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Christmas

Friday, Second Week Advent: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Hymn

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Come Thou Expected Jesus to the Earth

The Advent hymn, “Oh Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” pleads for the baby Jesus to set thy people free. Free us from our fears and sin. During this Christmas season, we don’t want to hear that we are imprisoned and need setting free.

But we are captive. Captive to sin. Temptation surrounds us every day. We daily struggle in our minds with fear. Fear of not having enough money, fear of gossip that surrounds us. Fear of not being accepted. Listen to the words to Come Thou Long Expected Jesus. Really listen.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dmO8UPlWoo[/embedyt]Come, Thou long expected Jesus, 

Once we are free of our sins they cannot hurt us any longer. Like the title Everlasting Father, God rebukes us. We don’t like discipline. But we need it. What happens when parents don’t discipline their children? They don’t learn right from wrong. It’s not because parents like punishing their children. Trust me, we don’t, it often hurts us more. God corrects us out of love. Christ Jesus the Everlasting Father serves as an example of a kind, loving Father.

Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. Learn the symbolism and meaning of advent candles . Listen to Come Thou Long Expected Jesus and sing along with the lyrics.Words to Come Though Long Expected Jesus

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, 
Hope of all the earth Thou art,
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver;
Born a child and yet a  king!
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit 
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.


Weekly Advent Readings: Friday, 2nd Week Advent

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30: 15-26;  Revelation 1: 1-29 


Thursday, 2nd Week Advent: Music and Lyrics, Hark The Herald Angels Sing

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Pentatonix: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

By now you know I LOVE Christmas carols and Christmas music of all kinds. I’m also a fan of the acapella music group Pentatonix. I also play piano during Advent and Lenten services on Wednesday night services. On Wednesday our closing Advent Hymn was “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!”

It is a congregational favorite and voices rang out in the church as I absorbed the Christmas joy into my heart and soul.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaOGqEadTsM[/embedyt]

Did you enjoy that? Pentaonix also sings Mary Did You Know, Away in a Manager, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen all of which I will write about this Advent season. So make sure to subscribe so you won’t miss a single day.

Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. Learn the symbolism and meaning of advent candles . Listen to Pentatonix Hark Herald Angels Sing and sing along with the lyrics.Lyrics: Hark Herald Angels Sing

The words of Hark the Herald Angels sing tell about the Advent birth announcement of the baby Jesus. The Angels announced the coming of not just a baby, but a wonderful Counselor, a Mighty God, and eternal Father. This year don’t just sing the first stanza of but sing all the words to Hark the Herald Angels Sing in all three verses.

Hark! The herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King:

Peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations, rise, 

Join the triumph of the skies;

With the angelic host proclaim,

“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

 

Christ, by highest heav’n adored,

Christ the everlasting Lord, 

Late in time behold Him come,

Offspring of a virgins’ womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, 

Hail the incarnate Deity!

Pleased as Man with man to dwell,

Jesus, our Immanuel!

 

Hail, the heav’n born Prince of Peace!

Hail, the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings,

Risn’ with healing in His wings,

Mild He lays His glory by, 

Born that man no more may die,

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth

 

Hark! Herald Herald Angels Sing Sheet Music

When I play this popular Christmas carol on the piano I normally add my own style, chords, and incidentals to the original version in the Lutheran Hymnal. But if you have not reached the comfort level experiment with various sheet music for your skill level.

Advent Devotional Readings: Thursday, 2nd Week Advent

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30: 15-26;  Revelation 1: 1-29 


Wednesday, 2nd Week Advent: What is the Meaning of Gifts at Christmas

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Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. Learn the symbolism and meaning of advent candles .Why do we give gifts: Christmas meaning of giving

Right now many people are scrambling and rushing about trying to get the “perfect” gift for that special someone for Christmas. Expectations are high and everyone wants to find unique gifts at Christmas time to outdo, outspend and impress other people.

What if we stopped?

What is the meaning of gifts at Christmas anyway?

Gifts are given and not deserved. They are never earned. On Christmas, you receive the gift of the baby Jesus despite how naughty or nice you were during the year.

Parts of a Gift: The giver, the receiver and the gift itself.

A true gift is given without any expectations from the receiver. The receiver doesn’t expect a gift and often doesn’t deserve it. The giver gives without expecting anything in return. No payback, no bribes are intended, no quid pro quo.

There is nothing for the receiver to say or do other than thanks. Get it, nothing.

Isn’t that wonderful!!!

A true gift gives back with the thanks received and the joy returned by the receiver. Think about it.

What was the best gift you ever gave to someone? It probably was a surprise, unexpected, something you thought about long and hard. You gave it at the right time, at the right place, you didn’t expect anything in return and it was accepted with pure joy. A smile, a hug, and sincere thanks made it all worth worthwhile.

God gave us that one very big, impressive, one of a kind gift.

