Christ Church Davis Advent Guide 2011

Advent and Christmas 2011 Christ Church of Davis

The hint half guessed, the gift half understood is Incarnation.

Here the impossible union Of spheres of existence is actual, Here the past and future Are conquered, and reconciled.

- T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets (1943)

What is Advent? Watch, Pray, Wait Advent is a word that means “coming” or “arrival.”

It is a four‐week period in which the church looks back to Jesus’ first coming as our Savior, and looks forward to his second coming as our Judge.

Just as John the Baptist told the Jewish people to “prepare” for the Lord’s coming, we need to en‐ courage each other to be ready for his coming again, when he will fulfill God’s promises and renew all things. Indeed, the kingdom of God will come “on earth as it is in heaven” – the wolf will lie down with the lamb, death will be swallowed up, the dead in Christ will rise to new life, and every tear will be wiped away. As Isaiah the prophet says, “Prepare the way for the Lord… The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together” (Isaiah 40:3‐5).

So what do we do during Advent? We wait and pre‐ pare ourselves. We commit ourselves to spiritual re‐ newal through weekly Sunday worship and daily prayer as the means of God’s grace. We fast by giv‐ ing up something we enjoy on a regular basis to deepen our hunger and desire for God. We give alms for those in need. We tell others about the joy and hope of Jesus’ return to be king and put the world to rights. We pray the final prayer in the Bible, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

What is Christmas? God‐with‐Us Christmas is a word that derives from “Christ Mass,” the Eucharistic feast celebrating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. It is a twelve‐day period in which the church rejoices over the Incarnation of Jesus, “who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.” Advent expectations have been fulfilled, the long‐awaited Messiah has come, the light of the world has been born, a new day has dawned. As we say in the Nicene Creed, “For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven.” God became man to destroy the evil that destroys us, to restore creatures to their Creator, and to give us eternal life. God united himself with humans in order for humans to be re‐united with God. As John says in his Gospel, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). This is why the

angels praised God at Jesus’ birth saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven” (Luke 2:14).

So what do we do during Christmas? We rejoice in Emmanuel, God with us. Beginning with the vigil of Christmas Eve, we party. In some families, it is tradi‐ tional to give Christmas gifts for each of the twelve days of Christmas. Moreover, celebrating Christmas means that we focus on becoming more like Christ who “came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Thus, Christmas is an exercise in humility. As Paul says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:3‐7). While we party at Christmas, we also look for ways to be united with Jesus in his humiliation so that others in our lives can know the joy of the Incarnation, God with us.

How to use this guide The Advent‐Christmas season is the beginning of what is known as the Liturgical Calendar, an orienta‐ tion to time centered on the Christian faith. As with any beginning, the start of the liturgical year can be a great opportunity for renewal in our relationships with God and his people. Each day of Advent has a corresponding reading from Scripture, accompanied with a brief reflection and thoughts for prayer. At the beginning of each week is also listed the Scrip‐ ture text for that Sunday in Advent that will be the focus of our worship service at Christ Church. Our worship this Advent is focused on the canticles, or songs, in the book of Luke ‐ the songs of Mary, Zechariah, the Angels, and Simeon. May this season of Advent be a time of renewal and transformation as we consider the Songs of Salvation.

First Week of Advent

Nov. 27 ‐ Dec. 3 Song of Mary “Magnificat” (Luke 1:46‐55)

Monday: We Chose to Live in Darkness (Genesis 3:1‐13, 22‐24) What did God say would happen if we distrust him and disobey him? What does the devil tell us about our heavenly father? Is this true? Can you think of things about our world that remind you that we no longer live in “God’s garden?” Thank God for sending Jesus into the world so that we can someday return to his garden. Confess some of the ways that you have failed to trust his Word.

Tuesday: God Promises to Deliver Us (Genesis 3:14‐15, 21) God tells the serpent (the devil) that a descendant of the woman is coming to make right what he has done wrong. Who is this child he is promising? It is Jesus ‐ on the cross Satan “struck his heel.” But by making it possible for us to be forgiven, Jesus “crushed [Satan’s] head.” Look at what God does for Adam and Eve. This shows us that even though we are sinners, God loves us and wants to take care of us. Thank God for sending Jesus to set right every‐ thing that is wrong.

