WORSHIP
The Gift of Wisdom. Worship: January 2, 2022
Young King Solomon prayed for the gift of wisdom and God gave him a wise and discerning heart. When Jesus was twelve he wandered into the great temple in Jerusalem and astonished the smartest teachers with his wisdom and understanding. We pray that God bless us with His eternal and practical wisdom in this New Year.
Christ among the Doctors, from The Life of the Virgin, Latin ... - The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Our Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation. Worship: December 26, 2021
After waiting and waiting Simeon and Anna were blessed beyond measure. There in the great temple their eyes beheld the salvation of God, the baby Jesus brought right to them. Seeing Jesus inspired in them a heartfelt song of thanks and praise to God. One day we will see Jesus face to face, and even now we are in the presence of the sacred mystery: God is with us, our Emmanuel. God bless you with joy, thanks and peace.
Simeon and Anna 1 by Dutch artist Jan Van’t Hoff
Christmas Eve, God with Us, Worship with Seven Readings and Carols (Reissue)
Welcome to Bethlehem’s Christmas Eve celebration: God is with Us.
On this sacred and magical night a beloved service of lessons and carols has been celebrated at King’s College in Cambridge, England for nearly one hundred years. Though our version will have different music we honor this grand tradition by reading from the original lessons, and beginning and ending our service with a version of King’s College prayers.
For the Glory of God. The Fourth Sunday in Advent. Worship: December 19, 2021.
Mary, the mother of Jesus is visited by the angel Gabriel who tells her she will give birth to the Savior of all mankind. Maybe the most amazing thing Mary receives is the ability to accept and rejoice in this with composure of soul and peace of mind. She sings, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” Our Advent prayer is to welcome our Emmanuel, God with us, and sing with Mary her humble song of joy for the glory of God.
The North Transept of the Annunciation Chapel in Mdina, Malta
An Eternal Celebration. The Third Sunday in Advent. Worship: December 12, 2021
Some people are preparing for one day of celebration on Christmas. But we are preparing for an eternity of celebration and rejoicing. The Creator of the whole universe heard our deepest yearning and desire and came himself to answer us. Perhaps the whole season of Advent is embodied in the hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." Since the seventh century these prayers have been sung in the days of Advent. They recount the promises God gave to His people before the coming of the Savior Messiah. They propel us forward to the day of Jesus' coming in glory on the Last Day. In this service we will pray these O Antiphons as our prayer for the day. In this we rejoice today and forever!
The Second Sunday of Advent. The Way of God Opens. Worship: December 5, 2021
A man named John the Baptist came out of nowhere to point toward Jesus. John made the radical claim that this carpenter from Nazareth was the promised Savior of all mankind. The way of God was opening. He would fill the world with His love. With His love everything can be saved and rescued. We celebrate that God has shown us His way of love. The way is clear for us. God reveals himself in all of His Glory.
The First Sunday of Advent. The Light of the Savior Dawns. Worship: November 28, 2021
On this First Sunday in Advent we all become watchmen in the night. We long for the dawn light to come. Today as Advent begins we get in touch with the deep longing inside us for God to come and show Himself. This is our Watch Night. On our Advent wreath a single candle is lit today. We pray for God to reveal Himself as the One who is dressed in light, who comes to fight away the darkness, and show Himself in Glory to be triumphant
Jesus, The King. Worship, November 21, 2021
When all is said and done Christ will stand in triumph over all things. He will make the wrongs and injustices right in the end. We put our faith not just in God’s love and mercy but also in His perfect judgment and His ability to fulfill and finish what He started. In the beginning God made a good and perfect world, He will restore it. By His victory Jesus is already our King. In the end we will see that Jesus Christ is truly King of Kings for all of time and eternity. Are you ready to celebrate?
Jesus, mosaic, Church of Hagia Maria Zion, Jerusalem
Jesus, the Prophet, November 14 Worship
Jesus, the man who is God, and the God who is man speaks with authority and wisdom. He is the truest and most trustworthy of prophets. He knows what to tell us about the future and what not to tell us. Jesus, the Son of the Living God can the see the whole of the future. He can see us standing firm in the faith and hope. He can see God saving us from the hardest and most impossible things. He can see us celebrating with him the complete revealing of God’s Glory.
Yeshua Teaches People by the Sea, by James Tissot
Saints by God's Grace. Worship: November 7, 2021
The word “Saint” is a pretty big word. We use it to talk about disciples, martyrs, and leaders of the Church throughout history. We use the word next to names from the pages of Scripture such as Peter, John, and Paul—the type of people we name churches after. On All Saints’ Day we use the word “Saint” as we remember those departed from us who are now with God in heaven. But most amazing of all is that God considers our lives holy and set apart because of Jesus’ sacrifice of His holiness for us. By His victory we are Saints by grace.
The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs: Inner Right Predella Panel
Probably by Fra Angelico active 1417; died 1455