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Sunday 21 December 2014

ADVENT: 4th SUNDAY December 21, 2014


Fourth Sunday in Advent

The first 3 candles of Hope, Peace, JoY, are re-lit and the fourth candle, Love, is added...
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source

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Today's Readings 
After the king had been living in his palace awhile and Adonai had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Natan the prophet, “Here, I’m living in a cedar-wood palace; but the ark of God is kept in a tent!”Natan said to the king, “Go, do everything that is in your heart, for Adonai is with you.”
But that same night the word of Adonai came to Natan: “Go and tell my servant David that this is what Adonai says: ‘You are going to build me a house to live in? Since the day I brought the people of Isra’el out of Egypt until today, I never lived in a house; rather, I traveled in a tent and a tabernacle.Everywhere I traveled with all the people of Isra’el, did I ever speak a word to any of the tribes of Isra’el, whom I ordered to shepherd my people Isra’el, asking, “Why haven’t you built me a cedar-wood house?”’
“Therefore say this to my servant David that this is what Adonai-Tzva’ot says: ‘I took you from the sheep-yards, from following the sheep, to make you chief over my people, over Isra’el. I have been with you wherever you went; I have destroyed all your enemies ahead of you; and I am making your reputation great, like the reputations of the greatest people on earth. 10 I will assign a place to my people Isra’el; I will plant them there, so that they can live in their own place without being disturbed any more. The wicked will no longer oppress them, as they did at the beginning, 11 and as they did from the time I ordered judges to be over my people Isra’el; instead, I will give you rest from all your enemies.  “‘Moreover, Adonai tells you that Adonai will make you a house.
16 Thus your house and your kingdom will be made secure forever before you; 
your throne will be set up forever.’”
2 Samuel 7:1-11 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

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Then Miryam said,
My soul magnifies Adonai;
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    and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior,
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who has taken notice of his servant-girl
    in her humble position.
For — imagine it! — from now on, all generations will call me blessed!
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    “The Mighty One has done great things for me!
Indeed, his name is holy50 and in every generation
    he has mercy on those who fear him.
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“He has performed mighty deeds with his arm,

    routed the secretly proud,
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brought down rulers from their thrones,
    raised up the humble,
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filled the hungry with good things,
    but sent the rich away empty.
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“He has taken the part of his servant Isra’el,

    mindful of the mercy
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which he promised to our fathers,
    to Avraham and his seed forever.”
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Now to God, who can strengthen you, according to my Good News,

in harmony with the revelation of the secret truth
which is the proclamation of Yeshua the Messiah,
kept hidden in silence for ages and ages,
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but manifested now through prophetic writings,
in keeping with the command of God the Eternal,
and communicated to all the Gentiles
to promote in them trust-grounded obedience —
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to the only wise God, through Yeshua the Messiah,

be the glory forever and ever!
Amen.

Romans 16:25-27
Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

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 In the sixth month, the angel Gavri’el was sent by God to a city in the Galil called Natzeret, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Yosef, of the house of David; the virgin’s name was Miryam. 28 Approaching her, the angel said, “Shalom, favored lady!Adonai is with you!” 29 She was deeply troubled by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Miryam, for you have found favor with God. 31 Look! You will become pregnant, you will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua. 32 He will be great, he will be called Son of Ha‘Elyon.Adonai, God, will give him the throne of his forefather David; 33 and he will rule the House of Ya‘akov forever — there will be no end to his Kingdom.” 34 “How can this be,” asked Miryam of the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered her,
“The Ruach HaKodesh will come over you,

the power of Ha‘Elyon will cover you.
Therefore the holy child born to you
will be called the Son of God.
36 “You have a relative, Elisheva, who is an old woman; and everyone says she is barren. But she has conceived a son and is six months pregnant! 37 For with God, nothing is impossible.” 38 Miryam said, “I am the servant of Adonai;
may it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:26-38Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

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As we anticipate the coming of Christ with this week's lighting the Love candle,
I share another Christina Rossetti poem ~
Love Came Down at Christmas
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.



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#SONGSonSUNDAYS shares the Jars of Clay version - 
any favs you'd love to share in comments? 
We'd love to hear what you're listening to this season...
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Blessings!

Advent 1 ~ Advent 2  ~ Advent 3

{click for previous posts}








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1 comment:

Ricki Treleaven said...

Thank-you for the reading and the video. Christmas blessings to you and your loved ones!

xo,
Ricki Jill

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