Image: He Qi ‐ “Annunciation” Scripture: Luke 1:46‐55 Collect (prayer): Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Carol: O Come O Come Emmanuel Sunday: God Made Us to Live in His Light (Genesis 1:26‐31) Do you know what God said first when he created the world (1:3)? These verses show us that God made us to be like him, and to know him. If God made us, then we can trust everything he tells us in his Word, and we can trust him to take care of us. But do we trust God, and are we really like him? Pray that the Lord will help us understand how much we need his light!

Wednesday: God Judges our Sin, But Provides a Way Out (Genesis 6:9‐14, 17‐22) This story shows us that God is “holy” ‐ that is, he alone is perfectly good, and punishes those who hurt others, and who disobey his Word. But Noah shows us that God will save those who turn to him and trust him. Talk about how the church is a sort of “ark” ‐ does Christ Church look like an ark? The church is made up of men, women, boys, and girls, who be‐ lieve that God is willing to forgive us our sins and de‐ liver us from the judgment to come. Thank God for his mercy, and pray that we would be instrumental in bringing many people onto our ark!

Thursday: God Wants to Call Many People in to His Family (Genesis 12:1‐3; 15:1‐6) Have you ever moved far away from home? God called Abram to move all the way across his world!

God wanted Abram to trust him, and come to a land just for God’s people. Abraham believed God, and God gave him what he promised. Even more – he said, “I’ll give you more children to share this land than you can count, more than the stars.” Look at the stars ‐ how many are there? Well, the New Tes‐ tament tells us that ultimately this promise is fulfilled in Jesus. He will come back some day to the world God has promised him, and all those who believe in him will live in a new creation. Can you imagine what a perfect world would look like? Would you be willing

to move to go live in it, like Abraham did? Thank God for his wonderful invitation to live in the new world he is going to bring when Jesus comes back, and thank him that he wants billions and billions of people to be there with us!

Second Week of Advent

Dec. 4 ‐Dec. 10 Song of Zechariah (Luke 1:68‐79)

Friday: God Keeps His Promises to Deliver Us (Exodus 14:21‐29) God promised his people a special land to live in, and promised to deliver them from sin. But their sin led them into being taken captive as slaves in Egypt.

However, God was faithful, and when they were cor‐ nered against the sea, he simply parted the sea so they could escape! Then he brought the sea down on top of the evil people who wanted to hurt God’s peo‐ ple. This shows us that God keeps his promises to de‐ liver us. And as wonderful as this story is, it is even more wonderful to think of all the people Jesus saved when he passed through death and rose again to save us all! Do you think that we can trust Jesus to come back and deliver us from sin once and for all? Thank him for his promise to bring us safely to the promised new world he is making for us.

Saturday: A Prophet Greater than Moses is Coming (Deuteronomy 18:15‐19) God told Moses to lead his people out of slavery into the Promised Land. When God appeared to them on Mt. Sinai (also called Mt. Horeb) his voice was so loud it hurt peoples’ ears! They wanted Moses to listen to God to tell them what God had to say.

Moses gave them a wonderful promise from God: that someday another prophet was coming who would tell the people exactly what God has to say. Do you know who that prophet was? It was Jesus – who was God, and who came down from heaven to earth. Pray that God would help us to listen to Jesus (his words in the Bible), so that we can know exactly what God thinks, and what he wants to tell us so that we can know him and his plan for our lives.

Image: He Qi ‐ “The Visitation” Scripture: Luke 1:68‐79 Collect (prayer): Merciful God, you sent your messen‐ gers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation. Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Carol: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Sunday: A Great King is Promised (2 Samuel 7:11b‐17) King David is the greatest king in the Old Testament.

