Advent 4a – December 22, 2013

Overview

Scripture for the Day:

 Isaiah 7:10-16
 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
 Romans 1:1-7
 Matthew 1:18-25

Liturgical Color:

1st Reading

 Isaiah 7:10-16 (NIV)

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign,whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm

 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (NIV)

1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us.

3 Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

4 How long, Lord God Almighty,
will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
6 You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.

7 Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.

19 Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

2nd Reading

 Romans 1:1-7 (NIV)

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apartfor the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received graceand apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Gospel

 Matthew 11:2-11 (NIV)

18 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.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Contemporary Song Suggestions for the Day: 

 HERE FOR YOU  Jesse Reeves \ Matt Maher \ Matt Redman \ Tim Wanstall | 2011 | CCLI Song #5925649

 WE WILL SEE  Walker Beach | 2012 | CCLI Song #6314974

 O COME DIVINE MESSIAH (EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE)  Abbot Simon-Joseph Pellegrin \ Jennie Lee Riddle \ Robbie Seay | 2010 | CCLI Song #5814781

 SHINING STAR  Rend Collective Experiment | 2009 | CCLI Song #6186119

 COME TO US  Greg Walton | 2011 | CCLI Song #6149833

  WE ARE WAITING  W. Zachary Taylor \ Chris Kline | 2012 | A worshipcurrent Exclusive!

 BEAUTIFUL DAY  Jennie Lee Riddle \ Tony Wood | 2011 | CCLI Song #6124009

 O COME EMMANUEL  John Mason Neale \ Paul Baloche \ Rita Baloche \ Thomas Helmore | 2013 | CCLI Song #7002103

 GOD WITH US  Jason Ingram \ Leslie Jordan | 2012 | CCLI Song #6460237

 GOD WITH US (EMMANUEL)  Steve Angrisano | 2005 | CCLI Song #5779125

 EMMANUEL  Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander \ Laura Story | 2008 | CCLI Song #5324460

 IMMANUEL  Michael Card | 1986 | CCLI Song #71014

 YOUR NAME (CHRISTMAS VERSION)  Glenn Packiam \ Paul Baloche | 2006 | CCLI Song #7005511

 JESUS MESSIAH  Chris Tomlin \ Daniel Carson \ Ed Cash \ Jesse Reeves | 2008 | CCLI Song #5183443

 This week’s worshipcurrent pick for Holy Communion/Eucharist
 Found exclusively on 
worshipcurrent

Hymn Suggestions for the Day:

 OF THE FATHER’S LOVE BEGOTTEN  Aurelius Clemens Prudentius \ Henry Williams Baker \ John Mason Neale | Public Domain | CCLI Song #4780029 | Hymnary

 FROM HEAV’N ABOVE TO EARTH I COME  Martin Luther \ tr. Catherine Winkworth | Public Domain | CCLI #4205339 | Hymnary

 O COME O COME EMMANUEL  John Mason Neale | Public Domain | CCLI Song #31982 | Hymnary
Related ContentOrgan Hymn Harmonization on O Come O Come Emmanuel | VENI EMMANUEL | W. Zachary Taylor | 2013 Greater Plan Publishing, LLC

 HAIL TO THE LORD’S ANOINTED  James Montgomery | Public Domain | CCLI Song #1981649 | Hymnary

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