Jesus Christ is HIS gift to the world. He is God’s gift to us and all we have to do is accept it. We don’t have to do anything for it, we don’t have to “repay” one gift with another.

That is how we should give and receive Christmas gifts this year.

Advent Devotional Readings: Wednesday, 2nd Week Advent

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 29: 15-21; 14  Revelation 1: 1-20 


Tuesday, 2nd Week Advent: The Lutheran Advent Season

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Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. Learn the symbolism and meaning of advent candles .The Lutheran Advent Season Continues

Today’s Reading Romans 14: 4-13

Many people believe the Bible does not reflect the needs of “modern man” and how can we use a book written before Facebook, iPhones and the modern world. But it does. It is full of wisdom, advice, and timeless direction.

During the Lutheran Advent season, our readings take us into the life of Jesus Christ and by Him, we are given an example of how we would live.

Christ received EVERYONE, regardless of their sins. He has mercy on those that don’t deserve it, including me.

He suffered, died, and was buried for crimes he did not commit. He showed love to those who were loveless and shunned by others. Think of the lepers, the prostitutes, the poor, and all the others that the Pharisees deemed “unworthy”

So, how can I not gladly and freely receive others?

Those who are strong ought to bear the failing of the weak. We should accept one another just as Christ accepted us in order to bring praise to God.  (Romans 15: 1, 7) These words were written almost 2000 years ago. God doesn’t ask us to just accept people who look like us, dress like us, or talk like us. He asks us to accept one another. Period.

Think about that for a minute, or more than a minute.

Christ was sent to us on Christmas as an example of how we should accept one another and love one another. This is the joy, peace, and hope of Christmas.

“May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him” Romans 15:13

Advent Devotional Readings: Tuesday, 2nd Week Advent

Reading for the 2nd Week Advent, Tuesday: Romans  15: 4-13

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 29: 1-14; 13; 1  Jude 5: 1-25 


Monday, Second Week Advent: The Christian Meaning of the Advent Candles and Wreath

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Symbolism and Meaning: Advent Candles

Christians around the world light traditional Advent candles to observe the coming of Christ who is the light of the world. Advent wreaths are found in churches and homes and mark each Sunday in the Advent season.

In the Lutheran church, three purple or blue candles match the liturgical color of Advent. Blue symbolizes anticipation and hope. Violet or purple Advent candles are a symbol of royalty and recognize Advent as a time of preparation and repentance.

Pink is the Christian symbol or joy. Each candle is a step prepares for the celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus. 

Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. Learn the symbolism and meaning of advent candles .

Meaning First Advent Candle: Hope (purple or blue)

This is often called the Prophecy candle, or the Candle of Hope and expectation. Advent is a season of expectation. Our hope comes from God who will fill all with joy and peace. So it is appropriate that the second Advent candle symbolizes peace.

Second Advent Candle Represents: Peace (purple or blue)

Peace on earth, goodwill to men with the love of Jesus and the promise of a Savior who would be born in Bethlehem. So appropriately the 2nd Advent candle is called the Candle of Preparation. 

3rd Advent Candle Means Rejoice and JOY! (pink or rose)

Why is the third Advent candle pink? Pink or rose is a church liturgical color that signifies JOY.

On the third Sunday of Advent, the Candle of Joy or the Shepherd candle is lite.  The shepherds received a message of joy. It is a time to rejoice during this time for the coming of the Lord is coming soon.  The theme of the third Sunday in Advent is “rejoice in joy” and the Latin word is Gaudete and found originally in Phillippians 4:4. 

4th Candle of Advent: Love (purple or blue)

The meaning of the fourth Advent candle is love. It is also referred to as the Angel Candle or Candle of Love and lite on the last Sunday of Advent. With it the Angel’s announce the birth of the baby Jesus.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

5th Candle of Advent: Christ Candle (white)

Many Advent wreaths also contain a 5th candle often referred to as the Christ candle or Christmas candle. On Christmas morning it is lit and completes the season of Advent with the birth of the baby Jesus. The white candle of Christmas stands in the center of the wreath, just like Christ should stand in the center of our lives.

It is white to reminds us that Jesus is the spotless lamb of God. Clean, sinless, without blemish or stain. Jesus washes us our sins and makes us clean and without stains through the forgiveness of sin.

Meaning of the Advent Candles represents the hope, peace, joy, love of Christ.

The meanind of Advent Candles tell the story of preparation for the birth of the baby Jesus. Learn what each color represents and means.

The story of the Advent wreath tells the journey of hope of the people of Israel in a Savior. It represents the peace that comes in the joy of receiving Jesus Christ our Savior and the love of Christ for everyone.

https://www.zazzle.com/nativity_scene_christmas_metal_ornament-175157663005363150

Advent Devotional Readings: Monday, 2nd Week Advent

Reading for the 2nd Week Advent, Monday: Malachi 4: 1-6

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 28: 14-29; 13; 1  John 5: 1-21