What’s your favorite story about David? The prophet Nathan came to him to share a special promise from God: his dynasty would last forever! Even though his son Solomon would make lots of mistakes, the de‐ scendants of David would continue to be kings. This promise was kept in a way that was amazing – even after there were no more kings, and people wondered if God had forgotten his promise, God brought Jesus into the world as a descendant of King David and made Jesus King. Jesus was not just “King of Israel” though; he became “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

Do you have a favorite super‐hero? Thank God that Jesus is even greater!

Monday: The Greatest King Ever is Coming (Isaiah 11:1‐4) The prophet Isaiah lived long after King David, during the times when it looked very bad for Judah (the Southern kingdom) and her kings. He tells us in this prophecy that the GREAT king to come will be a de‐ scendant of David. “Jesse” was David’s father, and Isaiah’s prophecy likens the kings from Jesse’s family to a dead tree stump. Have you ever seen a dead stump? Not a likely place to see a healthy tree grow‐ ing! But nothing is impossible with God. Jesus came into the world when things were looking their worst, God’s gift coming in the midst of our mess, a beautiful green shoot growing out of the dead stump of Israel’s kings. And these verses tell us that no one is more righteous, wise, just, or wonderful than Jesus. Praise him!

Tuesday: A Virgin Will Conceive a Child (Isaiah 7:10‐14) How would you like it if somebody offered you a mira‐ cle? Well that is what God offered King Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah ‐ a sign to prove that God would keep his promises to deliver Israel from her enemies if she would trust and obey him. But Ahaz wanted to get out of trouble on his own (by his army) rather than trust God. Isaiah told him about a miracle anyway! The miracle, or “sign,” was that a child was going to be born and named “Immanuel,” a word that means “God with us.” This should have made the king trust God, but it did not. Seven hundred years later this promise was fulfilled when Mary conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. And one of Jesus’ names is “Immanuel”, “God with us.” Are we like Ahaz, not wanting God’s help and blessing? Thank God that he has come to us in Jesus, and commit yourself to trust‐ ing in his Word.

Wednesday: A Son is Given (Isaiah 9:6‐7) These verses help us understand just how glorious Je‐ sus is. He is a “Wonderful‐Counselor.” People who heard Jesus teach often marveled because he was so wise and understood everything. He is also called “Mighty God” – even though Jesus was fully human, was born and grew up just like you and me, he was also fully God! So Jesus is greater than we can ever even imagine! He is also called the “Prince of Peace.”

Peace is a word in the Bible that refers to everything being the way it is supposed to be. Jesus makes things right between God and us by dying for our sins and rising again from the dead and he promises to make everything right when he comes again a second time – to bring peace. Can you think of some things that are

not good in the world, or in your life, or in the lives of people you know (e.g. people who are suffering, griev‐ ing, sick, or who do not believe in Jesus)? Pray to Jesus and ask him to work to change those things. And re‐ member, he is the Wonderful‐Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Thursday: The Lord Himself Will Come with Power (Isaiah 40:1‐11) Did you ever try to talk about happy things when peo‐ ple around you are sad or grumpy? That’s what happened to Isaiah. Things were looking very bad for the people of Judah; they were going to be carried away from their homes by their enemies to live in another land. This made them very sad. But at this low point, Isaiah told them “glad tidings.” He said, “shout from the mountaintops that God is going to gather all his people together someday. He is going to be our shepherd, come to us, and gather us into his arms.” This tells us that when Jesus came, he came to draw us close to his heart, to care for us and take care of us forever. Thank God for sending Jesus as our good shepherd, and for all the ways he takes care of you.

Friday: God is Sending a Servant (Isaiah 42:1‐4) We’ve been reading about how Isaiah said that the coming Messiah would be a great King. Isaiah also de‐ scribes him as a “servant,” one who comes to serve.

This tells us that Jesus came to help us. No matter how sinful we are, or how badly we hurt because of the effects of sin, he is gentle, loving, and able to save us. Have you ever known someone who was so gentle and thoughtful that you could trust them to do any‐ thing, like removing a splinter, or looking at a bad cut, and not be afraid? Well Jesus is like that, and more.

Ask God to help you to get to know how gentle and loving Jesus is.

