Greetings in the name of our coming Lord Jesus. In this busy season of the year, set aside time to hear the words of Jesus and receive his gift of forgiveness, life, and salvation distributed at the church.
This coming Wednesday 12/18 at 6:30 will be the last midweek service of this Advent Season.
Christmas Eve Service will be Tuesday January 24 beginning at 6:30 pm. There won’t be any Christmas Day service here.
Sunday December 15 is the third Sunday in Advent. We will follow the liturgy of Divine Service Four beginning on page 203 in the LSB hymnal. Hymns chosen for the day are #341 Lift Up Your Heads Ye Mighty Gates; #338 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus; #349 Hark the Glad Sound; #627 Jesus Christ Our Blessed Savior; and #509 Christ is Surely Coming.
Scriptures assigned for the day are Psalm 85:1-9; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4: 4-7; and Luke 7:18-28. As you read through these texts you will recognize a repeated theme of rejoicing and celebration. In the midst of the troubles of this world God promises restoration of the world. The gloom, the broken relationships, the diseases and disorders all caused by sin in the world will be overcome and reversed. The restoration will be complete when Jesus returns—the old will be gone for the new has come. And that process has already begun.
Also, the third Sunday of Advent is historically called Gaudete Sunday, after a Latin translation of the word ’Rejoice’ connected to an antiphonal response from Philippians 4:4—’Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.’ A visible reminder of this rejoicing, this Sunday we will be lighting the pink advent candle. When John the Baptist is thrown in prison, he has a crisis of faith. He asks if Jesus is the One that God had promised. Jesus tells him to look at the miracles being perfomed. They were visual confirmation that Jesu spoke the truth. And the blind were having their sight restored, the lame walked, the lepers were cleansed, the deaf could hear, the dead were raised up, and good news of rescue and life in god’s kingdom was being preached to the needy. All theses actions were things we could celebrate. Thank God, there is physical and spiritual healing going on.
In the midst of troubles God has given you something to celebrate- Our Savior has come, and He is coming again.
COLLECT: Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly implore You to continue to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by the visitation of Your Holy Spirit; for You live and reign with the Father and the Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please let me know if you have any prayer requests or questions about the Scripture lessons. God bless you. Pastor Boster
