Advent Season | Monday 23 Dec 2024

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

Opening:

Stir up your power, O Lord,
and with great might come among us;
and as we are sorely hindered by our sins
from running the race that is set before us,
let your bountiful grace and mercy
speedily help and deliver us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

“In him all the fullness of God
was pleased to dwell.”
(Colossians 1:19)

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From the Psalms: Psalm 113 / Royalty | Mike Janzen

1. And He lifts the poor from the dusty streets
And He pulls the weak from the ashen heap
To be royalty
To be called His sons and daughters

2. And He makes a way through the longing years
In a bottle gathers up our tears
And He makes a home
For the homeless, lost and forgotten

Chorus. From the rising sun
Till the setting of our days
May the name of the Lord be praised
Generous we give
With the lavish love of Christ
Then the name of the Lord is praised

3. And He brings the poor to the kingdom feast
And He gives the sinner the honoured seat
He restores the weak
Bring dignity to the fallen

4. And He holds the sick till they’re on their feet
And He puts the lonely in families
To be loved and love
To be friends and heirs in his kingdom

Bridge. This is the heart, this is the way, this is the love of Christ
This is Your throne, this is the seat where mercy topples might
Nothing too great, no one too small
This is the heartbeat of His call

This is the heart of God
This is the heart of God
This is the heart of God

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OT Reading: Genesis 25:19-28 (ESV)

The Birth of Esau and Jacob

25:19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the older shall serve the younger.”

When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

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Behold – Come let us Adore Him | Hebrew – Arabic – English | Worship From Jerusalem

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NT Reading: Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)  

The Preeminence of Christ

1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

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Above All – Natashia Midori (Maranatha Indonesia)

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, you made us in your own image, and you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices; that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path we may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May the Lord, when he comes,
find us watching and waiting.

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