THE SEASON OF ADVENT

The Bells

Bells have been used throughout the centuries to call people to worship or to bring them news.  Good news and bad news have been heralded by bells.  When heirs to royalty were born in European countries, bells would peal.  When wars were over, bells would celebrate.  Bells ring when Christians die.  They ring to call us to God’s house.  Today bells ring to call us to remember the birth which is soon to be celebrated among us; that of the King’s heir, our Lord, the Christ.

Advent is a time for Bible study.

Through the Scriptures we can learn how people long ago prepared for the coming of the Messiah.  The Scriptures show the nature of hope that was evident through the response of God’s people, and the faith that stretched forward to reality.

Advent is a time for reflection and understanding.

The prophecies and their fulfillment reveal the true nature of God—the one who gives love, hope, promise, assurance.  We can identify with the birth of a baby, the needs of a new, young mother, and the joy surrounding the arrival of a long-awaited child.

Advent is a time of commitment to Christ.

In spite of materialism…secularism… and humanism… which are so prominent in our world today, a special focus is on Christ, the Savior, during Advent.  The weeks before Christmas are saturated with an attitude and atmosphere of kindness, generosity, and peace. Christians have a great opportunity during the Christmas season to share the truth of the gospel and God’s power to change lives.

Advent is a time for encouragement and preparation..

The coming of the holidays finds many people suffering anxiety, depression, withdrawal, even despair, marking the holidays with major events in their lives that are unpleasant.  As the prophets encouraged the people not to give up waiting for the Messiah, Christians can offer consolation, hope, and encouragement to those in darkness…bringing light to a darkened world.  

Advent is a time for truth.

With the flurry of activities, decorations, and secular celebrations, Christians cannot afford to let the world set the stage for our celebration.  We must lift our voice and take responsibility for the celebration of truth.  Advent enables us to work our way through the distractions of the world and come to Christmas ready to celebrate his birth and commit ourselves to a lifestyle of service to God who alone provides eternal life.

THE CANDLES

The lighting of candles has been a part of religious worship for centuries.  Light has been used by many religious groups to symbolize truth, while darkness has been the universal symbol for evil.

Since Jesus has been referred to as “the light of the world” in the New Testament, the lighting of candles has become an important part of our Christian worship.

When Joseph and Mary presented Jesus in the temple, Simeon referred to the Christ child as “a light to lighten the Gentiles.”  From this statement, church leaders have used candles to symbolize the light of Christ shining throughout a sin-darkened world. 

THE ADVENT WREATH

 Our beautiful tradition of Advent is lighting the candles of the Advent wreath.  The purpose of the wreath is to deepen our understanding of Christmas.  From the first Sunday in Advent to Christmas Eve, the wreath grows in beauty and light as we wait in anticipation of the celebration of Christ’s birth.

Historically, the Advent wreath is traced to pagan sources.  Some believe it originated in Scandinavia.  During the shortest days of the year, people placed lighted candles in a wheel.  They prayed to the god of light to turn the wheel of the earth toward the sun again and lengthen the days.  The custom was adapted by the Christian church to demonstrate how the people dwelling in darkness were so magnificently given light by the Son of God. Advent sets a mood of waiting in the dark, and because light began to gain ascendancy over the darkness when Christ was born, lighting the Advent wreath is a most appropriate and meaningful custom.  

  The candles in the wreath signify God’s Son as the light of the world.  Customarily, there are four candles for the four weeks of Advent, and sometimes a central candle, known as the Christ Candle.  The Advent candles are lighted throughout Advent, but the Christ Candle is not lighted until Christmas Eve.  Traditionally, three Advent candles are blue, blue being the color of hope. These three candles symbolize the coming of Christ from the royal line of David.  A pink candle for the third Sunday symbolizes joy; its use goes back to the Latin Church.  The Christ Candle is white, symbolizing purity.

A progression is noted in the lighting of the candles of the Advent wreath, beginning with the first, symbolizing expectation or of watching for the coming of the Messiah.  The second candle” reminds us that we are involved in a season of preparation for the celebration of the coming of Christ.  Proclamation or rejoicing is the theme of the third candle, as we proclaim that Christ brought joy to the world when he appeared.  The fourth candle tells us to behold the revelation of God’s love for all humankind.  The culmination of the season comes on Christmas Eve, as the Christ candle is lighted.  We join in rejoicing over the fact that the promise of long ago has now been fulfilled.

