MICAH 6.8

Magnificat On Silk, Wesley, Frank, 1923-2002 Hopeful Expectation The Realm of God Is Near Third Sunday Of Advent December 11, 2022 SONG—Lo,How a Rose E'er Blooming (Click Here) As men of old have sung; It came, a flow’ret bright, Amid the cold of winter, When half spent was the night. Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, The Rose I have in mind, With Mary we behold it, The virgin mother kind; To show God’s love aright, She bore to men a Savior, When half spent was the night. O Flower, whose fragrance tender With sweetness fills the air, Dispel with glorious splendour The darkness everywhere; True man, yet very God, From Sin and death now save us, And share our every load. Joy-Fulfilling-One, who gives us reason to rejoice: May our joy be known, not only in our laughter, but also in our tears. May our joy be found, not only in our dancing, but also in our mourning. May our joy be sufficient, not only in our celebrations, but also in our brokenness. For the joy you give exceeds all understanding and expectation. Blessed are you and blessed is your Kin-dom, for ever. SONG—Veni, Veni—(Click Here) Veni veni, Emmanuel captivum solve Israel, qui gemit in exsilio, privatus Dei Filio. R. Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel, nascetur pro te Israel! Veni, O Sapientia, quae hic disponis omnia, veni, viam prudentiae ut doceas et gloriae. R. Veni, veni, Adonai, qui populo in Sinai legem dedisti vertice in maiestate gloriae. R. Veni, O Iesse virgula, ex hostis tuos ungula, de specu tuos tartari educ et antro barathri. R. Veni, Clavis Davidica, regna reclude caelica, fac iter tutum superum, et claude vias inferum. R. Veni, veni O Oriens, solare nos adveniens, noctis depelle nebulas, dirasque mortis tenebras. R. Veni, veni, Rex Gentium, veni, Redemptor omnium, ut salvas tuos famulos peccati sibi conscios. R. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that morns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. R. Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel, to thee shall come Emmanuel! O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high, and order all things far and nigh; to us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go. R. O come, o come, Thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai's height in ancient times did give the law, in cloud, and majesty, and awe. R. O come, Thou Rod of Jesse's stem, from ev'ry foe deliver them that trust Thy mighty power to save, and give them vict'ry o'er the grave. R. O come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heav'nly home, make safe the way that leads on high, that we no more have cause to sigh. R. O come, Thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by thy drawing nigh; disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death's dark shadow put to flight. R. O come, Desire of the nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind; bid every strife and quarrel cease and fill the world with heaven's peace. R. Isaiah 35 1 Let the desert and the wilderness exult!       Let the land that was desolate rejoice and bloom like the crocus! 2 Let it blossom profusely,       let it rejoice and sing for joy! The glory of Lebanon is bestowed on it,       the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the Holy One,       the splendor of our God. 3 Strengthen all weary hands,       steady all trembling knees. 4 Say to all those of faint heart: “Take courage! Do not be afraid!       Look, the Holy One is coming, vindication is coming,       the recompense of God—       God is coming to save you!” 5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,       the ears of the deaf will be unsealed. 6 Then those who cannot walk will leap like deer       and the tongues of those who cannot speak       will sing for joy. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. Psalm 98 1 Sing a new song to the Holy One,       who has worked wonders, whose right hand and holy arm       have brought deliverance! 2 The Holy One has made salvation known       and shown divine justice to the nations, 3 and has remembered in truth and love       the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen       the salvation of our God. 4 Shout to the Most High, all the earth,       break into joyous songs of praise! 5 Sing praise to the Holy One with the harp,       with the harp and melodious singing! 6 With trumpets and the blast of the shofar,       raise a shout to the Holy One, Ruler of All. 7 Let the sea and all within it thunder;       the world and all its peoples. 8 Let the rivers clap their hands       and the hills ring out their joy 9 before the Holy One, who comes to judge the earth,       who will rule the world with justice       and its peoples with equity. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. Philippians 4 4 Rejoice in the God always! And again I say: Rejoice! 5 Let everyone see your forbearing spirit. Our God is near.       Salvation is near. 6 Dismiss all anxiety from your minds; 7 Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding,       will stand guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus the Holy One. 8 Finally, my sisters and brothers, your thoughts should be       wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect,       all that is honest, pure, decent, admirable,       virtuous or worthy of praise. 9 Live according to what you have learned and accepted,       what you have heard me say and seen me do. Then will the God of peace be with you. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. SONG—Ode to Joy, Acapella (Click Here) Luke 1 39 Within a few days Mary set out and hurried to the hill country to a town of Judah, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth [her cousin]. 41 As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,       the child [John the Baptizer] leaped in her womb       and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed,       “Blessed a moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blere you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of the Holy One should come to me? 44 Thessed is she who believed that what our God said to her would be accomplished!” 46 Mary said: “My soul proclaims your greatness, O God, 47 and my spirit rejoices in you, my Savior. 48 For you have looked with favor       upon your lowly servant,       and from this day forward       all generations will call me blessed. 49 For you, the Almighty, have done great things forme,       and holy is your Name. 50 Your mercy reaches from age to age       for those who fear you.       instead, present your needs to God through prayer and petition,       giving thanks for all circumstances. 51 You have shown strength with your arm;       you have scattered the proud in their conceit; 52 you have deposed the mighty from their thrones       and raised the lowly to high places. 53 You have filled the hungry with good things,       while you have sent the rich away empty. 54 You have come to the aid of Israel your servant,       mindful of your mercy— 55 the promise you made to our ancestors—       to Sarah and Abraham       and their descendants forever.” 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned home. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. For your people everywhere: that we may be instruments of hope, bringing light to the darkness of society, to those who are suffering, and to those who lost purpose and meaning in life. For new awareness: that we may recognize your presence and action in the people and events around us and be open to your invitations to extend the your reign through our words and deeds. For the gift of patience: that you will help us to trust so that we may wait through various challenges and allow you to show us a new way to proceed. For insight and a new vision: that we may not limit your actions but be open to how you touch us through people, prayer, and unexpected events in our lives. For a deeper understanding of Jesus: that we may come to know the Holy One more fully and comprehend all godly love and care for us. For greater gratitude and appreciation: that through the reflections of Advent, we may have a deeper love for our spouse, family members, and all who are significant in our lives. For the leaders of religion: that you will bless them and strengthen them in fulfilling their ministry in guiding us ever more close to you. For the grace of compassion: that we may have concern and understanding for all who make our lives difficult. For all who struggle with doubt: that you will open their eyes and hearts to the Holy One and the marvelous things you do within and around them. For all who suffer for their faith, for the persecuted, prisoners of conscience, and those who suffer discrimination: that you will sustain them, give them hope and relieve their suffering. For all government officials: that your Spirit will guide their work, help them to recognize the truth in all the issues before them, and open them to new ways of addressing the issues of immigration, poverty, racism, LGBTQ+ issue and violence. For healing of our bodies, minds, and spirits: that you will heal and make whole all the sick, wounded, and broken areas within us so that we may more fully be instruments of your love. For those who are caught in their own expectations: that you will break their bonds and open their vision to all that is possible through your love. For all who go without their daily needs being fulfilled: that you will provide for their needs as refugees or people fleeing violence, open doors for them, give them strength to face their challenges, and move our hearts and the hearts of many to assist them. For an end to war and healing for the nations: that violence and bloodshed may end, the innocent be unharmed, and all peoples would strive for justice and peace. SONG—Joy To the World (Click Here) Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let ev’ry heart prepare him room and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow nor thorns infest the ground; he comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.