Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: December 2016

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Psalm 98,1.24; Isaiah 9,6. Feast of Christ's Nativity

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum

Psalm 98,1a.24; Isaiah 9,6 0617

Christfest I 07

Nativity of Jesus

25. Dezember 2016

1. O Son of God, blessed are You who arrived in the Name of the Lord; shine Your light upon us so that we may marvel at Your wondrous birth. Amen. (Gradual).

2. O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things! The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! For to us a Child is born, and to us a Son is given, And He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

3. The penitent preparation of Advent has concluded; we now joyously celebrate the birth of Jesus. The Psalmist exhorts us: »Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things!« Today we sing once again the Gloria in excelsis. It is not really a new song for us since the Church has been singing this song on Sundays for 1900 years; but it was a new song for the shepherds when they first heard the angelic choir sing it when Jesus was born. Absence makes the heart grow fonder; and thus in Advent we set aside the Gloria so it would grow fonder for us during Advent and our joy would be renewed when we sing it in celebration of Christ’s birth.

4. »The Lord has made known His salvation.« The first public proclamation of Jesus’ birth was made to shepherds while they watched their sheep in the field. The angels do not appear to King Herod the Great and tell him the good news; that message is left for the Magi to tell a few months later. But David, you remember, was a shepherd in his youth. David was the youngest and least regarded of Jesse’s eight sons, but he had found favor in God’s sight; and having God’s favor is everything. The Prophet Samuel says of David: »He was ruddy, had beautiful eyes and was handsome« (1. Samuel 16,12). The shepherds who beheld the angels also found favor in God’s sight. They may have been tired and dirty after watching their sheep all day, but they were beautiful in the eyes of God, for it was to men and women like these shepherds that God sent His Son to redeem. To these men in the field the angelic choir sang: »Glory be to God on high: and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!« (Luke 2,14) Why the peace and goodwill? Because a Savior who is Christ the Lord has been born.

5. Mankind has needed a Savior since Adam and Eve had sinned in the Garden of Eden. They were punished, cursed and denied access to the Tree of Life. Adam’s sin created a great sundering between God and man; and God was promise-bound to bridge that sundering and restore His fellowship with the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve. You and I, yes, all the world still needs this Savior; thus the Church celebrates His birth every year so that the gospel once again may sound forth: Christ is born; there is now peace and goodwill between God and men! The shepherds found him in a manger in Bethlehem.

6. »He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.« The Scriptures tell us again and again that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah and the Gentiles’ Christ. He was sent to redeem every person in the world. He is the Glory of the Jews and the Light unto the Gentiles. The Advent Antiphons proclaim it more poetically:

℣ O Key of David and Scepter of the house of Israel, You open and no one can close, You close and no one can | open: *

℟ Draw near and rescue the prisoners, those who are in darkness and those in the shad- | ow of death (20. December).

℣ O Morning Star, Splendor of the Eternal Light and Sun of | justice: *

℟ Draw near and give light to those who sit in darkness and the shad- | ow of death (21. December).

7. »The Lord has remembered His mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel.« Mary quotes this Psalm verse almost verbatim when she visits Elizabeth: »The Lord has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever« (Luke 1,54-55).

8. »All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God« who is Jesus Himself. He is both God and man in one person. We see Him in today’s Gospel Lection as the Infant Jesus who sleeps in a manger, rests in Mary’s arms and is praised by shepherds.

9. The Prophet Isaiah proclaims: »For to us a Child is born, and to us a Son is given, And He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.« These messianic titles describe who the Infant Jesus is and what He will do to redeem fallen mankind.

10. God’s plan of salvation involved a virgin conception whereby the Child would be fully human and fully Divine. The Son of God become man in order to be the perfect sacrifice that would pay for every single sin of mankind. This Incarnation in human flesh was an integral part in God’s redemption of humanity. The Prophet Isaiah describes the Messiah as the Wonderful, Mighty, Eternal Prince. Jesus is Wonderful for He is the Savior of the world and the Messiah who restores fallen men and women back to His Father. His birth is thus wonderful good news for the shepherds and us. Jesus is Mighty for He is God Himself in the flesh. Our God is not a distant, transcendent God who looks down upon us from on high with detached observation. Our God is an in-our-midst, immanent God who takes great interest in our lives and the unfolding of mankind’s history on this Earth.