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY

Have you ever wondered why we talk about the “hanging of the Greens”?  Or why an evergreen is called an evergreen?  And why Christmas greens are traditionally used to emphasize the nativity?  Green represents renewal, new life, freshness, and rebirth.  Plants such as pine, fir, holly, ivy, and mistletoe are called evergreens because they do not die; through the seasons of the year, they remain ever-green. Ever-alive.  It is no wonder then that we deck our sanctuary and halls with evergreens during this Advent season.  Advent is the season of preparation for the coming of the Christ, God’s gift to us of new and eternal life.

 The many legends of the holly include a dark side as well as a brighter side.  It has been said that what was once called the “holy tree” somehow became holly through a corruption of the English language.  Even before the dawn of Christianity, the eternal green leaves of the holly tree gave it an aura of mystery and reverence.  Early Christians believed that the burning bush through which God spoke to Moses was the holly or holy tree.  Many believed that Christ’s crown of thorns was fashioned from holly leaves.  And that after the crown was pressed down on his head, his blood turned the white berries to the red berries we recognize today.

  Ivy, too, is rich in symbolism.  In the Middle Ages, ivy was used extensively for Christmas decorating.  It was considered a symbol of love because of its clinging habit of growth.  Holly and ivy are often associated together in legends because of the holly’s sturdiness and ivy’s tenaciousness.  Both have the incredible ability to survive and to grow.  We decorated our sanctuary with holly and ivy because of their link through the ages with beauty, endurance, and permanence.  How proper for the birth of the one who offers each of us life beyond death.

THE POINSETTIA

The most popular flower of the Advent-Christmas season is the bright red poinsettia.  Actually, the red petals are not the blossoms; they are the small yellow clusters found at the center.  Somehow the red and green leaves of the plant give to Christmas an added touch that would not be the same without them.  This attractive flower was discovered growing wild in Mexico by Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett.  In Mexico the plant was referred to as the Flower of the Holy Night.  This beautiful flower speaks to us symbolically in several ways.  The Bethlehem star shone over the manger where Jesus was born.  Its light so bright the earth responded, reflecting that star light, mirroring that star light with a beautiful star-shape and can be radiant shaped pure white petals with golden centers.  It grew on earth as a creation of glory.  In less joyous sense, the color of the flower can be blood red.  This reminds us of the blood of the male infants killed by Roman soldiers as King Herod sought to eliminate any threat to his throne.  We sometimes forget this part of the story which made the trip of Mary, Joseph, and Christ child to Egypt a necessity.  The color of the flower also symbolized the fact that the Babe of Bethlehem’s manger became the Savior of the world, as he shed his blood upon the cross of Calvary.

THE BANNERS

Our church has special banners for the Advent season.  The one by the organ shows the four candles for the four Sundays in Advent.  The cross, the red berries, and the thorns of holly leaves bring to mind the suffering of Jesus when He shed His blood for the forgiveness of sins.  The side banners depict the Christmas Angel heralding the birth of Christ.  The seven stars show that Christ’s salvation had come to all.The center banner shows the rays from the star forming the manger.  The crown resting in the manger represents the newborn King and the kings who came to honor Him.  Violet is the color of royalty.  The third large banner on the side depicts Bethlehem.  The three stars suggest the travel of the three Wise Men traveling by the stars guidance to see the newborn King.  The repetition of the three stars and three crosses symbolizes the Trinity.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

 The evergreen tree has been a symbol for Christmas and the center of holiday festivities for many years.  The green color of the tree symbolizes growth; it also represents everlasting life in the midst of winter.   It is hard to tell just when the use of a tree at the Christmas season began.  However, it was probably first used in Scandinavia.  Records tell of its use there in the eighth century, when St. Boniface persuaded the Druids to replace the oak tree of their pagan ceremonies with a fir tree that symbolized eternal life.  The most famous story about the early use of the evergreen tree indoors for Christmas centers around Martin Luther.  He brought a fir tree indoors and illuminated it with candles to remind children of the light Jesus Christ brought into the world.  The Christmas tree tradition gained popularity when Prince Albert, husband of England’s Queen Victoria, installed a lighted tree in Windsor Castle in 1841.  The tree, trimmed with cookies, candies, and glass figurines, became the centerpiece of the royal family’s holiday celebration.  The custom quickly spread throughout England and to America.

