Scripture for Dec. 20

 Luke 1:26-38

Annunciation of Gabriel
by Jan van Eyck, 1434.

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Daily Prayer December 18

 Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is near.

Daily Readings for Friday, December 18, 2020

• Morning Psalms 102; 148
• First Reading Isaiah 11:1-9
• Second Reading Ephesians 6:10-20
• Gospel Reading John 3:16-21
• Evening Psalms 130; 16

Eternal God, you taught us that the night is far spent and the day is at hand. Keep us awake and alert, watching for your kingdom, and make us strong in faith, so that when Christ comes in glory to judge the earth, we may joyfully give him praise; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. God of holiness and light, cleanse our hearts and give a new spirit to all your people, that your saving grace may be professed and proclaimed to the whole world. How great is your love, Lord God, how wide is your mercy! Never let us board up the narrow gate that leads to life with rules or doctrines that you dismiss; but give us a Spirit to welcome all people with affection, so that your church may never exclude secret friends of yours, who are included in the love of Jesus Christ, who came to save us all. Amen. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord be kind and gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

Prayers for Advent: Love

  

O God, we give you thanks for choosing to enter our world as Emmanuel, God-with-us. As we journey through Advent, let us know you light and presence. We actively wait for you to enter our lives again in a new way that we may know your love is truly written upon our hearts. Amen.

 In Advent, we wait upon the Lord: awaiting signs of hope, peace, joy, and love. We gather in hopeful expectation. We gather to give praise to God for the promise that the Christ child will be born to us again this year.

We gather with anticipation, awaiting God’s light in our lives, awaiting God’s presence that comes to the dark places in our hearts and in our world. Yet, we confess that, at times, it is hard for us to see the blessings that God has for us. Love is a risk, but it is a risk upon which the very heart of our life depends.

The Birth of Jesus

 Luke 2:1-7

New International Version

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

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Merciful God, we give thanks that you send messengers to call us to greater faith. Lead us to lives of prayer and acts of holy compassion.  Teach us your ways of love and grace that we might touch others in your holy name.  Amen

Breathe

It starts about a week before Thanksgiving.  The rushing. The hurry hurry hurry and the feelings of being overwhelmed and you aren't getting things done.

The stores have been full of Christmas for over a month, to the point where we have subconsciously reached the point of ignoring it. Black Friday has morphed into 2 months of retailers trying to get us to spend spend spend.

The incessant clamoring from Charities you gave to once, many years ago, along with ones you have never heard of, all wanting donations. Promising that ”Someone” will match your contribution, if you send them money right now.

The worries of have you gotten all the shopping done for people who aren’t local, where you will need to wrap and mail gifts early in the month. Have you gotten the annual Christmas letter done, after all it’s the one time a year you actually correspond with 90% of the people you mail the letters to, so you need to get them written and mailed.  Oh dear, you’ve done the shopping, but now the lists have changed. 

We rush, and hurry and feel overwhelmed. Then, oh dear oh dear, the snowstorm hits and things get rescheduled and the one day that was supposed to be set aside to go shopping for the final gifts, is now crowded with other things on the list your spouse just gave you, with a “Now don’t forget we need to ....”

And through it all, we forget to take time for ourselves. Time to just breathe and to be thankful for being in a world of plenty where we can be overwhelmed by social functions and shopping, rather than in a world where we are overwhelmed by our children going to bed hungry at night, or struggling through the snow in a thin jacket and water soaked tennis shoes.  We forget to take time to BREATHE, and be still. To hear the birds caroling in the trees rather than the radio station that started playing carols before Thanksgiving; to enjoy the smell of a wood fire burning in the hearth.  Time to play a board game with our family while we talk and laugh together. Or to Pop popcorn and string it on a thread for the birds.

Most of all we forget to take time in our hurry and business to stop and Thank God, for the many things he has given us, starting with his son.  Even in church, to often, we are busy planning the rest of our day and mentally going through the to-do lists in our heads, instead of quietly absorbing God’s word and the joy he is giving us.

Breathe. In. Out. Breathe.
Praise God.
Thank Him for the many gifts He’s given you.
Let the peace envelop you.  Let your hurry and rushing and being overwhelmed get absorbed by the peace.
Breathe.