11. This morning, we remember little baby Jesus in the manger. That little boy is God Almighty, the Son of David, Israel’s king, He does what is right in the eyes of the Lord, for He grew up to exchange the wood of His manger for the wood of the cross. In doing so, He made you righteous and has redeemed you before God the Father. He is Israel’s Glory and Messiah; he is the Gentiles’ Light and Christ. Rejoice and praise Him, for He was born this day in Bethlehem, the City of David. Amen.

12. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Salvation of our G; help us this day to remember Your mercy and faithfulness, so that we rejoice and spread the gospel of Your birth. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4^th Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 27^th Edition © 1993 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

All quotations from the Book of Concord are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using Die Bekenntnisschriften der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirche, 12. Edition © 1998 by Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.

Psalm 2,1-7. Christmas Night

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

se cwide þæs béaggiefan ábireþ ferhþ

Psalm 2,1-4.6; Psalm 2,7b 0517

Christnacht 06

Adam and Eve

24. Dezember 2016

1. О Incarnate Jesus, blessed are you who arrived in the Name of the Lord; shine upon us the light of Your salvation, so that we joyously praise you as Israel’s Messiah and the Gentiles’ Christ. Amen. (Gradual)

2. Why do the nations rageand the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His anointed, saying: „Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.“ He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. „As for Me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy hill.“ The Lord said to Me: „You are My Son; today I have begotten You.“

3. The Psalmist poetically describes a time similar to one Charles Dickens writes at the beginning of his classic A Tale of Two Cities: „It was the best of times? It was the worst of times, ... it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, ... we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way....“

4. The Psalmist tells how some earthly kings want to pursue their own agenda and actively oppose God and His anointed Christ. The True King, namely God, simply laughs at their hubris.

5. This tale of two kings unfolded most dramatically when Jesus was born. We had Herod the Great exercising his kingship over Judea. This kingdom existed at the goodwill of Caesar Augustus, Emperor of Rome; for many years, Herod had been granted the coveted title Friend of Caesar. The problem was: Herod had no claim to Davidic lineage. Although he was raised a Jew, Herod’s Semitic ancestry was far removed from the royal line if David. St. Matthew makes this rather clear in his genealogy of Jesus: Joseph had a direct line of descent through David’s son Solomon. Luke also tells us in his genealogy that Jesus’ has a direct line of descent through Mary that traces back to David’s son Nathan. Thus Herod was not the rightful King of the Jews; that title properly belonged to Joseph and his son Jesus.

6. God the Father is seated in the heavens and laughs; He holds Herod in derision. God proclaims with royal authority: »As for Me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy hill. You are My Son; today I have begotten You.« The nations have their kings, and God has His. Tonight we celebrate the birth of that King in Bethlehem.

7. God promised this King’s birth to Eve. This King would reverse mankind’s fall into sin, undo the curse imposed upon man and defeat the devil. Generation after generation the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve hoped and longed for the fulfillment of this wonderful promise. The pages of Holy Scripture tell of further promises to succeeding generations that God had not forgotten what He had said to Eve long ago. The line of God’s King went through Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Leah. Then through Judah, Jesse and David. Now the promise was tied to Bethlehem, the birthplace of David and Zion, the capital in Jerusalem.

8. God’s promise suffered potential setbacks. Mankind’s ceaseless evil in Noah’s day, Egyptian slavery in Moses’ day and Babylonian captivity in King Zedekiah’s day. Yet every time it seemed the devil had managed to threaten the promise being fulfilled, God redeemed His promise and saved His King. While earthly kings and the devil plotted against the Christ, God the Father sat on His Heavenly throne and laughed at their feeble attempts to nullify His promise.

