Second Sunday in Advent (2024/25)

 

The Second Sunday in Advent.

Psalm 50. Deus deorum.

THE Lord, even the Most Mighty God, hath spoken, *and called the world, from the rising up of the sun unto the going down thereof.

2 Out of Sion hath God appeared * in perfect beauty.

3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; *there shall go before him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.

4 He shall call the heaven from above, * and the earth, that he may judge his people.

5 Gather my saints together unto me; * those that have made a covenant with me with sacrifice.

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; * for God is Judge himself.

7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; * I myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am God, even thy God.

8 I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices; * as for thy burnt-offerings, they are alway before me.

9 I will take no bullock out of thine house, * nor hegoats out of thy folds.

10 For all the beasts of the forest are mine, * and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11 I know all the fowls upon the mountains, * and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.

12 If I be hungry, I will not tell thee; * for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.

13 Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls’ flesh, * and drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer unto God thanksgiving, * and pay thy vows unto the Most Highest.

15 And call upon me in the time of trouble; * so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.

16 But unto the ungodly saith God, * Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant in thy mouth;

17 Whereas thou hatest to be reformed, * and hast cast my words behind thee?

18 When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him; * and hast been partaker with the adulterers.

19 Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness, * and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.

20 Thou sattest and spakest against thy brother; * yea, and hast slandered thine own mother’s son.

21 These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue, and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself; * but I will reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done.

22 O consider this, ye that forget God, * lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.

23 Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoureth me; * and to him that ordereth his way aright, will I show the salvation of God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen. 

The Collect.

[The Collect from the First Sunday in Advent is to be repeated every day, with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas-Eve:] 

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy 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 quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 55.1-13

Psalter: Morning-80, 82; Evening-25, 26

Epistle Reading: Romans 15.4-13

Gospel Reading: Luke 21.25-33 

Homily

Second Sunday in Advent - 2023/24

 

The Second Sunday in Advent.

Psalm 50. Deus deorum.

THE Lord, even the Most Mighty God, hath spoken, *and called the world, from the rising up of the sun unto the going down thereof.

2 Out of Sion hath God appeared * in perfect beauty.

3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; *there shall go before him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.

4 He shall call the heaven from above, * and the earth, that he may judge his people.

5 Gather my saints together unto me; * those that have made a covenant with me with sacrifice.

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; * for God is Judge himself.

7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; * I myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am God, even thy God.

8 I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices; * as for thy burnt-offerings, they are alway before me.

9 I will take no bullock out of thine house, * nor hegoats out of thy folds.

10 For all the beasts of the forest are mine, * and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11 I know all the fowls upon the mountains, * and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.

12 If I be hungry, I will not tell thee; * for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.

13 Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls’ flesh, * and drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer unto God thanksgiving, * and pay thy vows unto the Most Highest.

15 And call upon me in the time of trouble; * so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.

16 But unto the ungodly saith God, * Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant in thy mouth;

17 Whereas thou hatest to be reformed, * and hast cast my words behind thee?

18 When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him; * and hast been partaker with the adulterers.

19 Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness, * and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.

20 Thou sattest and spakest against thy brother; * yea, and hast slandered thine own mother’s son.

21 These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue, and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself; * but I will reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done.

22 O consider this, ye that forget God, * lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.

23 Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoureth me; * and to him that ordereth his way aright, will I show the salvation of God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen. 

The Collect.

[The Collect from the First Sunday in Advent is to be repeated every day, with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas-Eve:] 

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy 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 quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 55.1-13

Psalter: Morning-80, 82; Evening-25, 26

Epistle Reading: Romans 15.4-13

Gospel Reading: Luke 21.25-33 

Homily

 

This past Monday I was invited to open the Oklahoma County Commissioners meeting in prayer. Every time I have led public prayer in a civil government setting I follow a particular format that I found very useful It allows me to invoke the name of Jesus, and quote Scripture. You may find what I do helpful for when you’re called on to offer public prayer in a civil government setting.

Second Sunday of Advent and Advent Thoughts - 2022/23

 

The Second Sunday in Advent.

Psalm 50. Deus deorum.

THE Lord, even the Most Mighty God, hath spoken, *and called the world, from the rising up of the sun unto the going down thereof.

2 Out of Sion hath God appeared * in perfect beauty.

3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; *there shall go before him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.

