Worship In Song : Song List for Each
The Second Sunday in Advent
REFLECTION
This coming Lord’s Day will be the second Sunday in Advent. The season of Advent doesn’t actually include Christmas Day, but leads us to it and so Advent is an entire season of waiting. As the expectation and anticipation of Advent builds, each Sunday we will light candles and read scripture that lead us to the commemoration of that glorious, and even scandalous, event wherein our Redeemer left His heavenly throne and all that was His.
The words of Phil. 2:6-8 lay it out perfectly: “6…though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE
The second candle we light is called the “Bethlehem Candle” or “The Candle of Preparation”. It symbolizes God keeping his promise to send a Savior who would be born in Bethlehem. Preparation means to “get ready”. Help us to be ready to welcome you, O God!
“As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.‘ ~Luke 3:4-6
WORSHIP IN SONG
The central theme of Advent can be found in this hymn. So much waiting, pleading, hope and most of all, rejoicing. We will sing this song each Sunday in Advent to not only remind us of, but lead us into the glorious moment when our Savior first appeared. And, also, to remind us He will come again and make all things new!
O COME, O COME EMMANUEL
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight
O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home
Make safe the way that leads on high
And close the path to misery
GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP AND GIVES US HOPE :: LUKE 1:46-50
Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat
[46] And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, [47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, [48] for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; [49] for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. [50] And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. (ESV)
CONFESSING OUR FAITH :: HEIDELBERG CATECHISM, QUESTIONS 29 & 31
29: Why is the Son of God called “Jesus,” meaning “Savior”?
A. Because he saves us from our sins, and because salvation should not be sought and cannot be found in anyone else.
31: Why is he called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”?
A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who fully reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our deliverance; our only high priest who has delivered us by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us.
GOD’S WORD PREACHED :: MATTHEW 2:1-18
The Message Of Christmas: The Bethlehem Candle (OP)
Bethlehem: God Favors The Weak (South End)
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