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2nd-week advent

Saturday, Second Week Advent: Pink Candle of Advent

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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. Find the meaning of the pink candle of Advent? Rejoice!Time to Light the Pink Candle of Advent!!

What does that mean?!! 

It means Christmas is getting closer!! Tomorrow is the 3rd week of Advent.

Hurry, get ready. Is your tree decorated, are the cookies baked? Are the presents wrapped?

The pink candle of Advent is about to be lite? Are you ready!!!??? Can you ever be ready for Christmas?

I know there is always ONE more present to buy, gifts to wrap and one more recipe to add to Christmas dinner. Did someone say stuffed mushrooms?

Oh yes, I digress. It’s a tangent habit of mine.

The Lord is not trying to add one more burden to your Christmas.

Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:45)

Tomorrow is Gaudete Sunday when the “rose” or pink candle on the Advent wreath is lite. During my Advent daily readings, I explain the meaning of the candles on the advent and what the colors represent.

Gaudete is the Latin imperative, “Rejoice!” Rejoice because the Lord is coming. Rejoice because the birth of the baby Jesus is near.

The light on the Advent candles lights the way to Christ. They glow brightly at the front of the church to remind us Jesus, the light of the world is coming who will bring light into the darkness.

Relax, Jesus the Light of the World is Coming

If we want to take time to do anything else this season REJOICING should be at the top of the list!

When we take time out to rejoice and praise the Lord it soothes the soul. It causes us to pause and contemplate what the Advent season is all about. You can almost feel the stress starting to fall away, you can feel the pain fall away when you put your trust in this newborn baby Jesus.

Don’t believe me? Try it. 

Eternal God, Your Word has been sent forth into the world to the joy and edification of Your holy people. Grant that Your Word may encourage, comfort and strengthen all who hear it. Grant faith to those who do not know You, both here and abroad, that all peoples may sing to Your name and extol Your goodness. By the power of the Holy Spirit, fill all who hear Your Word with all joy and peace in believing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.”

Weekly Advent Readings: Saturday, 2nd Week Advent

Today’s Reading Introit for Advent 3

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 32: 1-20;  Revelation 4: 1-11 


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 


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