In the second week of Advent, we celebrate the candle-lighting because Jesus is the Light of the world. He is the reason for the season. While each day of Advent has a Jesse Tree Ornament and a Chrismon, celebrating the Old Testament prophecy and the New Testament fulfilment, Advent represents both the coming of Jesus to earth in Bethlehem to bring His own to salvation, but it also introduces the “not yet” aspect, the predicted and proclaimed Second Coming of Christ when He shall rule the Peaceable Kingdom. We mortals admit, this sin-filled world of wars, rumors of wars, hardship, poverty, evil, crime, and most recently attacks against the Jews, His original chosen people, and the WOKE lifestyle being proclaimed by the liberals among us–the world needs and must bow to God’s way.
Here is the celebration of Week Two of Advent:
WEEK 2
Prayer: You, Lord, are the Hope of the World. Because You were promised in the Old Testament by prophets, and Kings, and Judges, Your people who waited for Your birth remembered their words and God made Your life an example for us all. Thank You for leaving the heavenly throne room to live among us, to experience mortality, to face the temptations we face, and to overcome death so that we might have abundant life. In Your Precious Name we pray. Amen.
THE FAITH CANDLE
This is what God said in the Old Testament that He would do. Jesus would be of the house and lineage of David, He will rule one day as King, He was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea, He will be the Good Shepherd, and He will provide salvation for the people who believe He is indeed the Son of God.
MICAH 5: 2[1]
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are one of the smallest towns in Judah.
But from you will come one who will rule Israel for me.
He comes from very old times,
from days long ago.”
ISAIAH 7:14[2]
But the Lord himself will give you a sign:
The virgin will be pregnant.
She will have a son,
and she will name him Immanuel.
MATTHEW 1: 14-24[3]
So there were 14 generations
from Abraham to David.
And there were 14 generations from David until the time
when the people were taken to Babylon.
And there were 14 generations
from the time when the people were taken to Babylon
until Christ was born.
The mother of Jesus Christ was Mary.
And this is how the birth
of Jesus came about.
Mary was engaged to marry Joseph.
But before they married, she learned
that she was going to have a baby. She was pregnant
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Mary’s husband, Joseph, was a good man. He did not want to disgrace her in public,
so he planned to divorce her secretly.
While Joseph thought about this,
an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream.
The angel said,
“Joseph, descendant of David,
don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.
The baby in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son.
You will name the son Jesus.
Give him that name
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this happened to make clear
the full meaning of what the Lord
had said through the prophet:
“The virgin will be pregnant. She will have a son,
and they will name him Immanuel.”
This name means “God is with us.”
When Joseph woke up,
he did what the Lord’s angel
had told him to do. Joseph married Mary.
ADVENT HYMN
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus[4]
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.
Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne.
[1] Micah 5:2. Ibid.
[2] Isaiah 7:14. Ibid.
[3] Matthew 1: 14-24.Ibid.
[4] www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh196.sht. Charles Wesley, 1707-1788 Hyfrydol tune.
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