4 He shall call the heaven from above, * and the earth, that he may judge his people.

5 Gather my saints together unto me; * those that have made a covenant with me with sacrifice.

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; * for God is Judge himself.

7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; * I myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am God, even thy God.

8 I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices; * as for thy burnt-offerings, they are alway before me.

9 I will take no bullock out of thine house, * nor hegoats out of thy folds.

10 For all the beasts of the forest are mine, * and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11 I know all the fowls upon the mountains, * and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.

12 If I be hungry, I will not tell thee; * for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.

13 Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls’ flesh, * and drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer unto God thanksgiving, * and pay thy vows unto the Most Highest.

15 And call upon me in the time of trouble; * so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.

16 But unto the ungodly saith God, * Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant in thy mouth;

17 Whereas thou hatest to be reformed, * and hast cast my words behind thee?

18 When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him; * and hast been partaker with the adulterers.

19 Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness, * and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.

20 Thou sattest and spakest against thy brother; * yea, and hast slandered thine own mother’s son.

21 These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue, and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself; * but I will reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done.

22 O consider this, ye that forget God, * lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.

23 Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoureth me; * and to him that ordereth his way aright, will I show the salvation of God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

 

The Collect.

[The Collect from the First Sunday in Advent is to be repeated every day, with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas-Eve:] 

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy 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 quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 55.1-13

Psalter: Morning-80, 82; Evening-25, 26

Epistle Reading: Romans 15.4-13

Gospel Reading: Luke 21.25-33 

Homily 

I have recorded me reading a children’s book of Advent readings called “The Advent Storybook”. Each day a new reading goes “live”. If you “subscribe” to my YouTube channel, it will alert you when they are live. This is great for your children, grandchildren, and folks in your congregations who have kids. Check it out here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3tVma8L1sECGek_6Bn-n2WhlSOk59Q5s 

 

The following is what I wrote and sent to my congregation this past week: 

This morning in my devotional reading, I was in 1 Peter 4:7-19. As I thought of Advent (preparing for the coming of Jesus, even the final coming of our Lord) and 1 Peter 4:7-19, a litany came into my head. A litany is a series of petitions and requests that are recited by one person and responded to in a recurring formula by others. Therefore, I thought I’d hand this litany to you for this first week in Advent. Maybe you could see fit to use it in your family devotions:

Petition: To be self-controlled and soberminded for the sake of our prayers,

Response: Grant to us, O Lord.

Petition: To keep on loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins,

Response: Grant to us, O Lord.

Petition: To show hospitality to one another without grumbling,

Response: Grant to us, O Lord.

Petition: To use the gifts you have given us to serve one another as good stewards of your varied grace,

Response: Grant to us, O Lord.

Petition: To continue to do all this, even when the end of all things is at hand,

Response: Grant to us, O Lord.

Petition: To do everything so that you may be glorified through Jesus Christ,

Response: Grant to us, O Lord.

All: To him belong the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

Second Sunday in Advent (and Pastoral Letter) - 2021/22

 

The Second Sunday in Advent.

Psalm 50. Deus deorum.

THE Lord, even the Most Mighty God, hath spoken, *and called the world, from the rising up of the sun unto the going down thereof.

2 Out of Sion hath God appeared * in perfect beauty.

3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; *there shall go before him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.

4 He shall call the heaven from above, * and the earth, that he may judge his people.

5 Gather my saints together unto me; * those that have made a covenant with me with sacrifice.

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; * for God is Judge himself.

7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; * I myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am God, even thy God.

8 I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices; * as for thy burnt-offerings, they are alway before me.

9 I will take no bullock out of thine house, * nor hegoats out of thy folds.

10 For all the beasts of the forest are mine, * and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11 I know all the fowls upon the mountains, * and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.

12 If I be hungry, I will not tell thee; * for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.

13 Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls’ flesh, * and drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer unto God thanksgiving, * and pay thy vows unto the Most Highest.

15 And call upon me in the time of trouble; * so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.

16 But unto the ungodly saith God, * Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant in thy mouth;

17 Whereas thou hatest to be reformed, * and hast cast my words behind thee?

18 When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him; * and hast been partaker with the adulterers.

19 Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness, * and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.

20 Thou sattest and spakest against thy brother; * yea, and hast slandered thine own mother’s son.

21 These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue, and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself; * but I will reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done.

22 O consider this, ye that forget God, * lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.

23 Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoureth me; * and to him that ordereth his way aright, will I show the salvation of God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen. 

