Advent Scripture Reading::Luke 1:5-25

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

 

The Advent Song Project::

“Hope” – Music & Lyrics: Rachel Gardner and Damian Belt-Smith

         “Our song for Advent Hope seeks to combine the past, present and future hope that is found only in Christ.  May the anticipation of a child on the Eve of Christmas be yours as you reflect with us on the gift God has given us in His Son, the hope that we have in His death and resurrection, and the glory it will be when He returns to change us into His likeness as we see Him as He is.  As the earth turns toward the light this season, may your heart be warmed in the Light that is Jesus.”

Hope

To a land that has dwelt in darkness covered by the shadow of death

Let your promise become flesh

To the land of our Fathers—Come Messiah, Come Messiah

 

To a land where a brother lifts up force against a brother;

Where the strong oppress the weak;  You are so hard to see

Where the rumors of war disturb the peace—Come Messiah, Come Messiah

 

                           Turn our hearts toward the light

                           Cause our shadows to hide

                           O Lord, redeem us as we hope for glory in our bones

                           Make scarlet white as snow

                           O how we long to see you and be changed

                           O Lord, we wait

 

See the wind rolling back the clouds as dawn is breaking fast

Hear the sound on the mountains of feet that bring good news:

That our God is sovereign—Come Messiah, Come Messiah

 

Then the Jew and the Arab will join hands

Then the lion and the lamb will walk together, and a child will lead them

And our mourning turn to dancing—Come Messiah, Come Messiah

 

Last year during Advent, we did a film project involving four films on the Advent Themes. Watch the Advent Hope 2006  film here::