Tag: Joy to the World

2nd Sunday of Advent, 06 December: Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126:1-6; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6 ~ make a pathway for joy

aySecond Sunday of Advent

Our time of waiting continues as we prepare a pathway for the Lord.

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

Opening Prayer:

God of our salvation, You straighten the winding ways of our hearts and smooth the paths made rough by sin. Make our conduct blameless, keep our hearts watchful in holiness, and bring to perfection the good You have begun in us. 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.
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Hymn: “Joy to the World (unspeakable Joy)” – Chris Tomlin


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A Reading from the Apocrypha: Baruch 5:1-9 (NRSVCE)
[Baruch looks to the day when God will guide all people, bringing them joy.]

Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting; for God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven. For God will give you evermore the name, “Righteous Peace, Godly Glory.”

joy-to-the-world1

Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height; look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. For they went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne. For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God’s command. For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 126 (NLT)

When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”

Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy! Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.
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“Shir Ha Ma’alot – Song of Ascents (Psalm 126)” – New Messianic Songs


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A Reading from the Letters: Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 (NLT)
[Paul encourages the people of Philippi, and tells them to prepare inwardly for the ‘Day of Christ Jesus’.]

Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
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God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation — the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ — for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 3:1-6 (NLT)
[John the Baptist’s words and actions remind the people of Isaiah’s call to repentance.]

RepentancePathwayToJoy

It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas was ruler over Galilee; his brother Philip was ruler over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was ruler over Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. Isaiah had spoken of 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! The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.’”
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Hymn: “Prepare The Way” – Terry MacAlmon

Prepare the way | Make straight the path for Him | Let the King of Glory enter in | Let the King of Glory enter in

Who is this King of Glory? | The Lord, strong and mighty | The Lord mighty to save | The earth is full of His Glory | Creation calls: Prepare the way | His love endures forever | His power is without an end | His strength is victory present | Let all who call on Him | Prepare the way
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Intercessions:

Lord God: What amazing things You have done for us. As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth in humility, may we also prepare for Christ’s return in glory. Lord, hear us.

+ Remember Your people and move with righteous power throughout the world – that all believers may walk safely in the glory of Your presence…. Lord, hear us.
+ Comfort Your people, especially those of us suffering from the death and destruction of terrorism – protect us and deliver us from evil…. Lord, hear us.
+ Raise up those of us who are burdened and weighed down by our troubles – that we may know with certainty that justice and righteousness will prevail when Christ returns…. Lord, hear us.
+ Make straight the twists and turns in our lives, smooth out the rough places – that we may be witnesses to the salvation in Christ that You have already sent us…. Lord, hear us.
+ Fill us with the knowledge and understanding of what really matters – that we live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return…. Lord, hear us.
+ Produce in us the fruit of Your salvation, the righteous character produced in our lives by Jesus Christ — that we may bring You much glory and praise.
+ Give us complete confidence – that You will finish in us the good work You have already begun when Christ Jesus returns…. Lord, hear us.

Everlasting God, Your kindness fills us with expectation. Lead us with joy, in the light of Your glory, with the mercy and righteousness that comes from You. Hear us and help us in our needs, we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Hymn: “Everlasting God” (Chris Tomlin)


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Benediction:

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (Revelation 22:20-21)

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

Morning Prayer for Christmas Day: Isaiah 62:11-12; Psalm 97:1, 6, 11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20 ~ joy to the world

Morning Prayer

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

Opening sentence

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King.

Morning readings

Isaiah 62:11-12 NLT:

The Lord has sent this message to every land: “Tell the people of Israel, ‘Look, your Savior is coming. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”

They will be called “The Holy People” and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.” And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place” and “The City No Longer Forsaken.”

joy-to-the-world1Psalm 97:1, 6, 11-12 NLT:

The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice! Let the farthest coastlands be glad.
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The heavens proclaim his righteousness; every nation sees his glory.
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Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right. May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord and praise his holy name!

Titus 3:4-7 NLT

“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

Luke 1:67-79 NLT:

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Reflection/Prayer: Celtic Readings

Hail to the King. Blessed is He.
Let there be joy!

The peace of earth to Him; the joy of heaven to Him.

The homage of a King be His, King of all victory; the welcome of a Lamb be His, Lamb of all glory: the Son of glory down from on high.
Let there be joy!

Deep in the night the voice of the waves on the shore announced to us: Christ is born! Son of the Kings of kings from the land of salvation, the mountains glowed to Him, the plains glowed to Him, then shone the sun on the mountains high to Him.
Let there be joy!

God the Lord has opened a Door. Christ of hope. Door of joy! Son of Mary, hasten Thou to help me:

In me, Lord Christ, let there be joy.

Canticle

Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

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

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Peanut Gallery: The Morning Prayer readings are from the USCCB Daily Readings and the format from the Daily Office of the Northumbrian Community as available online here… and in the book form, Celtic Daily Prayer available on Amazon.com. The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you.

Christmas Reading & Carol: Galatians 4.4-7 NLT – “Joy to the World – Unspeakable Joy” (YouTube)

Abba-Father_color_550Galatians 4.4-7 NLT

“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”
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“Joy to the World” – Isaac Watts (1719)
Unspeakable Joy adaptation by Chris Tomlin

Christmas Carols- Joy to the World

Carols: A Christmas Devotional
Joy To The World

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King.

Isaac Watts wrote “”Joy to the World” in 1719. Since then, every Christmas season, carolers cast those words into the air like a lifeline out into the ocean of humanity. And every “”fish” surely finds something inviting and worth nibbling at. The thrill of hope within the message spools out to touch a weary world with anticipation of tasting something really good!

Joy came to the world because God our great Creator loved His creation so much that He sent His Son to reveal His story, and so that over time, His character and ultimate good will toward mankind would be recognized. The impact on earth of Christ’s birth will never diminish despite enemies’ attempts to stop it. John 21:25 says that the world would not be able to contain the books that could be written about what the Lord did while on earth. Since then many more testimonies of His transforming love have been and will be written.

Nehemiah 8 records that Nehemiah, the leaders and the people celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles with great joy, after sharing God’s Word. Rejoice in God’s Word and thoughts of the Savior’s birth, His purpose and His inheritance.

What do you plan on rejoicing about during this Christmas season?