Saturday: A Servant Who Suffers (Isaiah 53:1‐5) Jesus is more than just a super‐hero. He doesn’t just save us from bad guys –he saves us from the power of our sin. To do that Jesus had to become a human be‐ ing (what we celebrate at Christmas), but he also had to go to the cross and die, and overcome death through his resurrection (what we celebrate at Easter). Don’t forget about Easter during Christmas!

Thank God for all that he has done for us in Jesus ‐ Christmas and Easter.

Third Week of Advent

Dec. 11 ‐ Dec. 17 Song of the Angels “Gloria” (Luke 2:14)

Image: He Qi ‐ “Song of the Angels” Scripture: Luke 2:14 Collect (prayer): Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Carol: Hark the Herald Angels Sing Sunday: The First Christian (Luke 1:26‐38) The ancient church used to call Mary the first Chris‐ tian because she was the very first to hear and to be‐ lieve that this child was indeed the promised Messiah and Savior. She was frightened when the angel first came, and wouldn’t you be? But she was not fright‐ ened for long after she heard the good news about her baby. Do you know what the name Jesus means?

It means ‘savior’ or ‘deliverer.’ It is the Greek lan‐ guage equivalent of the Hebrew word ‘Joshua.’ Jesus came to be our great warrior, to deliver us from the power of our great enemy, the devil, and to free us from the power of sin. He is the king of kings, and the son of King David who will reign forever. And Mary leads us in welcoming Jesus as savior. Her words should be ours: “I am the Lord’s servant.” As you pray, commit your life to serving the Lord just as Mary did.

Monday: Leaping for Joy (Luke 1:39‐45) What a happy meeting between Mary and Elizabeth!

They were relatives, but we don’t know if Elizabeth was Mary’s cousin or maybe her aunt. Have you ever gotten together with your family and celebrated something wonderful? Well, when Mary and Elizabeth got together to celebrate the good news that Jesus was coming, even little baby John the Baptist got excited! Are you getting excited about Christmas! Tell the Lord about your joy. Did you know that he is excited about you and loves you more than you will ever know? Rejoice in his love – you can even leap if you want!

Tuesday: Magnifying the Lord (Luke 1:46‐56) Have you ever been so excited that you couldn’t hold it in? Have you ever just had to laugh, or run, or sing, or shout? That is what happened to Mary. Our verses are the words of her song, called the “magnificat,” the first Latin word of the song in the old Latin trans‐ lations. It is translated as “glorifies” or “magnifies.”

Do you ever magnify anything? That’s what we do when we really enjoy or are interested in something and want to see it up closer. If we enjoy a really good movie, we love to talk about the funny parts over and over – we magnify it and glory in it. If we have a favor‐ ite kind of ice cream or candy, we enjoy eating it and thinking and talking about it ‐ food, glorious food!

Mary was that way about God’s plan to send Jesus.

She thought about it and rejoiced. She was especially excited that God was going to end all the evil in the world someday ‐ evil kings and politicians, the suffer‐ ing of the poor, hunger – all tears will someday be wiped away. Can you take a few minutes to “mag‐ nify” the Lord? Praise Jesus for all the wonderful things he has done (e.g. forgiving our sins, giving us eternal life, his Spirit to comfort us), and all the won‐ derful things that will happen when he comes again.

Wednesday: The God Man (Matthew 1:18‐21) Imagine how Joseph must have felt when he found out that his fiancée Mary was going to have a baby.

They weren’t married yet, and he was afraid that the Daddy was someone else. Imagine his joy when he learned from the angel that this baby didn’t have an earthly Father, but was “incarnate of the Holy Spirit,” (i.e. what was in Mary’s womb was from the Holy Spirit). Now this did not make Jesus part God, and part human. The miracle of Jesus is that he is FULLY God and FULLY human. The other name he was called by says it wonderfully: “Immanuel” ‐ which means, “God with us.” Thank the Lord that Jesus became one of us forever, and that God is with us!