9. The Apostle Paul tells us: »When the fullness of time had arrived, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying: „Abba! Father!“ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God« (Galatians 4,4-7). The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was a direct result of His Heavenly Father’s preparation and timing. Augustus was Caesar and Herod was King so that they would be instrumental in playing their parts in God’s grand Heilsgeschichte (salvation history). Augustus’ census early in the spring of that year insured that Joseph and his family would be in Bethlehem at the time Mary was ready to deliver Jesus, thus fulfilling the Prophet Micah :»You, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you will come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. And He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the Name of the Lord His God. And they will dwell secure, for now He will be great to the ends of the earth. And He will be their peace« (Micah 5,2.4-5). The census dictated that relatives register in the hometown of their ancestor. David was from Bethlehem and thus Joseph and Mary went there for the Imperial census. St. Luke’s Christmas narrates these events in 20 verses complete with the manger, the shepherds and a choir of angels.

10. Saint Matthew’s Christmas narrative is much shorter with his concise 8 verses. In his brevity, Matthew focuses our attention on one key verse where the evangelist quotes Isaiah 7,14: »Behold, the virgin with child and she is bearing a son, and they name Him Immanuel, which is Hebrew for „God is with us.“« In citing the Prophet Isaiah, Matthew proclaims that the Immanuel promise has now come true (Gibbs 113). In spite mankind’s sinful unfaithfulness, the Lord would remain faithful. He promised His fallen creation a redeemer and by His trustworthy word the Lord sent this redeemer. In Chapter 7 Isaiah reaffirms that the ancestral line of the Messiah followed the lineage of Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Judah and David. The Apostle Paul tells us: »To the Jews belong the glory, the covenants, the promises, the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Messiah« (Romans 9,4-5). Matthew tells us that Jesus’ birth fulfills all this with the Jews.

11. But Isaiah also tells us in Chapter 9: »In the latter time He has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.The Gentiles who walked in darkness have seen a Great Light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has Light shined. The nations rejoice before You as with joy at the harvest. For You have broken the yoke of their burden. For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government will be uponHis shoulder, and He will be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace« (Isaiah 9,1-4.6). Isaiah says that the Messiah, whom we call the Christ, is for us too. Matthew affirms this in his Gospel when he records some of Jesus’ final words to His apostles: »Go, and make disciples of all nations« (Matthew 28,19).

12. Simeon summarizes all this when he takes the infant Jesus in his arms and proclaims within the temple courtyard: »O Lord, mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of Thy people Israel!« (Luke 2,29-32). Forty days before Simeon saw Jesus, the shepherds first saw Him and rejoiced in the birth of their Messiah and the world’s Christ. Tonight we have heard again the glad tidings of great joy of Jesus’ birth and we sing hymns of joy in celebration. Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, our Great Christmas Gift, You make our hearts glad at Your arrival, so that we join the choir of angels rejoicing at Your birth. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 27. Edition © 1993 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Friday, December 23, 2016

O Emmanuel. 23. December antiphon

O Emmanuel

℣ O Emmanuel, our King, Law-giver and LORD, the Longing of the nations and their | Savior: *

℟ Draw near and save us, O | LORD our God.

Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign. Look, the virgin is with Child and shall bear a Son, and shall name Him Immanuel (Isaiah 7,14).

The Apostle Matthew proclaims in his Gospel the fulfillment of Isaiah 7,14: Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son,

and they shall call His name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus.

Prayer: O Christ Jesus, our Immanuel, draw near us and be with us in Your Word and Sacraments so that we may rejoice and celebrate Your birth into our world. Amen.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

O King of the nations. 22. December antiphon

℣ O King of the nations, the Ruler they long for, the Cornerstone uniting all | people: *

℟ Draw near and save mankind, whom You formed | out of clay.

For to us a Child has been born and a Son has been given; authority rests upon His shoulders, and He is called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9,6). He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for all people; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, and neither shall they learn war anymore (Isaiah 2,4). Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a Stone, a Tested Stone, a Precious Cornerstone, of a Sure Foundation; Whoever believes will not be in haste. (Isaiah 28,16). For Jesus Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2,14).

Jesus is the King of the nations and the Cornerstone of His Church. He is the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the one who is all and fulfills all. This incarnate Jesus was born to redeem fallen mankind from sin, death and hell; He was born to restore mankind's broken fellowship from God the Father. All that has been sundered will be rebound; all that is lost will be found; all who are built on Him will endure for ever and ever.

