Fourth Sunday of Advent

-

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Sunday, December 22, 2019

Readings:
Lesson: Isaiah 32:1-8
Psalm: 145
Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Gospel: John 3:25-36

ADORATION
Everlasting God, I exalt You, and bless and praise Your Name forever. O Wisdom from the mouth of the Most High, You are great and greatly to be praised, and there is no end to Your greatness. O Adonai, Lord who gave the Law, You are gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, of great kindness, and loving to everyone. O Dayspring, I will ponder the glorious splendor of Your majesty, for You come to enlighten all who sit in darkness. O King of the nations, Your Kingdom is everlasting, and You come to unite all peoples, that they may know of Your power. O Emmanuel, God with us, You are near to those who call upon You in faith, and the eyes of all wait upon Your coming. 

CONFESSION
Almighty Father, You sent Your Son, the King who reigns with righteousness and rules with justice. I confess that I do not do all I can to hasten the coming of Your Kingdom, of Your will on earth as it is in heaven. When the world comes at me with wind and tempest, I run for cover and hide, instead of facing the storm. I close my eyes and stop my ears against Your warnings. I am quick to be rash where good judgment ought to be practiced. I fail to speak up where a clear and distinct voice is needed. I leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and I deprive the thirsty of drink. I allow the folly and villainy of the world to silence and defeat me, instead of standing up for what is noble and right.

THANKSGIVING
Holy Spirit, I thank You for granting me that peace which passes all understanding, so that I may be at peace with myself in this season of Advent. Thank You for setting the standard of selfless and mutual love, against which I may measure my actions to ensure that I not repay evil for evil, but rather always seek to do good to others and to myself. Thank You for the words of the prophets, that through their ancient warnings I may learn ever to hold fast to what is good, to You, for You alone are the only Source of Good. Thank You also for filling my heart with joy and gratitude, as I wait for the coming of Christ, and for sanctifying me fully—spirit, soul and body—calling me in faith to faith. 

SUPPLICATION
Lord Jesus Christ, You sent John the Baptist ahead of You to prepare Your way and to bear witness to You. Help me to receive and accept that testimony, to understand more and more what has been seen and heard of You in the past, and to confirm today that You are true and faithful now and always. May I continue to receive nothing except what has been given from heaven. May I always hear Your voice and rejoice at Your calling, so that Your truth may increase in my heart, and my ego may decrease within me. Speak the words of God to me by giving me Your Spirit without measure, that I may grow in understanding heavenly things, and that by faith I may have life through the ages.

HYMN
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
To free your captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

-
TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY Sunday, September 8, 2019 Readings: Lesson: 1 Kings 10:1-13 Psalm: 77 Epistle: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11 Gospel: Mark 7:31-37 ADORATION Almighty and gracious God, I praise You because You listen to me whenever I cry out to You. In times of trouble, I look for You in prayer. When my heart is heavy with fear and doubt, I meditate on You and remember the days of old. I understand now that Your hand throughout history is the answer to my prayers today. You are never absent, Your mercy is not gone forever, and Your promises never come to an end. You have not forgotten to be gracious, nor have You withdrawn Your loving-kindness. You are the God who works wonders. You made a way through the waters and redeemed Your people. So do You make a way through my tears and sorrow and deliver me. And Your way is holy. CONFESSION Father, the Queen of Sheba showered King Solomon with compliments on his wisdom and riches for his throne, and in tu...
Read more

First Sunday after Easter

-
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER Sunday, April 28, 2019 Readings: Lesson: Acts 3:1-21 Psalm: 81:1-10 Epistle: 1 John 5:1-15 Gospel: John 20:19-31 God of faith, Your Word teaches me the importance of faith. I learn that faith has the power to heal any infirmity, to save from any danger, and to overcome any obstacle. I walk by faith, and not by sight, because faith is the evidence of things I cannot see. You bless all those who believe without seeing, and yet You do not require me to be blind. Rather, through Your Word and Sacraments, through Your creation, and through those You send my way, You continually call me to look intently and attentively, and to fix my eyes on You. I open my heart and mind to the everyday miracles You perform in my life in order to strengthen my faith. Father, when Peter and John had no money to help the crippled beggar, they offered him the healing Word of Your Son. I confess that I do not heed the cries of beggars I pass by. They call in di...
Read more

Second Sunday after Easter

-
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER Sunday, May 5, 2019 Readings: Lesson: Acts 4:8-21 Psalm: 23 Epistle: 1 Peter 2:19-25 Gospel: John 10:11-18 Almighty God, Your Word teaches that salvation is found in no one else except in the Name of Jesus, Your Son. The Name “Jesus” means “the Lord saves.” From this, I learn that real and true salvation comes only from You, the Lord, the God of all peoples. To seek salvation with an honest and sincere heart is really to seek You. I believe that all who are on this search—regardless of race, culture, or creed—will find You, for You never forsake those who seek You. I believe that all who call on Your Name, by however they understand it, will be saved. I praise and worship You for the wideness of Your mercy, for it is like the wideness of the sea. Father, the Apostles declared that they could not stop telling people about what they had seen and heard. They chose to obey God and continue to teach in Jesus’ Name rather than listen to th...
Read more