Dale Weir

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Christmas Alternatives

If you missed the Drive-Through Donation yesterday, you are welcome to drop off your completed shopping list and check (Christmas Alternatives in the memo line) in the Mission Committee mail slot in the church office or via mail (601 Claymont, Ballwin Mo 63011) 

*PCUSA Mission Co-workers Presbyterian Mission Agency, PCUSA, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202 PCUSA Coordinates with Mission Co-Workers (Chris Polak and Clarice Hutchens, St. Mark Liaisons)

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/mark-hare-and-jenny-bent/ • From their base in the Dominican Republic, Mark Bent and Jenny Hare work with Haitian farmers to develop systems that produce more food with minimal labor. In the Dominican Republic they lead a critical community health program. 

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/the-rev-jed-and-jenny-koball/ • Jed Koball connects PCUSA and the Joining Hands network in Peru as they identify and interpret root causes of poverty in Peru, such as mining contamination, global warming, and unfair trade agreements. Jenny Koball coordinates the Young Adult Volunteers (YAV) program in Peru, organizing volunteer and cultural immersion experiences in Peru for US young adults. 

*Presbyterian Children’s Home & Services 1220 North Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132 Debra Paulus, Development Director (Sharon Cardwell, St. Mark Liaison) 

pchas.org • Established in 1914; gives kids a safe, loving place to heal and to grow when their families cannot provide that along with extra support like therapeutic mentoring; foster care case management and in-home family therapy. Recently when the needs of the Farmington community and St. Francois county changed, PCHAS responded with several new programs and methods of treatment to give each child and family the opportunity to find their strengths, overcome obstacles and build futures. 

Worship December 13

 

December 13, 2020 

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 

10:00 am Virtual Service 

ORDER OF WORSHIP 

CENTERING PRAYER Merciful God, you come into our midst longing for communion with us, becoming one of us. Break our resistance to life with you, show us the path toward right relationships, and bring us into your unimaginable peace; in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

PRELUDE Quittez, Pasteurs Ashdown 

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

 LITURGY OF THE ADVENT WREATH 

We light these candles of HOPE, JOY, and LOVE as a sign of the coming light of Christ. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

 let all creation sing for joy at the coming of the Lord. 

The Lord of hosts is coming to restore us; God’s face will shine, and we will be saved. Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. When the Lord restores our lives, we will be like those who dream; those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Light dawns for the righteous, and joy to the upright in heart. 

Rejoice in the Lord! Give thanks to God’s holy name.

† HYMN “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” Hymnal #123

 PRAYER OF CONFESSION 

The Lord is near. In your presence, Holy God, we confess we need repentance. We break your commandments and do not live in peace with your creation. We do not trust your word, and we are afraid. Forgive us, restore us, and turn our shame into praise, for the sake of the One who proclaims the good news and for the sake of the world. (Silent Confession)

ASSURANCE OF GRACE 

† SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. 

SCRIPTURE      Luke 1:46b-55 

SERMON   “The World Is About to Turn”      Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Westminster Confession of Faith, Shorter Catechism Question One 

Q. What is our chief end? A. Our chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy God forever. 

OFFERING 

SPECIAL MUSIC Gesu Bambino Yon 

Lisa Marsh and Amy Shelton, vocalists 

† THE DOXOLOGY 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

† HYMN      “My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout”      Hymnal #100 

† CHARGE AND BLESSING 

† BENEDICTION RESPONSE      "Peace On the Earth”      (Sussex Carol) 

POSTLUDE      Verse ten ut      Guittard 

†You are invited to stand, as you are able. 

Scripture for December 13

 Luke 1:46-55

New International Version

Mary’s Song

46 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors

Daily prayer for December 11

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise: I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness.

Daily Readings for Friday, December 11, 2020

• Morning Psalms 102; 148
• First Reading Isaiah 7:10-25
• Second Reading 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5
• Gospel Reading Luke 22:14-30
• Evening Psalms 130; 16

Faithful God, your promises stand unshaken through all generations. Renew us in hope, that we may be awake and alert watching for the coming of Jesus Christ, our judge and savior. May we boldly proclaim the good news of his coming, by the words of our mouths and the deeds of our lives, rejoicing always in your powerful presence. We thank you, Lord God, for brave and believing people who brought your message to this place, may we follow as they followed, in the way, truth, and life of Jesus Christ, the head of the church. Loving God, you want us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing except losing you, and to lay all our cares on you, knowing that you care for us. Protect us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds in this mortal life may hide from us the light of your immortal love shown to us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord in the power of his resurrection. Alleluia!

Leaping for Joy

Luke 1:39-45New International Version (NIV

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”