“ .... I have never seen a picture of John the Baptist on any Advent calendar, yet he is the foremost image of Advent. ... " (Fleming Rutledge, Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ). John the Baptizer embodies our location in 2020. In the wilderness of a rising pandemic and at the margins of a politically divided empire, pointing us once again to our true rest and home in Jesus our Emmanuel, God with us, who is the only One who can make death's dark shadows put to flight.
2nd Advent Homily Video | Jesus Comes in the (Painful) Waiting w/ a Worthy Cost
Homily Scriptures | Matthew 14:1-13
Homily Story About Dmitri | The Insanity of God: Praising & Clinging to Christ in the Valley of the Shadow of Death
Call to Worship | Isaiah 42:16
I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them and rough places into level ground. This is what I will do for them, and I will not abandon them.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
By anonymous monks, 800s
Translated by John Mason Neale, 1800s
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
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.
(Chorus)
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.
(Chorus)
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In One the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
(Chorus)
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.
(Chorus)
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.
(Chorus)
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In One the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
(Chorus)
Future of Forestry, 2019 A.D.
I heard a voice cry out, the voice came from the desert,
"Prepare a way for Him, prepare a way."
I heard a voice cry out, saying "Comfort all My people.
Tell them that their sins are washed away”
Light has come, light has come,
Awake my heart, light has come.
I heard the holy sound, the voices of the angels,
The glory of the Lord was all around.
I heard the angels sing the highest praise in heaven
“Glory be to God and peace on earth.” (Chorus)
Let the whole world see You,
Let the whole world know You,
Let the whole world rejoice
For in this Child the Light has come. (Chorus)
I hear the tender sound, an infant and His mother
Underneath the stars that shine above
I hear the tender voice
Come from our Heavenly Father
“My Word has become flesh through My own Son.” (Chorus)
"Prepare a way for Him, prepare a way."
I heard a voice cry out, saying "Comfort all My people.
Tell them that their sins are washed away”
Light has come, light has come,
Awake my heart, light has come.
I heard the holy sound, the voices of the angels,
The glory of the Lord was all around.
I heard the angels sing the highest praise in heaven
“Glory be to God and peace on earth.” (Chorus)
Let the whole world see You,
Let the whole world know You,
Let the whole world rejoice
For in this Child the Light has come. (Chorus)
I hear the tender sound, an infant and His mother
Underneath the stars that shine above
I hear the tender voice
Come from our Heavenly Father
“My Word has become flesh through My own Son.” (Chorus)
"Away from the Manger: The Refugee King" Reprise
Liz Vice, Wen Reagan, Bruce Benedict, Greg Scheer, Lester Ruth
Liz Vice, Wen Reagan, Bruce Benedict, Greg Scheer, Lester Ruth
2018 A.D.
Away from the manger, they ran for their lives;
The crying boy Jesus, a son they must hide.
A dream came to Joseph, they fled in the night
And they ran and they ran and they ran. (Ooh x 2)
No stars in the sky but the Spirit of God
Led down into Egypt from Herod to hide.
No place for His parents, no country or tribe,
And they ran and they ran and they ran. (Ooh x 2)
Stay near me Lord Jesus when danger is nigh
And keep us from Herods and all of their lies.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, the Refugee King,
And we sing and we sing and we sing ... (x2)
Alleluja! x 5
Away from the manger, they ran for their lives;
The crying boy Jesus, a son they must hide.
A dream came to Joseph, they fled in the night
And they ran and they ran and they ran. (Ooh x 2)
No stars in the sky but the Spirit of God
Led down into Egypt from Herod to hide.
No place for His parents, no country or tribe,
And they ran and they ran and they ran. (Ooh x 2)
Stay near me Lord Jesus when danger is nigh
And keep us from Herods and all of their lies.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, the Refugee King,
And we sing and we sing and we sing ... (x2)
Alleluja! x 5
The Kingdom Is Yours
Common Hymnal, 2017 A.D.
Blessed are the ones who do not bury
All the broken pieces of their heart.
Blessed are the tears of all the weary
Pouring like a sky of falling stars.
Blessed are the wounded ones in mourning,
Brave enough to show the Lord their scars.
Blessed are the hurts that are not hidden,
Open to the healing touch of God.
The Kingdom is yours, the Kingdom is yours,
Hold on a little more, this is not the end.
Hope is in the Lord, keep your eyes on Him.
Blessed are the ones who walk in kindness
Even in the face of great abuse.
Blessed are the deeds that go unnoticed,
Serving with unguarded gratitude.
Blessed are the ones who fight for justice,
Longing for the coming day of peace.
Blessed is the soul that thirsts for righteousness,
Welcoming the last, the lost, the least. (Chorus)
Blessed are the ones who suffer violence
And still have strength to love their enemies.
Blessed is the faith of those who persevere.
Though they fall, they'll never know defeat.
Benediction based on 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
To connect with us, please contact info@emmauscitychurch.com
More helpful links for Advent
+ Advent: Immanuel, God with Us, Has Always Been His Plan for Us
+ Advent 2020 Is Near & Needed | The Coming Day of the Lord Before, Now, and Again
+ The Magnificat: The Bold & Courageous First Advent Hymn
+ Advent 2020 Is Near & Needed | Sunday Compline (i.e. Bring to Completion) Services to Remember the Light in the Darkness
Christ is all,
Rev. Mike "Sully" Sullivan
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