The Collect.

[The Collect from the First Sunday in Advent is to be repeated every day, with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas-Eve:] 

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy 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 quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 55.1-13

Psalter: Morning-80, 82; Evening-25, 26

Epistle Reading: Romans 15.4-13

Gospel Reading: Luke 21.25-33 

Homily 

The following is what I wrote and sent to my congregation this past week:

Many years ago, an Anglican churchman compiled a spiral booklet that has supplemental seasonal prayers that focus on missions, evangelism, service, and giving. It’s titled “Spend and Be Spent”. I doubt it’s still in print anywhere, but I have an old copy that I have used for about 15 years. 

The supplemental prayer for the First Sunday in Advent is drawn from an ancient 5^th Century liturgy and is attached to passages from Romans 12: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (12:9-13). 

This supplemental prayer addresses God’s love, and how that should impact our interactions. I feel like this prayer is perfect for this time of year because Advent is all about God’s love displayed toward us in Christ. But it’s also fitting because in this Advent/Christmas season painful memories of wrongs done to us, or wrongs we’ve experienced, often surface. I’m sharing the prayer with you, modernizing the language a bit, because I have found it valuable to me, personally, and think some of you will as well.

 

O God of love, who through your Son has given us a new commandment that we should love one another even as you do love us: We beseech you to give us your servants, in each day of our life on earth, a mind forgetful of past ill will and a single heart to love our brethren; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 May this prayer enrich your hearts and make time shared with family and friends more wholesome, hopeful, and healthy. 

Pastor Mike

Second Sunday in Advent - 2020/21

 

The Second Sunday in Advent.

Psalm 50. Deus deorum.

THE Lord, even the Most Mighty God, hath spoken, *and called the world, from the rising up of the sun unto the going down thereof.

2 Out of Sion hath God appeared * in perfect beauty.

3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; *there shall go before him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.

4 He shall call the heaven from above, * and the earth, that he may judge his people.

5 Gather my saints together unto me; * those that have made a covenant with me with sacrifice.

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; * for God is Judge himself.

7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; * I myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am God, even thy God.

8 I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices; * as for thy burnt-offerings, they are alway before me.

9 I will take no bullock out of thine house, * nor hegoats out of thy folds.

10 For all the beasts of the forest are mine, * and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11 I know all the fowls upon the mountains, * and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.

12 If I be hungry, I will not tell thee; * for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.

13 Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls’ flesh, * and drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer unto God thanksgiving, * and pay thy vows unto the Most Highest.

15 And call upon me in the time of trouble; * so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.

16 But unto the ungodly saith God, * Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant in thy mouth;

17 Whereas thou hatest to be reformed, * and hast cast my words behind thee?

18 When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him; * and hast been partaker with the adulterers.

19 Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness, * and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.

20 Thou sattest and spakest against thy brother; * yea, and hast slandered thine own mother’s son.

21 These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue, and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself; * but I will reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done.

22 O consider this, ye that forget God, * lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.

23 Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoureth me; * and to him that ordereth his way aright, will I show the salvation of God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

 

The Collect.

[The Collect from the First Sunday in Advent is to be repeated every day, with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas-Eve:] 

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy 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 quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 55.1-13

Psalter: Morning-80, 82; Evening-25, 26

Epistle Reading: Romans 15.4-13

Gospel Reading: Luke 21.25-33 

Homily

 

This is from my most recent letter to my congregation, finishing our reflection on Isaiah 33:5-6.

We’ve been exploring Isaiah 33:5-6 these past few weeks, and what is vastly valuable and truly treasurable. We move, now, to the middle statement, and dwell on the stability of God.

“The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high;

he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness,

and he will be the stability of your times,

abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;

the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.”

 

I have already unpacked this statement in some detail in our congregational letter on 17 September, and all that I said then is still true and right today. Nevertheless, this point is nearly inexhaustible: “And he will be the stability of your times.” What is it that makes you feel like you’re spinning with emotional or spiritual vertigo? Where are you experiencing the unsettling of the ground underneath you? When are you most tremulous with anxiety or fear? “And he will be the stability of your times.” 

The LORD exalted and dwelling on high, who is our abundant salvation, wisdom, and knowledge, is the stability of our times. Even times when our adult children make disconcerting life decisions, when the doctor’s report comes back like a sledgehammer, when there’s been trouble in that pregnancy, when you can’t see beyond the bleakness surrounding you in the pain or penury. “He will be the stability of your times.” 

