The Season of Advent | 1st Wednesday 06 Dec 2023

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

Opening:

Almighty God, give us grace
to cast away the works of darkness,
and put on the armor of light,
now in the time of this mortal life in which
your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility;
that in the last day, when he shall come again
in his glorious majesty
to judge both the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.

“They will live in safety
because his greatness will reach the ends of the earth.
This man will be their peace.”
(Micah 5:4b-5a)

__________

From Psalms: Psalm 79 – Poor Bishop Hooper

oh god the nations have come and taken
your chosen land your possession
jerusalem lies heaped in ruins
your holy temple in defilement
they have left the bodies of your servants
as food for the birds of the heavens

blood has flowed like water all around
blood has flowed like water all around

how long oh lord will you be angry
how long will your jealousy burn
pour out your wrath upon the nations
who stubbornly refuse to call your name

let compassion come and meet with us
let compassion come and meet with us

help us o god help us
help us o god help us
save us o god save us
help us o god help us

for the glory of your name for the honor of your name
forgive our sins
hear the groaning of the prisoner demonstrate to your power
and save the doomed
payback sevenfold those that taunt and scorn
and we your people
will give thanks to you

_________

OT Reading: Micah 5:1-5a (GW)

5:1 Now, gather your troops, you city of troops.
We are under attack.
Enemies will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek with a stick.

The Lord’s Leader for Israel

5:2 You, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are too small to be included among Judah’s cities.
Yet, from you Israel’s future ruler will come for me.
His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago.
That is why the Lord will abandon Israel
until the time a mother has a child.
Then the rest of the Lord’s people will return to the people of Israel.
The child will become the shepherd of his flock.
⌞He will lead them⌟ with the strength of the Lord,
with the majestic name of the Lord his God.
They will live in safety
because his greatness will reach the ends of the earth.
This man will be their peace.

__________

“My Peace Is Jesus” – Shelly E. Johnson Music

The world sings a siren song
A symphony of chaos
Inviting me to sing along
With melodies of madness
Oh, but groaning in the madness is

Peace, peace
Oh, Your Name is peace over me
Peace, peace
Oh, Your Name is peace over me

You’re whispering into my night
I’m frozen in the stillness
This captivating lullaby
Is where my fear is silenced
Oh, my every fear is silenced with

__________

NT Reading: Luke 21:34-38 (GW)

No One Knows When the Earth and the Heavens Will Disappear

21:34 “Make sure that you don’t become drunk, hung over, and worried about life. Then that day could suddenly catch you by surprise like a trap that catches a bird. That day will surprise all people who live on the earth. Be alert at all times. Pray so that you have the power to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand in front of the Son of Man.”

During the day Jesus would teach in the temple courtyard. But at night he would go to the Mount of Olives (as it was called) and spend the night there. All of the people would get up early to hear him speak in the temple courtyard.

__________

Come, Lord Jesus, Come –  The Worship Initiative (My Walk With God)

__________
Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: Kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all people in the Holy Land the true love of peace, and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth concerning the war; that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Set free the hostages, and deliver from bondage every person captivated by the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And finally, grant heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically and diplomatically, as well as those who will restore Israel spiritually, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. 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.