After the king had been living in his palace awhile and Adonai had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 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!”3 Natan said to the king, “Go, do everything that is in your heart, for Adonai is with you.”
4 But that same night the word of Adonai came to Natan: 5 “Go and tell my servant David that this is what Adonai says: ‘You are going to build me a house to live in? 6 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.7 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?”’
8 “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. 9 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,Adonaitells you thatAdonaiwill make you a house.
16 Thus your house and your kingdom will be made secure forever before you;
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,
“TheRuach HaKodeshwill 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.
we relight the first candle of HOPE adding this week's candle of PEACE ~ may you be blessed in your reflection and expectation of the coming of Peace this 2nd week of our journey to Christmas and may you live and pray with the Benedictus, 'guide our feet in the way of Peace' amen ~ come Lord Jesus...
Let me hear what ADONAI will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful,
The first Advent wreath has been attributed to Martin Luther from Eastern Germany. It has become a traditional way for people in many different countries to mark the coming of Christ and the beginning of the new Church year. Although any colour of candle may be used, purple candles with one pink being the traditional surrounding the centre white Christ candle.
1st week ~ Candle of Prophecy, Candle of Hope
2nd ~ Candle of Bethlehem, Preparation, Peace
3rd ~ Pink Candle of Joy, Shepherd's Candle
4th ~ Candle of Love, Angel's Candle 5th ~ Christ Candle centred within the wreath and lit on Christmas Eve
The wreath is round, as a symbol of God's eternity and mercy;made of evergreens to symbolize that God is everlasting and promises us immortality in Christ.
The Greens represent hope and new life.
Continuing the candlelighting through the full Christmas seasons, they are replaced with white candles which are used until Epiphany.
Symbolic Meaning of the Greens:
· The Advent Wreath is made of various evergreens ever-life,
life everlasting. The circle of the wreath is without beginning and has no end; eternal life through our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Cedarrepresents healing and strength.
· Holly reminds us of the Crown of Thorns placed on the head of Jesus at His crucifixion. Red Holly berries represent sacrifice, sacrificial love; the blood of Christ which was shed for us on the cross.
· Pinecones and nuts symbolize life and resurrection through Jesus Christ.· Laurel represents victory over persecution, suffering, and death.-source
and so we add our voices to Enya's as we sing our heart's invitation ~
and the HOPE filled call, O Come Divine Messiah by the pride of Cape Breton, the Barra MacNeils
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May your Advent journey of longing this week be filled with Hope!
The first Advent wreath has been attributed to Martin Luther from Eastern Germany. It has become a traditional way for people in many different countries to mark the coming of Christ and the beginning of the new Church year. Although any colour of candle may be used, purple candles with one pink being the traditional surrounding the centre white Christ candle.
1st week ~ Candle of Prophecy, Candle of Hope
2nd ~ Candle of Bethlehem, Preparation, Peace
3rd ~ Pink Candle of Joy, Shepherd's Candle
4th ~ Candle of Love, Angel's Candle 5th ~ Christ Candle centred within the wreath and lit on Christmas Eve
The wreath is round, as a symbol of God's eternity and mercy;made of evergreens to symbolize that God is everlasting and promises us immortality in Christ.
The Greens represent hope and new life.
Continuing the candlelighting through the full Christmas seasons, they are replaced with white candles which are used until Epiphany.
Symbolic Meaning of the Greens:
· The Advent Wreath is made of various evergreens ever-life,
life everlasting. The circle of the wreath is without beginning and has no end; eternal life through our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Cedar represents healing and strength.
· Holly reminds us of the Crown of Thorns
placed on the head of Jesus at His crucifixion.
Red Holly berries represent sacrifice, sacrificial love;
the blood of Christ which was shed for us on the cross.
· Pinecones and nuts symbolize life and resurrection through Jesus Christ.
· Laurel represents victory over persecution, suffering, and death.
