8th Day Before Christmas: Friday 17 Dec 2021
[Revised Common Lectionary Year C]

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Gracious God, your people look forward in hope
to the festival of our Saviour’s birth.
Give us the strength to reach that happy day of salvation
and to celebrate it with hearts full of joy.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

We are not like those who turn away from God
to their own destruction.
We are the faithful ones,
whose souls will be saved.
(Hebrews 10:39)

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Psalms: Psalm 80 – Restoration – James Block

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OT Reading: Isaiah 42:10-18 (NLT)

A Song of Praise to the Lord

42:10 Sing a new song to the Lord!
Sing his praises from the ends of the earth!
Sing, all you who sail the seas,
all you who live in distant coastlands.
11 Join in the chorus, you desert towns;
let the villages of Kedar rejoice!
Let the people of Sela sing for joy;
shout praises from the mountaintops!
12 Let the whole world glorify the Lord;
let it sing his praise.
13 The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero;
he will come out like a warrior, full of fury.
He will shout his battle cry
and crush all his enemies.

14 He will say, “I have long been silent;
yes, I have restrained myself.
But now, like a woman in labor,
I will cry and groan and pant.
15 I will level the mountains and hills
and blight all their greenery.
I will turn the rivers into dry land
and will dry up all the pools.
16 I will lead blind Israel down a new path,
guiding them along an unfamiliar way.
I will brighten the darkness before them
and smooth out the road ahead of them.
Yes, I will indeed do these things;
I will not forsake them.
17 But those who trust in idols,
who say, ‘You are our gods,’
will be turned away in shame.

18 “Listen, you who are deaf!
Look and see, you blind!

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Isaiah 42 – Anna Blanc
[All About Him Music]

The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man
Stirring His zeal and His strength
He will descend with a mighty shout
Displaying the power of His name

Rising before Him in Heaven
The songs on the earth of His bride
Crying aloud for justice
And longing to stand by His side

You are the Lord, that is Your name
Your glory You will not give to another to be praised

Hallelujah to the
King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
Hallelujah
Let the peoples and nations lift up their voice singing

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NT Reading: Hebrews 10:32-39 (NLT)

10:32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.

35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

37 “For in just a little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
38 And my righteous ones will live by faith.
But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

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Savior Of The World – Mack Brock
[Light of the World]

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Prayer: 

Prayer for Steadfast Faith – Christianity.com

Lord God, heavenly Father, we are poor, miserable sinners.
We know your will, but we are too weak to fulfill it.
Our flesh and blood hold us back, and our enemy the devil
will not leave us in peace.

Pour your Holy Spirit in our hearts,
that with steadfast faith
we may cling to your Son Jesus Christ,
find comfort in his passion and death,
believe the forgiveness of sin through him
and in willing obedience to your will
lead holy lives on earth until by your grace
we depart from this world of sorrow
and obtain eternal life;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Amen

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Benediction: 

As the rising sun comes to us each dawn
Shine upon those who live in darkness
That all might know the joy of our salvation
The forgiveness of sins
And your great mercy

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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.