December 18, 2008

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

The time of preparation to welcome the birth of Christ draws near. In these final days of Advent we seek to be like Mary as we ponder in silence the wonder of the mystery of Emmanuel, God with us.

THEME FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Mary is the primary figure in this final Sunday of Advent. We seek to imitate Mary's example of faithful obedience to the Word of God. In the Collect we pray: "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 himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The reading from 2 Samuel recalls a time when God asked Nathan to build a tabernacle for the Lord. The reading prefigures the birth of Jesus in the human tabernacle of his mother Mary. "Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever." (2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16)

The response to the reading is Canticle 15, The Song of Mary, known as the Magnificat, from the Gospel of Luke: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever." (Luke 1:46-55)

The reading from Romans speaks about the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies in Jesus: "The proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith." (Romans 16:25-27)

The reading from Luke recounts the mystery of the faith known as the Annunciation: "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.' But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.' Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' The angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.' Then Mary said, 'Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.' Then the angel departed from her." (Luke 1:26-38)

At our worship services this weekend we will light four candles to symbolize the fourth week of Advent; the time draws near for the celebration of the birth of Christ. Please join us for worship this weekend: Saturday at 5 pm, Sunday at 10:30 am, and Sunday at 6 pm.

Sincerely, David A. Killian Rector

For the Collect of the Day, Scripture Readings, and Psalm, click here. Please note that the we are now using the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) reading. For Story from this Sunday's Gospel by Becky Taylor, Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry, click here.

worship services for

The Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 20-21, 2008
Saturday, December 20, at 5:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer
Sunday, December 21, at 10:30 am - Sermon: The Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer
Sunday, December 21, at 6:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling

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