The Chrismons

Many of the decorations we place on the Christmas tree symbolize various aspects of our Christian faith.  These decorations are called Chrismons.  Chrismon is a combination of two words: Christ and Monogram.  A Chrismon is a symbol of Christ.

Chrismons were first used in 1957 to decorate a Christmas tree in the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Danville, Virginia.  They were composed of white and gold materials.  White is symbolic of our Lord’s purity and perfection, Gold of his majesty, glory and triumph.  

Our Chrismons were made when Pastor Bear was our Pastor.  They were made with love and great care by the women of Messiah and with care have lasted a long time.  

In Conclusion:

Martin Luther once said: “There are some of us …who think to ourselves, “If I had only been there! How quick I would have been to help the Baby.  I would have washed his linen.  How happy I would have been to go with the shepherds to see the Lord lying in the manger!”  Yes, we would.  We say that because we know how great Christ is.  But if we had been there at that time, we would have done no better than the people of Bethlehem.  

Advent is the going toward greater love among people.  Advent is the going toward greater peace and harmony among people.  Advent is the going toward, as the carol says, “the dawn of God’s redeeming grace.”  This is an Advent for each of us.  We stand at the threshold of decision.  We can be faithful observers of a birthday that occurred over 2000 years ago – or we can be loving servants to the Christ who walks among us today

Bible Readings November 30, 2020 – December, 2020

November 29, 2020 First Sunday of Advent

Stir up your power, and come!  The psalmist’s plea in Psalm 80:2 has become familiar to us in the Advent prayers.  Isaiah wants God to rip the heavens open.  Both cry out for an apparently distant, angry God to show up, to save, and to restore.  When we hear Jesus describing the coming of the Son of Man with stars falling from heaven, it can sound dire and horrible, not like anything we would ever hope for.  But when we really look at the suffering of people God loves, we can share the hope God would tear open the heavens and come.

Opening Prayer 

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection awaken us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and keep us blameless unto the coming of your new day, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen

The Old Testament Reading---Isaiah 64:1-9

This lament comes from a people who have had their hopes shattered.  The visions of a rebuilt Jerusalem and a renewed people of God, spoken of in Isaiah 40-55, have not been realized.  Instead, the people experience ruin, conflict, and famine.  This lament calls God to account—to be the God who has brought deliverance in the past.

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence— ²as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! ³When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. ⁴From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. ⁵You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. 

⁶We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. ⁷There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. ⁸Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. ⁹Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people. 

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

¹Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock!

 You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth 

²before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. 

Stir up your might, and come to save us! 

³Restore us, O God; let your face shine,

 that we may be saved. 

⁴O Lord God of hosts,

 how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? 

⁵You have fed them with the bread of tears, 

and given them tears to drink in full measure. 

⁶You make us the scorn of our neighbors;

 our enemies laugh among themselves. 

⁷Restore us, O God of hosts;

 let your face shine, that we may be saved. 

¹⁷But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,

 the one whom you made strong for yourself. 

¹⁸Then we will never turn back from you;

 give us life, and we will call on your name. 

¹⁹Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;

 let your face shine, that we may be saved. 

The New Testament Reading---1 Corinthians 1:3-9

As the Christians in Corinth await the advent of Jesus, Paul reminds them how the Lord has already enriched them through spiritual gifts and will continue to strengthen them until the coming day of the Lord.

³Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— ⁶just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— ⁷so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Gospel Reading---Mark 13:24-37

In today’s reading, Jesus encourages his followers to look forward to the day when he returns in power and glory to end all suffering.

²⁴“But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,
²⁵and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

²⁶Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. ²⁷Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 

²⁸“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁰Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. ³¹Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ³²“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. ³⁵Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, ³⁶or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. ³⁷And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” 

December 6, 2020 Second Sunday of Advent

John called people to repent, to clear the decks, to completely reorder their lives so that nothing would get in the way of the Lord’s coming.  The reading from Isaiah gives the context for this radical call: the assurance of forgiveness that encourages us to repent; the promise that the coming one will be gentle with the little ones.  Isaiah calls us all to be heralds with John, to lift up our voices fearlessly and say, “See, your God is coming!”  We say it to one another in worship in order to say it with our lives in a world in need of justice and peace.

