Advent Liturgy
John 1:1-3
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
Matthew 1:18-25
19 “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”
John 1:14
14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
1 John 4:9
9 “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”
The long awaited Savior
Christ Jesus, the Lord
Prophesied, promised, planned
Expected and longed for by many
Surprised by most
He came, He did miracles, He raised His friend from the dead. He was abused, rejected, murdered by those He came to save.
He resurrected from the dead. Before He went on high to be seated at the right hand of His Father, He said he would send His Holy Spirit,“It’s better for you that I go,” He said.
So that each one of us could be filled…with His presence. His life in us.
To become new
To resurrect from the dead…in heart, mind and body
To heal
To be set free
To “change a heart of stone into a heart of flesh,” as it was prophesied by Ezekiel.
To bring the world the kind of love and compassion He had in each breath for the 33 years He lived here.
To perform miracles, “greater works,” He said.
He is here, He’s still here.
He rules and reigns from Heaven and His Spirit is with us.
He will come again in glory to judge rightly the living and the dead.
He will make all things right.
He will dry every tear.
And His kingdom will have no end...