And it’s this realization of our God’s trustworthiness that brothers and sisters wrote hymns about and sang, even when they went through the most turbulent times of war, famine, death, and plagues. Such as Martin Luther, “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.” Or Martin Rinkart, “Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things has done, in whom his world rejoices; who from our mothers' arms has blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.” 

The LORD is the stability of our times. Even in the darkest and most dreadful of seasons and times of life, he is the stability of our times. And with that we can live, really live. 

Brothers and sisters our LORD who is high and exalted, abundant in salvation, wisdom and knowledge, is the stability of our times. Lift up your hearts, lift them up to the Lord!

Second Sunday in Advent - 2019/2020

The Second Sunday in Advent.

Psalm 50. Deus deorum.

THE Lord, even the Most Mighty God, hath spoken, *and called the world, from the rising up of the sun unto the going down thereof.

2 Out of Sion hath God appeared * in perfect beauty.

3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; *there shall go before him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.

4 He shall call the heaven from above, * and the earth, that he may judge his people.

5 Gather my saints together unto me; * those that have made a covenant with me with sacrifice.

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; * for God is Judge himself.

7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; * I myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am God, even thy God.

8 I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices; * as for thy burnt-offerings, they are alway before me.

9 I will take no bullock out of thine house, * nor hegoats out of thy folds.

10 For all the beasts of the forest are mine, * and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11 I know all the fowls upon the mountains, * and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.

12 If I be hungry, I will not tell thee; * for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.

13 Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls’ flesh, * and drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer unto God thanksgiving, * and pay thy vows unto the Most Highest.

15 And call upon me in the time of trouble; * so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.

16 But unto the ungodly saith God, * Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant in thy mouth;

17 Whereas thou hatest to be reformed, * and hast cast my words behind thee?

18 When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him; * and hast been partaker with the adulterers.

19 Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness, * and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.

20 Thou sattest and spakest against thy brother; * yea, and hast slandered thine own mother’s son.

21 These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue, and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself; * but I will reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done.

22 O consider this, ye that forget God, * lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.

23 Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoureth me; * and to him that ordereth his way aright, will I show the salvation of God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

The Collect.

[The Collect from the First Sunday in Advent is to be repeated every day, with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas-Eve:]

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy 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 quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 55.1-13

Psalter: Morning-80, 82; Evening-25, 26

Epistle Reading: Romans 15.4-13

Gospel Reading: Luke 21.25-33

Homily

Second Sunday in Advent - 2018/2019

The Second Sunday in Advent.

Psalm 50. Deus deorum.

THE Lord, even the Most Mighty God, hath spoken, *and called the world, from the rising up of the sun unto the going down thereof.

2 Out of Sion hath God appeared * in perfect beauty.

3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; *there shall go before him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.

4 He shall call the heaven from above, * and the earth, that he may judge his people.

5 Gather my saints together unto me; * those that have made a covenant with me with sacrifice.

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; * for God is Judge himself.

7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; * I myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am God, even thy God.

8 I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices; * as for thy burnt-offerings, they are alway before me.

9 I will take no bullock out of thine house, * nor hegoats out of thy folds.

10 For all the beasts of the forest are mine, * and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11 I know all the fowls upon the mountains, * and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.

12 If I be hungry, I will not tell thee; * for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.

13 Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls’ flesh, * and drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer unto God thanksgiving, * and pay thy vows unto the Most Highest.

15 And call upon me in the time of trouble; * so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.

16 But unto the ungodly saith God, * Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant in thy mouth;

17 Whereas thou hatest to be reformed, * and hast cast my words behind thee?

18 When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him; * and hast been partaker with the adulterers.

19 Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness, * and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.

20 Thou sattest and spakest against thy brother; * yea, and hast slandered thine own mother’s son.

21 These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue, and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself; * but I will reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done.

22 O consider this, ye that forget God, * lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.

23 Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoureth me; * and to him that ordereth his way aright, will I show the salvation of God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

The Collect.

[The Collect from the First Sunday in Advent is to be repeated every day, with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas-Eve:]

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy 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 quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 55.1-13

Psalter: Morning-80, 82; Evening-25, 26

Epistle Reading: Romans 15.4-13

Gospel Reading: Luke 21.25-33

Homily