 

     Prayer of the Day

Congregation:  Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son.  By his coming strengthen us to serve you with purified lives; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.   Amen

 

The Old Testament Reading---Isaiah 40:1-11

In grand, flowing, poetic lines, the prophet announces that the exile of God’s people in Babylon is over.  The Lord will deliver Israel and will care for her as a shepherd cares for his sheep.  This word can be trusted, because the only enduring reality in life is the word of the Lord.

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. ²Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 

³A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. ⁴Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. ⁵Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” ⁶A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. ⁷The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. ⁸The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. ⁹Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” ¹⁰See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. ¹¹He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep. 

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

¹Lord, you were favorable to your land; 

you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 

²You forgave the iniquity of your people; 

you pardoned all their sin.  

⁸Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people,

 to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. 

⁹Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,

 that his glory may dwell in our land. 

¹⁰Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;

 righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 

¹¹Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,

 and righteousness will look down from the sky. 

¹²The Lord will give what is good

and our land will yield its increase. 

¹³Righteousness will go before him,

 and will make a path for his steps. 

The New Testament Reading---2 Peter 3:8-15a

This short letter deals with pressing concerns regarding the final advent of Jesus, especially concerns that could arise over                 its apparent delay.  The author of the letter calls on Christians to anticipate the promised coming of the Lord through                 conduct dedicated to God.

⁸But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. ⁹The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. ¹¹Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, ¹²waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? ¹³But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. ¹⁴Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; ¹⁵and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. 

The Gospel Reading---Mark 1:1-8

The Gospel of Mark does not begin with a story of Jesus’ Christians to anticipate the promised coming of the Lord through conduct dedicated to God.

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 

²As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; ³the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”

⁴John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

December 13, 2020 Third Sunday of Advent

“Rejoice always,” begins the reading from First Thessalonians.  Isaiah and the psalmist 

make clear that God is turning our mourning into laughter and shouts of joy.  “All God’s 

children got a robe, “go the words of the spiritual.  It is not so much a stately, formal, pressed

 outfit as it is a set of party clothes that make us feel happy just to put on.  We receive that robe

 in baptism, and in worship we gather for a foretaste of God’s party.

 

 

     Prayer of the Day

Congregation:  Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the words of your prophets, that, anointed by your Spirit, we may testify to your light; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.  Amen 

 

The Old Testament Reading---Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

Though the people had returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon, they continued to face hardship and oppression.  In the language of the jubilee year described in Leviticus 25, the prophet, moved by the spirit of the Lord, announces deliverance for those who are oppressed and comfort for those who mourn.

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; ²to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; ³to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. ⁴They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

 ⁸For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. ⁹Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. ¹⁰I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ¹¹For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 

Psalm 126

¹When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, 

we were like those who dream. 

²Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; 

then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 

³The Lord has done great things for us, 

and we rejoiced. 

⁴Restore our fortunes, O Lord, 

like the watercourses in the Negeb. 

⁵May those who sow in tears

 reap with shouts of joy. 

⁶Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,

 shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves. 

The New Testament Reading---1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Paul concludes his letter to the Thessalonians by encouraging them to live lives of continual joy, prayer, and thanksgiving.  The closing blessing is grounded in the hope of Christ’s coming.

¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise the words of prophets, ²¹but test everything; hold fast to what is good; ²²abstain from every form of evil. ²³May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. 

The Gospel Reading---John 1:6-8, 19-28

John’s gospel describes Jesus as the “light of the world.”  John the Baptist is presented as a witness to Jesus, one who directs attention away from himself to Christ, the true light.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 

¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²²Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. ²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” ²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” ²⁸This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing. 

December 20, 2020 Fourth Sunday of Advent

God keeps the promise made to David, to give him an everlasting throne.  The angel tells Mary that God will give David’s throne to her son Jesus.  She is perplexed by Gabriel's greeting and by the news of her coming pregnancy, but she is able still to say, “Count me in.”  We who know that Jesus is called king only as he is executed still find it a mystery hard to fathom, but with Mary today we hear the news of what God is up to and say, “Count us in.”

 

Prayer of the Day

Congregation:  Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.  With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that would obstruct your mercy, that willingly we may bear your redeeming love to all the world, for you live reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

 

The Old Testament Reading---2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Instead of David building a house (temple) for the Lord, the Lord promises to establish David’s house (dynasty) forever.  Centuries later, after the Babylonian exile, no king sat on the throne.  Even then, however, the people of Israel remembered this promise and continued to hope for a king, the messiah, the Lord’s anointed.

Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, ²the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” ³Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.” 

