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December 23, 2007 - 4th Sunday in Advent
All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means, "God is with us."
-- Matthew 1:22-23
The sign in the store window said "Only 7 shopping days left before Christmas!"
Could it be true? How did this Advent season go so quickly? For many children the
season has not moved fast enough, but for adults time seems to pick up momentum with
each passing year.
No matter our experience with time, God has God's own sense of time. We may wait
with longing for something to happen, but like the arrival of a newborn, most things
worth waiting for come in their own time. From God's first whisper of Jesus' arrival
to his actual birth many generations had come and gone. Finally, in God's own time,
the child Emmanuel was born - God with us. Through the birth of Jesus God blessed the
world with the greatest gift of all!
For what does your heart long this season?
We pray: Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace
and might, free us from the sin that hinders our faith, that eagerly we may receive your
promises, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever. Amen
p.s. No matter how many shopping days there are to go, remember that Christmas
actually begins December 25 and lasts for 12 days. May those 12 days be full of God's
blessings and joy!
Lessons for the 4th Sunday in Advent:
- Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18
- Isaiah 7:10-16
- Romans 1:1-7
- Matthew 2:1-12
Lessons for Christmas Eve:
- Psalm 96
- Isaiah 9:2-7
- Titus 2:11-14
- Luke 2:1-14, 15-20
Lessons for Christmas Day:
- Psalm 97
- Isaiah 62:6-12
- Titus 3:4-7
- Luke 2:1-20
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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