Thursday: Do Not Be Afraid (Matthew 1:22‐25) The angel speaks to Joseph and quotes the words of Isaiah to King Ahaz, words which we read during week 2 (Isaiah 7). Now we see that God keeps his promises even if it takes a long time!

Remember how God offered Ahaz a miracle, and the king was afraid of trusting God and said “no”? Well Joseph chooses to not be afraid of what God wants to do in his life. We don’t know much about the life or death of Joseph. The bible gives us precious little information. But what we do know is enough: he wasn’t afraid to entrust himself to the miracle of Jesus and his life was changed forever because of it. As you pray, ask God to help you to never be afraid of what he wants to do in your life through Jesus.

Friday: God Our Redeemer (Luke 1:67‐79) Have you ever desperately wanted something but weren’t sure if you would get it? Have you ever waited on someone for a long time but felt tempted to give up? Have you ever felt stuck in a situation and weren’t sure how you would get out of it? This is what Israel was experiencing before Jesus was born. God made a special relationship (a cove‐ nant) with Israel by this promise to Abraham: “I will bless you…you will be a blessing.” God also promised Israel that he would send a new king like David to rule his people. However, after years and years of being trampled underfoot by foreign empires and evil kings, and after century upon century of pain and sorrow, agony and oppression, darkness and death, Israel wondered if God would come through for them. But Zechariah sang a new song, praising God for “com‐ ing” (sound familiar?) to redeem Israel, to bring salva‐ tion – mercy, forgiveness, and rescue from death it‐ self. How exactly will the creator God rescue his peo‐ ple? First, God will announce his coming through John the Baptist. Second, God will send Jesus to bless Israel and be her king. Praise God that he never forgets his promises and that he sent Jesus. Ask Jesus “to enable us to serve God without fear” and “to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Saturday: A Humble Birth (Luke 2:1‐7) Have you ever visited a cave? In olden days, people often built their houses around caves, and in Bethle‐ hem the caves were the lower part of the houses where the animals were kept. Since there was no room with the other people at the inn, Mary and Jo‐ seph had to go down to where the animals were, and when the baby was born, they laid him in the trough where the animals ate their hay. This story shows us that God’s love doesn’t miss anybody! Jesus left the

riches and glory of heaven and was born poor and humble. He came into the world as lowly as anyone ever could. Praise him for his love that stoops down so low that no one gets left out.

Fourth Week of Advent

Dec. 17 ‐ Dec. 24 Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29‐32)

Image: Rembrandt ‐ “Simeon’s Song” Scripture: Luke 2:29‐32 Collect (prayer): Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for him‐ self; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Carol: O Come All Ye Faithful Sunday: Glory to God and Peace on Earth (Luke 2:8‐20) Imagine how surprised those shepherds must have been when an angel choir started shouting God’s praise during the night! What were they saying? That what God had done in sending Jesus was more won‐ derful than anyone could imagine ‐ it was “glorious.”

They praised him because he had set his favor (his love and blessings), upon sinful people who didn’t de‐ serve it, and had sent a savior so that we might know his peace. What is peace? It is a wonderful biblical word that refers to the experience of life as it is sup‐ posed to be, humans in fellowship with God and blessed in their lives. The angels told the shepherds (and us) that Jesus is the only way to know peace. Did you know that angels still praise and glorify God in heaven? They do it day and night without ceasing.

Why don’t you do it too!

Monday: The Light and the Glory (Luke 2:21‐40) Have you ever watched a presidential inauguration or the coronation of royalty on television?

There is typically much pomp and circumstance to celebrate the dominion, majesty, and power of the new ruler. Luke’s Gospel presents Jesus as the true world ruler, the Lord, the Messiah, the savior, the real king over the world. Yet, Jesus’ kingdom is very differ‐ ent from that of the Caesars, presidents, and mon‐ archs of our world. How? Simeon is waiting for God to comfort Israel. Anna is waiting for the redemption of Israel. Suffering for them is a daily way of life. But as Simeon’s words to Mary reveal, God’s appointed re‐ deemer will deal with the suffering of Israel and the world by sharing it himself. He speaks dark words about opposition and a sword that will pierce Mary’s heart as well. This foreshadows what will happen when the kingdom of God confronts the kingdom of the world, particularly when the world’s true king is executed. Simeon is also quick to point out the truth at the heart of Hebrew Scripture: the upside‐down kingdom brought by this baby is not for Israel only, but for the whole world. Praise God for Jesus – “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.” Ask God to let the light and glory of Jesus shine through your life to your friends, neigh‐ bors, and co‐workers.