⁴But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: ⁵Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? ⁶I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. ⁷Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ⁸Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; ⁹and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. ¹⁰And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, ¹¹from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. ¹⁶Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever

Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26

¹I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever;

 with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. 

²I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; 

your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. 

³You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David: 

⁴‘I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.’”    

¹⁹Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said: 

“I have set the crown on one who is mighty, I have exalted one chosen from the people. 

²⁰I have found my servant David;

 with my holy oil I have anointed him; 

²¹my hand shall always remain with him;

 my arm also shall strengthen him. 

²²The enemy shall not outwit him, 

the wicked shall not humble him. 

²³I will crush his foes before him

 and strike down those who hate him. 

²⁴My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him;

 and in my name his horn shall be exalted. 

²⁵I will set his hand on the sea

 and his right hand on the rivers. 

²⁶He shall cry to me,

 ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’ 

The New Testament Reading---Romans 16:25-27

Paul closes his letter to Romans by praising God because in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ God has revealed the promised, divine plan of salvation for all humanity.  Paul proclaims this gospel of Christ in order to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations.

²⁵Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages ²⁶but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— ²⁷to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

The Gospel Reading---Luke 1:26-38

In this annunciation, Luke makes clear that God comes with good news for ordinary people 9mary) from  little-known places (Nazareth).  This king will not be born to royalty in a palace, but to common folk in a stall.  Here Luke highlights the role of the Spirit, a special emphasis in his gospel.

²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³²He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. ³⁶And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

December 24, 2020 Christmas Eve

In winter’s deepest night, we welcome the light of the Christ child.  Isaiah declares the light of the      long-promised king will illumine the world and bring endless peace and justice.  Paul reminds us the grace of God through Jesus Christ brings salvation to all people.  The angels declare that Jesus’ birth     is good and joyful news for everyone, including lowly shepherds.  Filled with the light that shines in our lives, we go forth to share the light of Christ with the whole world.

Prayer of the Day

Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light.  Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus’ presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

The Old Testament Reading---Isaiah 9:2-7

This poem promises deliverance from Assyrian oppression, a hope base on the birth of a royal child with a name full of promise.  While Judah’s king will practice justice and righteousness,   The real basis for faith lies in God’s passion for the people: The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this!

²The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. ³You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. ⁴For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. ⁵For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. ⁶For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Psalm 96

¹O sing to the Lord a new song;

 sing to the Lord, all the earth. 

²Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

 tell of his salvation from day to day. 

³Declare his glory among the nations,

 his marvelous works among all the peoples. 

⁴For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

 he is to be revered above all gods. 

⁵For all the gods of the peoples are idols, 

but the Lord made the heavens. 

⁶Honor and majesty are before him;

 strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 

⁷Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

 ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 

⁸Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

 bring an offering, and come into his courts. 

⁹Worship the Lord in holy splendor;

 tremble before him, all the earth. 

¹⁰Say among the nations, “The Lord is king! The world is firmly established;

 it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.” 

¹¹Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; 

let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 

¹²let the field exult, and everything in it. 

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 

¹³before the Lord; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. 

He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth. 

The New Testament Reading---Titus 2:11-14

The appearance of God’s grace in Jesus Christ brings salvation for all humanity.  Consequently, in the present we live wisely and justly while also anticipating the hope of our Savior’s final appearance.

¹¹ The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, ¹²training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, ¹³while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. ¹⁴He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

The Gospel Reading---Luke 2:1-20

God’s greatest gift comes as a baby in a manger.  Angels announce the “good news of great joy” and proclaim God’s

 blessing of peace.

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. ⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. ⁸In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” ¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 

December 25, 2020 Christmas Day   The Nativity of Our Lord

As on the first day of creation, on this Christmas Day the Word illumines the world, shining for to bring all things into being.  Today we celebrate the incarnate Word, God becoming flesh to live among us in the person of Jesus Christ then and now.  Emboldened by the good news of Christ’s birth, along with the shepherds, Mary and Joseph, and all witnesses to the light of Christ, we declare to the world that we have indeed seen and been transformed by the arrival of “the salvation of our God.”  O come, let us adore!

Prayer of the Day

All-powerful and unseen God, the coming of your light into our world has brightened weary hearts with peace.  Call us out of darkness, and empower us to proclaim the birth of you Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

The Old Testament Reading---Isaiah 62:6-12

The prophet invites the people to give God no rest until God reestablishes Jerusalem.  In turn, they will receive names full of promise: Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord, a City Not Forsaken.

