, that in our day justice will flourish and conflict give way to the peace you bestow in Christ.
Grant this through him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near: your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Light of the World” – Lauren Daigle
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A Reading from the Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-10 (NLT)
[Isaiah looks forward to the coming of a messiah, who will restore harmony and justice.]
Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.
In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.
In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 (NLT)
Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son. Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.
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May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more. May he reign from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
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He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them.
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May the king’s name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.
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A Reading from the Letters: Romans 15:4-9 (NLT)
[Paul reminds us that the scriptures were written to teach about God’s promises.]
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Harmony
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote:
“For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name.”
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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 3:1-12 (NLT)
[John the Baptist’s call to repentance is described by Matthew.]
Saint John the Baptist Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (1591-1666) Private Collection
In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”
John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
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“Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord” – Jeremy Riddle
Prepare ye the way of the Lord | Prepare ye the way of the Lord | Oh, the way of the Lord
Make straight paths for His feet | Clear a way in the streets | Prepare your hearts to meet | The One who is coming
Every valley shall be raised | The rough places become plains | His salvation comes today | To those who would receive Him
What His words have foretold | All together we’ll behold | Every knee bending low | On the day of His coming
Now is a time of urgency | You must repent and believe | For the day of reckoning | Comes with His coming
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Intercessory Prayer:
Come to us King Jesus: as a babe in a manger, as the righteous judge in glory. Hear your people as we cry out to you.
+ For a spirit of repentance and humility among all believers, we pray …. Lord, hear us.
+ For peace and harmony among all believers of different cultures and traditions, we pray …. Lord, hear us.
+ For peace where it is most lacking, especially in Syria and the Middle East, we pray …. Lord, hear us.
+ For reconciliation between people, tribes and nations who are at war, we pray …. Lord, hear us.
+ For peace in our families, and forgiveness, we pray …. Lord, hear us.
+ For all children and adults alike, in this season of anticipation, we pray …. Lord, hear us.
+ For all people who are weak, homeless and hungry, we pray …. Lord, hear us.
+ For those we have died in Christ …. Lord, hear us.
O God, you save the weak, the helpless and the poor when they cry to you, hear the prayers of all your people, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Let Your Light Shine In The Darkness” – New Scottish Hymns
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Benediction:
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 15:5-6
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence – (In the preparation days of Celtic Advent)
+ We have waited long for You. Deep has been our darkness.
+ We long for You to shine right here among us where we are.
+ We will not fear the shadows that surround us if only You will come among us!
+ We wait the sound of a cry in the night, the joy that follows pain, the coming of hope.
__________
Reading: Psalm 147:1-6 (NLT)
Praise the Lord! How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting!
The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! The Lord supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust.
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Reading: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 (NLT)
O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries. Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.
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Then the Lord will bless you with rain at planting time. There will be wonderful harvests and plenty of pastureland for your livestock. The oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat good grain, its chaff blown away by the wind. In that day, when your enemies are slaughtered and the towers fall, there will be streams of water flowing down every mountain and hill. The moon will be as bright as the sun, and the sun will be seven times brighter—like the light of seven days in one! So it will be when the Lord begins to heal his people and cure the wounds he gave them.
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Reading: Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5-8 (NLT)
The Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles. Russian, 14th century, Moscow Museum
Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.
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Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
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Prayer:
Great is the Lord our God:
+ He heals the broken hearted
+ He supports the humble
+ He answers our cries for help
+ He guides us along the path of right living
God has blessed us; and now,
He sends us out with His authority:
+ To reap the harvest of lost souls You have prepared
+ To announce the Good News of His Kingdom
+ To cast out evil spirits and heal the sick
+ To bless others as we have been blessed
Gracious God: Go before us into the fields of harvest, and fill us with Your compassion that we may be effective Kingdom workers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Psalm 147:1-11 – Scottish Psalter 1650 (ACapella) – Jason Coghill
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Blessing
Make your heart ready for the King of Glory to come in. Pray: come dwell among us and be my peace today.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holly Spirit. Amen!
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The Peanut Gallery 