Through the valley...with Christ​

 Adviento​ 2012​

_____________________________________________Second Sunday​

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MARTYRDOM WITH CHRIST
A Foretaste of the Fruit of Faithful Servanthood

And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6)

The pursuit of justice and righteousness amidst the reign of terror and abuse is indeed a daunting task but as it was promised that the righteous Branch from God will execute justice and righteousness in the land, we can only follow John the Baptist in  ​preparing the way.

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CONGREGATION

 GATHERING

Blessed be the Lord for he has visited us to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to grant us, that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,  in holiness and righteousness
all the days of our life (Luke 1:68-75)
) 
 And now let the weak say I am strong
 Let the poor say I am rich
 Because of what the Lord has done for us
 Give thanks...

GREETINGS

The light of the Lord's holiness shine upon us all.
 That we may fearlessly spread it throughout the land.
 

Blessing of the Advent Wreath

Christ came to bring us salvation and has promised to come again.

 Let us pray that we may always be ready to welcome him.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Loving God, your Church joyfully awaits the coming of its Savior, who enlightens our hearts and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin. Pour forth your blessings upon us as we light the candles of this wreath. May their light reflect the splendor of Christ, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen​

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Lighting of the Second Candle
 

We light this candle - a symbol of the Lord's holiness - as we recall and claim to our heart's comfort the promise of the Lord...

That we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life (Luke 1:73)

May the light sent from God shine in the darkness to show us the way of holiness and in self-offering with Christ strive to spread it throughout the land.

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HYMN OF PRAISE

Joy to the World 

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Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, 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.