Advent. We should all be familiar with this term in our Church. We light Advent candles. Some of us may have had Advent calendars. We just heard in our opening hymn about “readying the way”. We talk about waiting. But what, or whom, are we waiting for? And why?

To listen to the song, go to

Link to Video: https://youtu.be/8GGd6n5g8bo

Tonight, we take a few minutes to slow down, reflect on the season, and to reflect on the reason why we are waiting and who we are waiting for. Tonight we reflect on the child Jesus who enters our lives not only in the Christmas story, but hopefully every day.
 
In this season of Advent, as we gather to wait in the darkness of winter nights for Jesus our Light to come, may our hearts be filled with joy and promise. Let us pause for a moment to let God enter into the silence of our hearts.
We begin our Advent Prayer in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.



Link to Video: https://youtu.be/WcravEG2ATE

We gather during this Third Week of Advent to pray for the grace we need to live as people of hope. The Advent Wreath symbolizes our growing hope and anticipation that the Lord Jesus may enter our lives more fully. Let us pray that this wreath may remind us to bring the light of Christ to the darkness of this world.
Heavenly Father, 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 and upon the candles of this wreath; may their light reflect the splendor of Christ, who is Lord, forever and ever.
First Week of Advent (First purple candle is processed in.)
Reader God, we wait for the coming of your Son, Jesus, into our hearts and our lives this Advent. Help us to always follow him as the light of the world.
Second Week of Advent (Second purple candle is processed in.)
Reader God, we look forward to Christmas and the joy it brings. Help us to share our happiness with others during this Advent season.
Third Week of Advent (The pink candle is processed in.)
Reader: God, as Christmas draws nearer we decorate our homes in preparation for our celebration of the birthday of Jesus. Help us remember always that Jesus is the reason for our celebration.

Leader: Let’s return to the Scriptures we heard today, beginning with the prophet Zephaniah. To set the stage, you have to remember that at the time that Zephaniah was speaking to the Israelites, they had been in exile, kicked out of their country, and they were a people in despair. Zephaniah reminds them, and us, that God has not abandoned us. No, not at all! God is sending a savior, his only Son, to bring joy and gladness to God’s people. As you listen to the reading, I invite you to think about where you need joy in your own life, and where you need to remove fear. Can you invite Jesus into those places?

"The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior;
he will rejoice over you with gladness"

God's word eventually gave shape to Israel's hope for a Messiah and, as always, He delivered more than we expected, Jesus, the gift that never stops giving.

Come Lord Jesus Come! And Jesus does come. Jesus comes as a lowly child in a manger. But remember, this is more that just a pretty story. This is so much more than that. This is GOD bursting on the scene! This is the second person of the Blessed Trinity. Jesus, the Christ, fully human, yet fully divine. Come to save us! In the darkness of the winter, when daylight is at a minimum, light bursts forth into the world, not with a bang, but in the gentle cries of a child.

Link to Video: https://youtu.be/xpHiAmL8-b0?list=PLbqEp81rpFZTNnopnBnyM2sYes9PrzFCz

So what does that mean for us? Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, became human. He lives his life, a pretty typical life for first century Israel. Grows up with Mary and Joseph after returning from exile in Egypt, he learns to be a carpenter because Joseph was a carpenter. He surely had friends and family around him. But then, but then, his life takes a turn. His cousin, the one known as John the Baptist, the crazy guy in the desert, knows something’s up…he even knew when he baptized Jesus in the Jordan, and then he hears about what Jesus was teaching and all the people he was healing and the miracles he was performing and the disciples who were following him. But John’s not quite sure, wasn’t the Messiah supposed to be full of fiery judgment? But Jesus preaches love and peace and forgiveness. When John's disciples ask "What should we do?" as we heard in today's Gospel reading, he answers directly to act with justice and compassion but he also replies that he is not the Christ, that one greater than he is coming.

Read Luke 3:10-18

So what does that mean for us TODAY? In 2018?

Link to Video: https://youtu.be/Hz154uyVTc4?list=PLbqEp81rpFZTNnopnBnyM2sYes9PrzFCz

To God our Father, who has given us the grace to wait in graceful hope for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us make our prayer:Show us your mercy, Lord.Sanctify us in mind and body; keep us without sin until the coming of your Son. Show us your mercy, Lord.Make us walk this day in holiness, and live upright and devout lives in this world. Show us your mercy, Lord.May we be clothed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. Show us your mercy, Lord.Lord, help us to stand watchful and ready, until your Son is revealed in all his glory. Show us your mercy, Lord.
Closing Prayer: I lift my heart up to you, Lord, to thank you for the blessings you shower on me each day.
You are the 'joy of my soul.' I know that in your great love, I am held and protected by you.
I pray and listen to the good news you send; I ask and feel the healing. I am freed by you from the things in this world that let me hide from you.
I rejoice, I rejoice, down to my soul. Help me to prepare my heart to be open and able to receive your immense love.

Link to Video: https://youtu.be/HdPWuhe75XA?list=PLbqEp81rpFZTNnopnBnyM2sYes9PrzFCz

Let us close in song, rejoicing that our Savior comes, Emmanuel! (#56)


Link to Video: https://youtu.be/ZFghkY6OwA0