Day 262 | Sunday, 6 December 2020

Day 262 - Audio Version

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Day 262 | Sunday, 6 December 2020

Holy Communion available today.

 The assigned Scripture readings for this the Second Sunday in Advent are: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a and Mark 1:1-8.

 Isiah 40:1-11 NRSV
 “1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  4 Every 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. 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."  6 A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.  7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people is grass.  8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever.  9 Get 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, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" 10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”

 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
Stanza 3. 
“O come, o come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. 
Rejoice!  Rejoice! Emmanuel
       shall come to thee, O Israel.”

Antiphon 3 – “O ADONAI and Leader of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flames of the bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come, and with your outstretched arm redeem us.”

 “Advent: Walking toward Bethlehem, listening every step of the way for the sound of our name, for the announcement that we have found favor with God.  Walking toward Bethlehem, watching every step of the way for a new star in the sky, for guidance in our daily lives.  Walking toward Bethlehem, sensing we are not alone. Angels are all around us. The prayers of saints surround us. Walking toward Bethlehem, hoping we shall find a baby in a manger: a simple sign that God loves us still and reason enough to sing God's praise.”

 Advent Invocation: “Gracious God, in desiring to clear a path to our hearts, you convict us with the prophets' harsh words or free us with words of comfort. Open our hearts this day to hear the words we need to hear, that we may find ourselves home with you. Amen.”

 Advent Confession: “Promised Savior, before we celebrate your birth, we confront the hard words of John the Baptist. He wants to prepare our hearts and lives, wants to set us on fire.

Promised One, we go through these days without much spark – swamped by demanding lists, overbooked calendars and hard-to-meet expectations. The whirl and blur of the season threatens to snuff out joy. We find ourselves with the energy and excitement of leftovers, giving less than our best prayers, weary compassion and anxious worry.

  Promised Redeemer, hold us gently through the season, and may our light be bright and our prayers steady. Amen.”
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 “People, Look East” stanza 3. “Stars, keep the watch.  When night is dim, one more light the bowl shall brim, shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as sun and moon together.  People, look east: Love, the Star, is on the way.”