As we were unable to have worship at Hope due to weather concerns, I am posting the summary of the elements of today's worship service. May you join your heart and voice with mine as we worship our God and the Child who is King!
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Advent IV
*Be silent as you prepare to receive the WORD...O Come Thou Dayspring, Come. Emmanuel...God is with us.
*The Word is brought forward to remind us, Christ has come, Christ is coming again. All of the Advent Candles are lit, save for the Christ Candle.
*Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. Grace mercy and peace to you from God our Father and his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ!
*O Come, Desire of Nations, bind All peoples in one heart and mind. Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
*Good Christian Friends, Rejoice with heart and soul and voice; Give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today!
*Psalm 80: Hear us, Shepherd of Israel...Awaken your might; come and save us. Restore us Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us that we may be saved.
*Matthew 1:18-25; The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
*Thou Didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown when thou camest to earth for me. O come to my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee!
*Father, we confess that we have failed to see the signs; that we have put our own spin on your signs of peace. Amen.
Friends, your sins are forgiven today, from the cradle to the cross the sign of peace is carried to your heart. Now, go and bring signs of peace to your neighbor.
*We worship again Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. Bring a friend who is seeking the calm promise of Christmas Eve as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
*We pray this day for safe travel; for healing; for a healing presence among the people of Hope; for the message of peace to heal strife-torn places. We pray that Christ, the Blessed Child, the Risen King, would be praised in the darkest places. Let your light shine upon us, Emmanuel! We pray with Christ, Our Father....
*Isaiah 7:10-16; The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
*Sermon: Signs of Peace
King Ahaz was troubled as his enemies came to de-throne him and destroy Judah. He fancied he should submit to the invading enemy. But, Isaiah offered a solution: ask God for a sign that he will bring peace! Ask for any sign, from the heights of heaven to the depths of hell. But Ahaz was too proud, too fearful, to seek a sign from God. He, the king, would provide the solution. So, God sends a sign anyway, "the virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us). God was with the remnant of Judah, but Ahaz and his nation were defeated.
What troubles stare you in the face today? Where are you looking for solutions? Where do you seek peace? God is sending you a sign this day. Will you see it? Will you seek to understand the beauty of this simple and amazing sign: God sent his son to take on your flesh and to live in your heart. God is with you. Do you see the sign? God will conquer your enemies if you will receive the sign of peace.
A sign does not create faith though. God still expects you to step forward in faith. God expects you to trust him in your journey. Where do you need to trust God's direction by faith today? Then, after you step forward in faith, God will send you a sign to confirm that your faith was well-placed.
Joseph doubted whether to stay with Mary, the mother of the miraculously conceived child. But, he was reminded, this pregnancy is the will and act of God. So, he married the young girl, the virgin mother. And so, the sign of peace given to Ahaz was lifted up again: God is with us. Trust God to make a way.
As it was with Joseph, so it is with us: do we hear the angel speak; do we trust the Spirit's action? If so, then God will send a sign to confirm God, this is of God.
Jesus is with us. Now, and in the hour of our death, and then in the hour of our new birth. Look for the signs of peace that confirm Jesus is here: 5000 meals offered in First Hope Meals. 5000 hours of companionship and prayer for our Kids Hope kids. Mary Justus starts a little wave of peace-giving, one person at a time.
There are signs of peace all around us. Will we be blind, like Ahaz, and trust our worst enemy? Or will we be faithful, like Joseph, trusting that God knows what he is doing in your life, and that whatever it is, and wherever it takes you, God is with us. Look for the sign of peace in your life this week. God is with you! Amen.
*I heard the bells on Christmas Day: God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men."
*The Lord Bless you and Keep you; Accept God's Love; Be confident in your faith and hope; and Carry the Light of the Cross. And on this final Sunday of Advent, let there be peace on earth and let it begin with....
*Let There Be Peace on Earth
AMEN and AMEN!!
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