Advent: Love.

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In Isaiah, it was written to Ahaz, king of Judah, 

"The hearts of my people are shaken, 

as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind."

The Lord spoke to Ahaz, "Ask me, ask the Lord your God for a sign,

whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."

But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; 

I will not put the Lord to the test."

Isaiah said, "Why do you try the patience of my God?

This is the sign that the Lord himself will give you:

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son,

and he will be called Immanuel, which means "God with us".

The love of God through the birth of Christ.

This is the story of the birth of Christ.

Mary, a young virgin, was expecting to give birth to her first child.

She was to give him the name Jesus, which means "the Lord saves".

An angel of the Lord told her that he will also be called Immanuel,

which means "God with us."

While Mary was pregnant with this child,

she was also pledged to become the wife of Joseph,

a man who belonged to the house of David.

Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, 

and while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.

Because there was no room for them at the inn,

Mary gave birth to her son, Jesus, in a cattle stall.

She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger.

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,

keeping watch over their flocks at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them.. they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.

Today, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

The love of God through the birth of Christ.

Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem,

and it was there in a cattle stall that their son was born.

They named him Jesus, which means, "the Lord saves".

Nearby, there were shepherds living out in the fields,

keeping watch over their flocks at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them

and the glory of the Lord shone around them.

They were terrified, but the angel said to them,

"Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.  

Today, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord!

This will be a sign to you - you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel. 

They were all praising God and saying, 

"GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST,

AND ON EARTH, GOODWILL AND PEACE TO MEN,

ON WHOM GOD'S FAVOR RESTS."

When the angels had left them, the shepherds said to one another,

"Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,

which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and this baby,

who was lying in the manger.

The love of God through the birth of Christ!

As was promised in Isaiah,

"To us, a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his kingdom and his peace, 

there will be no end.

He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, 

establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

(time to light the candles!)

It is the zeal of the Lord Almighty that will accomplish this."

We light the candle of hope, in faith that the birth of Christ is coming.

We light the candle of peace, because wholeness and shalom will come with the birth of Christ.

We light the candle of joy, because God is choosing to be near to us, through the birth of Christ.

And now today, we also light the candle of love, because God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, 

but have eternal life.

All of the earth is waiting, Lord.

The love of God through the birth of Christ

All of the earth is waiting for the Advent of Christ.
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen us

with power through his Spirit in our inner beings,

so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith.

And I pray that we, being rooted and established in love,

may have power, together with all the saints,

to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - 

that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

All the earth waits for you, Lord.

And we too, wait expectantly for your kingdom, as it comes in fullness. 

Amen.