Psalm 4:1-8 (NKJV) Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. 2 How long, O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? Selah 3 But know that the Lord has…
Psalm 3:1–8 O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; 2 many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah 3 But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and He answered me from…
God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. —1 John 1:5 Light has been a consistent motive found in Christmas celebrations throughout history. From the legend of St. Lucy’s candle headdress which enlivens the winter solstice in Scandinavia, to the “star singer” processions of central Europe where children re-enact the visit of the Magi while singing hymns,…
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. —Matthew 2:16 December 28 (or in our case,…
One of the joyous difficulties of the Advent season is finding a way to include in the service all the wonderful hymns and carols that we only get to sing during this time of year—an impossible task, for sure. Today, we will get to sing one of the more obscure members of the Christmas carol tradition. Come All You Worthy…
Marvel now, O Heaven and Earth That the Lord chose such a birth. Last week, we heard from Psalm 24:1-2 about Christ as the mighty creator of the universe. Next week, we’ll celebrate Him as the coming “King of Glory” (Psalm 24:7-10). But this Sunday, many of the Advent hymns we’ll be singing focus on the incarnation of Christ as…
Q. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by His Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. —Westminster Shorter Catechism Have you ever noticed how many Advent hymns and carols are based on texts from the Old Testament prophets? This morning, we’ll sing…
This may be the last Sunday in November, but it is also the first Sunday of the church year: the beginning of the season of Advent. Advent is usually observed as a season of confession, preparation, and anticipation, looking forward to the birth of Christ on Christmas Day. You’ll notice several added elements in the service this morning: lighting…