Advent 4c – December 20, 2015

Overview

Scripture for the Day:

 Micah 5:2-5a
 Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7
 Hebrews 10:5-10
 Luke 1:39-45, 46-55

Liturgical Color:

 1st Reading

Micah 5:2-5a (NRSV)

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
    who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
    from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
    when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
    to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
    to the ends of the earth;
and he shall be the one of peace.

    If the Assyrians come into our land
    and tread upon our soil,
we will raise against them seven shepherds
    and eight installed as rulers.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Psalm

Luke 1:46b-55 (NRSV)

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
    Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
    and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

or

Psalm 80:1-7 (NRSV)

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
    before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
    and come to save us!

Restore us, O God;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Lord God of hosts,
    how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears,
    and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
    our enemies laugh among themselves.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

2nd Reading

Hebrews 10:5-10 (NRSV)

Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
    but a body you have prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, ‘See, God, I have come to do your will, O God’
    (in the scroll of the book it is written of me).”

When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “See, I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10 And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Gospel

Luke 1:39-45, 46-55 (NRSV)

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
    Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
    and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Song Suggestions for the Day:

 COME LORD COME  Harmony Smith \ Nigel Briggs | 2005 | CCLI Song #4659325

  LOVE COMES DOWN  Audrey Assad \ Matt Maher \ Michael Gungor \ Paul Moak | 2011 | CCLI Song #5553633

  SING HALLELUJAH  Glenn Packiam \ Kari Jobe | 2011 | CCLI Song #5877175

 CHRIST THE LORD  Robert Feduccia \ Sarah Hart | 2011 | CCLI Song #6149826

 YOU ARE MY SHEPHERD  Jennie Lee Riddle \ Jonathan McElhenny Lee | 2010 | CCLI Song #5720095

 DWELL  Casey Corum | 2003 | CCLI Song #4085652

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

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

 WE ARE WAITING  W. Zachary Taylor \ Chris Kline | 2012 | View and Download

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

 FOR YOUR GLORY  Ben Cantelon \ Matt Redman | 2009 | CCLI Song  #5339716

 THE HEART OF WORSHIP  Matt Redman | 1999 | CCLI Song #2296522

 YOU ARE MY PASSION  Justin Byrne | 2010 | CCLI Song #5875160

 MY HEART IS OVERWHELMED  Dylan Thomas | 2010 | CCLI Song #5894213

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

Hymn Suggestions for the Day:

 MY SOUL GIVES GLORY TO MY GOD  Miriam Therese Winter | 1987 Medical Mission Sisters | Hymnary

 O COME O COME EMMANUEL  Public Domain | CCLI Song #31982 | Hymnary

 COME THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS Charles Wesley | Public Domain | CCLI Song #2276425 | Hymnary

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