Tuesday: The Word Became Flesh (John 1:1‐14) “Once upon a time…” What was your favorite child‐ hood story growing up? John begins his story this way, “In the beginning…” Does this remind you of another story in the Bible? The creator God is acting in a new way in his much‐loved creation. The long story that began in Genesis is reaching the climax the creator had always intended. In Genesis 1, the climax is the creation of humans, made in God’s image. In John 1, the climax is the arrival of a human being, the Word become flesh. The Word is bringing into being the new creation, in which God says once more, “Let there be light and life!” And the Word is bringing about a new human family – children of God – that is spreading throughout the world. Thank God that you have been born again as a child of God; ask God to fill the dark world with his light, life, grace, truth, and glory.

Wednesday: God’s Final Word (Hebrews 1:1‐5) Grab a coin out of your pocket or find one lying about the house. What is printed there? What images have been pressed in the metal? The author of Hebrews says that just as ancient emperor’s had their royal por‐ traits and titles engraved on metal coins, the exact imprint of the Father’s very nature and glory has been precisely reproduced in the soft metal of the Son’s

human nature. God had for a long time been sending advance sketches of himself to his people, but now he’s given us his exact portrait for all the world to see.

The whole sweep of Biblical history points forward to Jesus, the one who has dealt with sins fully and finally, the one who now rules at God’s right hand, the one to whom even angels bow in submission. Praise God that we beheld the radiance of his glory!

Christmas Eve Morning: The Image of the Invisible God (Colossians 1:15‐20) Have you ever had a parent, friend, or significant other tell you something you desperately needed to know?

What was it about? In this poem, Paul is reminding the church that what they need to know above all, if they are to grow as Christians, increasing in wisdom, power, patience, and thanksgiving, is the centrality and supremacy of Jesus Christ. It is by looking at Jesus that we discover who God is; and the more we look at Jesus, the more we realize that the true God is the God of utter self‐giving love. Moreover, Jesus holds together the old world and the world to come, crea‐ tion and new creation; he is the firstborn of all crea‐ tion, and the firstborn from the dead. Finally, Jesus is the blueprint for genuine humanness, the pattern for reconciliation and peacemaking. Ask God to make Je‐ sus central and supreme in your life and the life of the world this Christmas.

Christmas Eve Evening: Becoming Like Jesus (Philippi‐ ans 2:5‐11) What is your favorite song? Is it an old song, or a new one? What is your most cherished song in Sunday worship? In these verses Paul is reminding the church of what may be one of the first, if not the very first, hymns sung by the early Christians. Of course, it is a song about Jesus and a reminder that we need to be like him. Do you ever have a hard time putting the needs of others before your own? Are there people you would rather not have to love or put up with?

Aren’t you glad Jesus isn’t like that? Praise Jesus that he loves sinners and came to seek and to save people who are lost. Ask God to help you follow Jesus and be a humble and loving servant just like he is.

Collect (prayer) O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Used with permission from Christ Church Eastbay, 2011

Man’s maker was made man that he, ruler of the stars, might nurse at his mother’s breast; that the bread might hunger, the fountain thirst, the light sleep, the way be tired on its journey; that truth might be accused of false witness, the teacher be beaten with whips, the foundation be suspended on wood; that strength might grow weak; that the healer might be wounded; that life might die...The first coming of Christ the Lord, God’s son and our God, was in obscurity; the second will be in the sight of the whole world. When he came in obscu‐ rity no one recognized him but his own servants; when he comes openly he will be known by both good people and bad.

When he came in obscurity, it was to be judged; when he comes openly it will be to judge.

St. Augustine (354‐430), Bishop of Hippo