+ 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 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21 (NLT)
Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.
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The Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.
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We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
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Reading: Luke 1:39-45 (NLT)
Visitation, 1528-29 San Michele, Carmignano (Florence)
A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
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Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, our glory lies in praising you; come to save us, and we shall bless your name. Through faith you have already led us into light; may our lives be worthy of your call.
Lord Jesus, you entered our world and shared our condition; bring health to the sick and give the dying a share in your glory. Come, Lord, do not delay.
In your goodness, Lord Jesus, listen to your people’s prayer. We rejoice in your coming in flesh and blood like ours, grant that when you come again in glory we may receive the gift of eternal life.
We ask this in your name. Amen
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“What Joy” – Sarah Emerson
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Blessing
Make your heart ready for the King of Glory to come in. Pray: come dwell in me 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 24:1-6 (NLT)
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.
Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?
Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.
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Reading: Luke 1:26-38 (NLT)
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
La Anunciación – oil -Francisco Goya (1785)
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.”
Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
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Prayer:
Lord, may your kingdom come!
+ Wake us from our sleep: the day of our salvation is near.
+ Help us to show our repentance by a new way of living.
+ Prepare us for the coming of your Word by opening our hearts to receive him.
+ Help us to overcome our pride, and raise us from the depths of our weakness.
+ Throw down the walls of hatred between nations, clear the way for those who work for peace.
Lord, at the angel’s message Mary, the virgin, became the temple of God and was filled with the light of the Holy Spirit when she received your divine Word. Grant that, after her example, we may humbly and steadfastly follow your will. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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“Ave Maria” – Celtic Woman
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Blessing
Make your heart ready for the King of Glory to come in. Pray: come dwell in me 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 71:3-6, 16-17 (NLT)
Be my rock of safety where I can always hide. Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of cruel oppressors. O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!
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I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. I will tell everyone that you alone are just. O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.
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Reading: Luke 1:5-25 (NLT)
When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.
One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.
Archangel Gabriel Struck Zechariah Mute by Alexander Ivanov, (1824)
While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”
Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.
When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”
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Prayer:
Mighty and Everlasting God: you are my rock and my fortress; you alone are all I need in life and in death.
+ Turn my mind and heart back to you, Lord; send me your light and your truth.
+ Help me to grasp the meaning of your Son’s coming in a way that is personal and profound.
+ Show me your image in even the lowliest of my fellow-men; may I preserve their dignity and honor.
+ Make me your peacemaker; healing the broken bonds of human life by sharing my hope in Christ.
+ Help me to hear your voice through the situations I encounter today; give me a willing obedient spirit.
Deepen my faith, Lord God, as I prepare to celebrate Christmas; may I never be afraid, for you alone are all I need in life and in death. I ask this through Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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“God Alone Is Enough” – David Haas
Let nothing upset you, let nothing startle you.
All things pass; God does not change.
Patience wins all it seeks.
Whoever has God lacks nothing:
God alone is enough.
-St Teresa Avila
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Blessing
Make your heart ready for the King of Glory to come in. Pray: come dwell in me 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.
__________
Reading: Psalm 72:1-4, 7-8, 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. May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful. Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors.
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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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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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Reading: Genesis 49:2, 8-10 (NLT)
“Come and listen, you sons of Jacob; listen to Israel, your father.
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“Judah, your brothers will praise you. You will grasp your enemies by the neck. All your relatives will bow before you. Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor.
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Reading: Matthew 1:1-17 (NLT)
This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:
Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa. Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram. Jehoram was the father of Uzziah. Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah. Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon).
“The Birth of Christ” Gerard van Honthorst, 1622
After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Akim. Akim was the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.
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Prayer:
Sovereign God: In this chaotic and confusing world, we long for justice and righteousness.
+ That both the rich and the poor may be treated fairly
+ That our land may yield prosperity for all
+ That the poor may be defended, and the children of the needy rescued
+ That the godly may flourish
Sovereign God: You have established a royal lineage from Father Abraham through King David to Jesus Messiah.
+ Come and rule in our hearts today
+ Come and rule in our homes and families today
+ Govern our comings and goings, our work and our rest, and all our relationships
+ Establish your Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven that all nations will acknowledge and give you the praise due your name.
May the name of Jesus endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise. Amen.
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“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” – Maranatha Celtic
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Blessing
Make your heart ready for the King of Glory to come in. Pray: come dwell in me 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.
__________
Reading: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7 (NLT)
May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.
_____
May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.
_____
Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.
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Reading: Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8 (NLT)
This is what the Lord says:
“Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and to display my righteousness among you. Blessed are all those who are careful to do this. Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong.
“Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will never let me be part of his people.’ And don’t let the eunuchs say, ‘I’m a dried-up tree with no children and no future.’
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“I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord, who serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my covenant. I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations. For the Sovereign Lord, who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says: I will bring others, too, besides my people Israel.”
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Reading: John 5:33-36 (NLT)
In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.
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Prayer:
Heavenly Father: May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.
+ Remind us of all that you have done for us in the past.
+ Prepare us for all that you have for us in the future.
+ May this Advent and Christmas season refresh our faith and trust in you.
Lord Jesus Christ: May your Kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
+ You are the Sun of Righteousness who comes to heal and rescue us.
+ You are the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to all who love and serve you.
+ May your presence among us, during this Advent and Christmas season, fill your people with joy and may your church become a house of prayer for all nations.
Holy Spirit: May the miracle of the Word made flesh awaken us to the power of your presence among us today.
+ You rain down signs and wonders from above on the old and the young.
+ You come with fire and burn within the souls of all who call on your name.
+ May we surrender to your glory, during this Advent and Christmas season, and become immersed in your mercy and love.
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“Open Heaven” – Hillsong Worship
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Blessing
Make your heart ready for the King of Glory to come in. Pray: come dwell in me and be my peace today.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holly Spirit. Amen!