⁶Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted sentinels; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest, ⁷and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it renowned throughout the earth. ⁸The Lord has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink the wine for which you have labored; ⁹but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the Lord, and those who gather it shall drink it in my holy courts. 

¹⁰Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples. ¹¹The Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, “See, your salvation comes; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.” ¹²They shall be called, “The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord”; and you shall be called, “Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.” 

Psalm 97

¹The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice;

 let the many coastlands be glad! 

²Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;

 righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 

³Fire goes before him, 

and consumes his adversaries on every side. 

⁴His lightnings light up the world; 

the earth sees and trembles. 

⁵The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,

 before the Lord of all the earth. 

⁶The heavens proclaim his righteousness;

 and all the peoples behold his glory. 

⁷All worshipers of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols;

 all gods bow down before him. 

⁸Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice,

 because of your judgments, O God. 

⁹For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;

 you are exalted far above all gods. 

¹⁰The Lord loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful;

 he rescues them from the hand of the wicked. 

¹¹Light dawns for the righteous,

 and joy for the upright in heart. 

¹²Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, 

and give thanks to his holy name! 

The New Testament Reading---Titus 3:4-7

God saves us not because o what we do.  Rather, God is a God of mercy and salvation who graciously cleanses us in baptism and renews our lives through the Holy Spirit.

⁴When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The Gospel Reading---Luke 2:1-20

The world’s deep night is shattered by the light of God’s new day.  The glory of God is revealed to poor shepherds,

 who share the good news with others.

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. ⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. ⁸In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” ¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 

December 27, 2020 First Sunday of Christmas 

The psalmist calls on the natural wolrd, celectial bodies, fire and earth, creatures, and all humanity, to praise God,  The voices of Simeon and 84-year-old Anna join the chorus today, recognizing what God is doing in Jesus.  Simeon’s song is often sung after communion, for we have seen God’s salvation in the assembled community and have held Jesus in our hands in the bread.  Then, like the prophet Anna, we tell of Jesus to all who look for the healing of the world.

 

 Prayer of the Day

Congregation:  Almighty God, you wonderfully created the dignity of human nature and yet more wonderfully restored it.  In your mercy, let us share the divine life of the one who came to share our humanity, Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.   Amen 

 

The Old Testament Reading---Isaiah 61:10--62:3

To the people who returned to Jerusalem after the exile, the prophet proclaims that the Lord’s salvation will fully come to pass.  Jerusalem will become a shining light to the nations and righteousness and praise will spring up as surely as the earth puts forth vegetation.

¹⁰I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ¹¹For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. ²The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. ³You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 

Psalm 148

¹Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens;

 praise him in the heights! 

²Praise him, all his angels; 

praise him, all his host! 

³Praise him, sun and moon; 

praise him, all you shining stars! 

⁴Praise him, you highest heavens, 

and you waters above the heavens! 

⁵Let them praise the name of the Lord,

 for he commanded and they were created. 

⁶He established them forever and ever; 

he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. 

⁷Praise the Lord from the earth, 

you sea monsters and all deeps, 

⁸fire and hail, snow and frost,

 stormy wind fulfilling his command! 

⁹Mountains and all hills,

 fruit trees and all cedars! 

¹⁰Wild animals and all cattle, 

creeping things and flying birds! 

¹¹Kings of the earth and all peoples,

 princes and all rulers of the earth! 

¹²Young men and women alike, 

old and young together! 

¹³Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted;

 his glory is above earth and heaven. 

¹⁴He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful,

 for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord! 

The New Testament Reading---Galatians 4:4-7

Paul seeks to show the Galatians that the purpose of Christ’s birth was to liberate us from the law’s condemnation so that we would be fully adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters.

⁴When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. ⁶And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

The Gospel Reading---Luke 2:22-40

Luke’s narrative continues with stories that emphasize Jesus’ connection to Judaism.  His family is devout in its observance of the law, and Jesus himself is recognized as one who will bring glory to Israel.

²²When the time came for Joseph and Mary’s purification according to the law of Moses, they brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), ²⁴and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 

²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. ²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, ²⁸Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ²⁹“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; ³⁰for my eyes have seen your salvation, ³¹which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” ³³And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed ³⁵so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” ³⁶There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. ³⁹When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.