Dear SOV Church Family,
Due to inclement weather, both worship services are canceled tomorrow, Sunday, December 21, 2008. Please stay home and stay safe. It’s very cold and dangerous out there!
I encourage you to have your own worship service at home with your loved ones. Light your Advent wreath or other candles, say some prayers, read the Scripture lessons for the day (see below), sing a couple of songs, and/or enjoy the reflections listed below:
If you came to second service last week, you could log onto the SOV website and listen to the Scriptures, sermon, and music from the 8:30 service.
If you are an early bird, you can tune your radio to KPDQ, FM 104.9, and listen to a broadcast of the Lutheran program “Grace Matters,” or check out this link a little later in the day: www.gracematters.com
December 21, 2008
Advent IV – A Conversation with Benedict of Nursia
Isaiah 55:10-11
For this final edition of a four-part Advent series with great saints of the church, host Peter Marty visits with St. Benedict (c. 480-c.547). Known for his famous “Rule,” a Rule that still guides Benedictine followers today with its teachings on humility, silence, and obedience, Benedict zeroes in on the holy reading of Scripture for this Grace Matters program. He spells out the critical value of hearing Scripture not only with our intellects but also with our hearts.
Scripture lessons appointed for December 21, 2008:
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Instead of David building a house (temple) for the Lord, the Lord promises to establish David’s house (dynasty) forever. Centuries later, after the Babylonian exile, no king sat on the throne. Even then, however, the people of Israel remembered this promise and continued to hope for a king, the messiah, the Lord’s anointed.
Romans 16:25-27
Paul closes his letter to the Romans by praising God because in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ God has revealed the promised, divine plan of salvation for all humanity. Paul proclaims this gospel of Christ in order to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations.
Luke 1:26-38
In this annunciation, Luke makes clear that God comes with good news for ordinary people (Mary) from little-known places (Nazareth). This king will not be born to royalty in a palace, but to common folk in a stall. Here Luke highlights the role of the Spirit, a special emphasis in his gospel.
Prayer of the Day
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that would obstruct your mercy, that willingly we may bear your redeeming love to all the world, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
ADVENT BLESSINGS,
PASTOR MICHELLE
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.