Western Road URC's Advent Candle Readings Alexander: When Jesus spoke again to the people, we read from John 8 v12, Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world’. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. The nations will walk by this light and all people will see God’s glory”.
We Light the Advent candle for Light Alexander: We read Based on Ephesians chapter 5 “Live as children of light” …. Follow God’s example and follow the path he has shown us, even when there may be challenges ahead. “Follow God’s example, and walk in the way of love just as Christ loved us and find out what pleases the Lord” James: Prayer of Light: Dear Lord, now it is time to share and celebrate the Christmas festival of lights send the radiance of your light to shine in our hearts. Help us remember that Jesus is the light of the world Help us follow the right path even when this may be challenging Make us true to your teaching; keep us free from error and sin. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, Amen.
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Western Road URC's Advent Candle Readings Daniel: Today on the fourth Sunday of Advent, we light an Advent candle.
Erin: The brightness of the candle reminds us of God’s glory that shone around the shepherds when they heard the angels’ first Christmas greetings: ‘Do not be afraid.’ We pray that God’s glory will reign on earth as it does in the highest heaven. Daniel: We Light the candle for Peace Erin: We read From ‘Luke 1.78-79’: By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ Carol: Prayer of Peace: Lord Jesus, Quiet the worries and fears in our hearts. Give us your peace, Let there be peace among the nations, Peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts Thank you for the life you share with us thank you for enabling us to share your life with others. Come Lord Jesus. Amen The following was written and read by Linda at Trinity URC on 13th December 2020 At the start of Advent or even earlier in the shops now days, we begin to hear carols that are very familiar to us. In some instances, so familiar that we sometimes forget to listen to the message they contain. So to end our festival of carols and readings today, we are going to focus on the message of one such carol that has been sung for over 300 years “Joy to the World”.
As my colleague Anna says when we need an answer to anything we don’t know – google it, so google has assisted me here and I would like credit the following authors of articles I have read to help me prepare this message. Ray Fowler Jonathan Powers Matt Boswell Keith Getty The High Calling Joy to the World was written by Isaac Watts in the 1700. When Isaac was a young man he was frustrated with the music in church. He felt that the hymns had old fashioned language and were full melodies that failed to inspire. Isaac shared his frustration with his father, who was a church pastor. His father who challenged him to write different hymns for the church, so Isaac took up this challenge and started a lifelong practice of composing more than 600 hymns. Isaac was inspired to write Joy to the World, by Psalm 98 particularly verse 4 “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth burst into jubilant song with music”. Incidentally Isaac didn’t write the song as a Christmas Carol but as a hymn to be sung all year around and it was not originally sung to the music we have come to know and love. So why is “Joy to the World” such a popular Christmas Carol and what is the message that Isaac Watts is conveying to us in this hymn? The first verse of Joy to the World is based on verses 4 to 6 of psalm 98, and for those of you who are unable to see the screen the words are: Joy to the World – Rejoice and Sing No 135 Joy to the World! The Lord is come Let earth receive her King Let every heart prepare him room And heaven and nature sing Psalm 98 NRSV 4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. 5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD The first verse of Joy to the World announces the birth of Christ and is one of the reasons this song has been come a popular Christmas Carol. The line “let every heart prepare him room” is believed to be a reference to Luke chapter 2 verse 7 “ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” The second verse corresponds to verses 7 and 8 of psalm 98 Joy to the World – Rejoice and Sing No 135 Joy to the world! The Savior reigns Let men their songs employ While fields and floods Rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy Psalm 98 NRSV Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it. 8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy This second verse of “Joy to the World” reminds us that we should always sing God’s praise. In verse one Isaac refers to Christ as Lord and King, however here in the second verse he refers to Christ as Saviour, which ties in with the Christmas theme, through the angel’s announcement in Luke chapter 2 verse 11 “to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Another reference in hymn to make this a popular Christmas Carol is the line “Let all their songs employ” which remind us of the 4 specific songs in Luke’s gospel that delight and proclaim the birth of Jesus.
The original lyrics of the 3rd verse of may not be that familiar as the words have been changed in some hymn books including the URC Rejoice and Sing. I was unable to establish why the words were changed, however the original words that Isaac wrote were No more let sins and sorrows grow Nor thorns infest the ground He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found Whereas today we sing about pain and death instead of a curse. Joy to the World – Rejoice and Sing No 135 No more let thorns infest the ground Or sins and sorrow grow Whereever pain and death are found He makes his blessing grow Psalm 98 NRSV O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. 2 The LORD has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. The sins and curses being referred to in this verse is when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden by eating fruit from the forbidden tree and God put a curse on all creation, the verse goes on to say that when Christ comes a second time, the curse will be eliminated. Moving on the last verse of Joy to the World, which correspondences to verses 3 and 9 in psalm 98 Joy to the World – Rejoice and Sing No 135 He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness And wonders of his love Psalm 98 NRSV 3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. 9 at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity In this final verse of “Joy to the World”, we are telling those around us that God judges the world in truth and fairness and yet he also gives us grace through Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for sin at the cross. So when we sing "Joy to the World" we are not only look backing to the first coming of Christ and celebrating his birth. At the same time, the words encourage us to look forward to the day when the impact of sin will be erased, and all nations will prove the glories of God's righteousness and the wonders of his love. As we look forward to celebrations of the birth of Jesus Christ and to a new year - 2021, I would ask you today to look back at 2020 and think of the joys of this very different and in some cases a difficult year, for me a few of these are
Western Road URC's Advent Candle Readings Katya: On the third Sunday of Advent, we light a candle. Our hope grows stronger, and our joy grows brighter as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s coming. We remember also in this time of shadows those whose tears still water the ground with sadness, and we pray that God will bring all people home with shouts of joy.
We Light the candle for Joy Katya: “We read from 1 Chronicles 16v32-34 “Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the fields be jubilant and everything in them! Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”” Josia: Prayer of Joy: Jesus we want your coming to make a difference in how we live and love. Open our hearts to hear you telling us how we can bring peace and joy to others. Help us appreciate more the amazing natural world around us, Help us appreciate the joy experienced by the Wise Men following the star to baby Jesus. Help us follow the right path Come Lord Jesus Amen. Western Road URC's Advent Candle Readings Liam: On the second Sunday of Advent, we light a candle to show that the church joyfully awaits the coming of its Saviour.
Pat: A Saviour who enlightens our hearts and scatters the shadows of fear and doubt. We pray that God will bless us so that we may reflect the splendour of Christ who loves us. We Light the candle for Love Pat: We Read from 1 John 1.7 “If we walk in the light as God is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin.” From 1 Corinthians 13 v4 we remember “Love is patient, love is kind”. Pat: Prayer for Love: Come Lord Jesus. Warm our hearts with your love. Help us share your everlasting love Help us remember love is patient, Love is kind, Help us remember to love thy neighbour as thyself Help us to prepare for your coming. Help us to see the good things we can do Help us to see the good things others can do Come Lord Jesus. Amen |