2nd Sunday of Advent
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Prayer
With tender comfort and transforming power You come into our midst, O God of mercy and might. Make ready a way in the wilderness, clear a straight path in our hearts, and form us into a repentant people, that the advent of Your Son may find us watchful and eager for the glory He reveals. We ask 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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“Prepare Ye The Way” – Michael W. Smith
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Reading:Mark 1:1-8 (NLT)
This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began just as the prophet Isaiah had written:
“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way. He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”
This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.
John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”
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Intercessory Prayer
Lord God of heaven and earth, we eagerly await the return of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Prepare us to welcome Him, we pray –
+ For a spirit of repentance among all believers….
+ For peace with justice, where it is most lacking….
+ For reconciliation between people who are at war….
+ For our children, that they might never know a day apart from You….
+ For parents, that they may pass on to their children the precious gift of faith….
+ For Christian charities around the world and for all the people they help….
+ For all who have died in Christ, that they may receive their just reward in heaven….
Gracious God, Your help is near for those who trust in You: hear our prayers we ask, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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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 street | 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
The King is coming | The King is coming | The King is coming
Yahweh | Yahweh | Yahweh
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Blessing – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (NLT)
“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
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