Advent Readings 2007

These are a little different take than the traditional advent reading. If you are looking for something different this might be for you.

I send out a letter to the persons reading a week before they are to read. With copy in hand, they first read the Scripture, then light the candles as the interpretation is being read, then pray the prayer.

Usually families will split up the reading into different parts. It always turns out very well.

We number the candles beforehand with little stickers so that people will know what candles to light. Just place the stickers on the back of the candles where the lighters can see them but the congregation cannot. We always have two lighters available in case one fails.

I will be writing sermons to go along with the theme of each of the readings as the month of December progresses, if that is of any interest to you.

May the Lord Jesus bless you as you minister in His holy Name this Christmas season.

All Scriptures are from the NIV.

**Due to the death of my father I have had to fly home for the funeral and I will not be able to write a sermon to go with the first Sunday of advent.

First Sunday Of Advent - Hope of Jesus

Read Scripture:

Isaiah 9:2-4,6

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,

as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.

4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

you have shattered the yoke that burdens them,

the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor.

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Light Candle while the interpretation is read

Light candle #1, only.

Interpretation

This morning we light the first candle, the candle of the hope that Jesus brings. The people of Israel had experienced years of oppression hoping to someday be free of their suffering. Jesus Christ is their hope realized. The hope of Israel and our hope today has always been an assured hope, for the earthly appearance of Jesus is not the result of a creation of a new being, for Jesus is. The pre-existent Christ was with humanity from the beginning and will be with us who love Him through eternity. Our hope is assured because the existence of the bearer of our hope was never in question. Jesus Christ is the one who was, who is, and who ever more shall be and therefore our Christian hope is secure, and always has been secure since even before the beginning of time.

Prayer

Lord God, let us never lose heart. From before time you have ordained all the days of our lives. You hold us in your presence in times of joy and in times of great suffering. We ask that by the power of your Holy Spirit you encourage us in steadfast reliance of our hope in you. Amen.

Second Sunday Of Advent - Dominion of Jesus

Read Scripture:

Isaiah 11:1-10

Is. 11:1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD— 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.