Advent 2 - Looking For Peace
- bordenmscott
- Dec 8, 2021
- 3 min read
This second week of Advent our focus is on peace. But peace has been especially elusive even in this past week. Within our church family there has been a death, another member in palliative care, others rushed to hospital, a variety of other physical and emotional struggles among people I care about, and to top it off two of my kids let loose with quite a bit of vomit over the course of the week! I'm almost caught up on the laundry. Many elements of our Sunday service at Faith Baptist came together to paint a picture of the "peace the passes understanding" that the Bible speaks of. You can check the full service or message out in several forms from the links below. After that I offer a devotional moment for the second week of Advent largely from Phyllis Tickle's "The Divine Hours".
Watch the Sunday service or just this week's message. Or read it below:
Devotional - Advent Week 2
Call To Prayer
Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; shout for joy, all who are true of heart. - Psalm 32:12
Request for Presence
Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come before you; hide not your face from me in the day of trouble. - Psalm 102:1
Opening Prayer
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Scripture
Great are the deeds of the Lord! They are studied by all who delight in them. His word is full of majesty and splendour and his righteousness endures for ever. He makes his marvelous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He gives food to those who hear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. He has shown his people the power of his words in giving them the lands of the nations. The works of his hands are faithfulness and justice; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, because they are done in truth and equity. He sent redemption to his people; he commanded his covenant for ever; holy and awesome is his name
Hymn
Once he came in blessing, all our ills redressing;
Came in likeness lowly, Son of God most holy;
Bore the cross to save us, hope and freedom gave us.
Still he comes within us, still his voice would win us
From the sins that hurt us, would to Truth convert us:
Not in torment hold us, but in love enfold us.
Thus, if you can but name him, not ashamed to claim him.
But will trust him boldly not to love him coldly,
He will then receive you, heal you, and forgive you.
One who can endure, a bright reward secures.
Come, then, O Lord Jesus, from our sins release us;
Let us here confess you till in heaven we bless you.
Jan Roh
Cry Of The Church
My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.
O God, come to my assistance! O Lord, make haste to help me!
Concluding Prayer
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day and the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from me all wrong desires, incline my heart to keep your law, and guide my feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, I may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
Two music options for you this week depending on your preference. The first is a beautiful rendition of the Lord's Prayer in Swahili. Sometimes hearing scripture or prayer in another language is powerful, even if you don't understand all the words.
The second is a massive production of Angels We Have Heard On High
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