Prayer: O Christ Jesus, King of the nations, send forth the Holy Spirit to proclaim the gospel so that in hearing we are grounded upon the solid foundation of the prophets and the apostles with You the Cornerstone, our everlasting salvation. Amen.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

O Morning Star. 21 December antiphon

O Oriens

℣ O Morning Star, Splendor of the Eternal Light and Sun of | justice: *

℟ Draw near and give light to those who sit in darkness and the shad- | ow of death.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a Great Light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -- on them Light has shined (Isaiah 9,2). Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord has spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me (Isaiah 60,2). But unto you that fear My Name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall (Malachi 4,2).

Jesus is the Morning Star who shines down the Divine Light upon mankind. His Majestic Light drives away the darkness. His Light reveals the path of righteousness and salvation, a path that leads to the darkness of the cross, death and the grave, but also a path that leads from the tomb with the light of resurrection.

Cynewulf writes in his Anglo-Saxon poem of Christ:

Hail Morning Star, Brightest of angels Thou,

sent unto men upon this middle-earth,

Thou art the True Brilliance of the sun,

radiant above the stars, and from Thyself

illuminest forever all the tides of time!

And as Thou, God indeed begotten of God,

Thou Son of the True Father, wast from aye

without beginning in the heavens glory,

so now Thy handiwork in its sore need

prayeth Thee boldly, that Thou send to us

the Radiant Sun, and that Thou come Thyself

to enlighten those who for so long a time,

were wrapt around with darkness and here in gloom,

have sat the lifelong night; shrouded in sin

death’s dark shadow had they to endure.

Hopeful now we trust in the salvation

brought to the hosts of men through God’s own Word,

which was in the beginning co-eternal

with God, the Almighty Father and is now

flesh void of blemish, that the maiden bare

to help the wretched. God was seen ’mong us

in all His sinlessness; together they dwelt

the Creator’s Mighty Son and the Son of Man

in peace on earth wherefore as it is meet

we may well thank the Lord of Triumph aye,

that He vouchsafed to send to us Himself (Crist 104-129).

Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, the Morning Star, shine upon us with the light of Your grace and mercy, so that we may bask in the glory of Your righteousness that You have merited for us. Amen.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

O Key of David. 20. December antiphon

O Clavis David

℣ O Key of David and Scepter of the house of Israel, You open and no one can close, You close and no one can | open: *

℟ Draw near and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and the shad- | ow of death.

I will place on His shoulder the key of the house of David; He shall open, and no one shall shut; He shall shut, and no one shall open (Isaiah 22,22)

His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and His kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore (Isaiah 9,7).

To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house (Isaiah 42,7).

Sometimes, the Prophet Isaiah is called the Fifth Evangelist or Gospel because he has many verses prophesying about the Messiah. The O Antiphons contain several of them. The Scriptures are also clear that the Messiah descends from the House of David. This is why many thought at the time of Jesus that the Messiah would be a earthly king similar to David, and that He would rule over a united Israel after driving out all the pagans and their idolatrous culture, but Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world. His kingdom is a heavenly kingdom that is concerned with saving mankind, both Jews and Gentiles. Jesus was born to redeem all men and women.

Prayer: O Christ Jesus, Thou Key of David, unlock the hearts of the unbelievers so that when they hear the gospel they will believe and be counted as citizens in Your reign. Amen.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Christmas Services

Please join us for the celebration of Jesus' birth on

Saturday December 24th at 7:30 pm

for our traditional Carols and Lessons Service

and also on

Sunday December 25th at 11:00 am

for our Divine Service III with Holy Communion.

Psalm 102,13.19-21; Psalm 102,16. Rorate Caeli

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum

Psalm 102,13.19-21; Psalm 102,16 0417

4. Sonntag im Advent 04

Rorate Caeli (Shower down, you heavens)

Wunibald, Abbot at Heidenheim, ✠ 760

18. Dezember 2016

1. O God the Father, Thou Omnipresent Lord, send forth the Holy Spirit to dwell with us, so that as we draw ever nearer to Christ’s nativity we are assured that You truly are in our midst for Jesus, our Immanuel, is God with us, now and always. Amen. (Gradual).

2. For the Lord builds up Zion; He appears in His glory. O Lord, You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has arrived. The Lord looked down from His holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, so that they may declare in Zion the Name of the Lord, and in Jerusalem His praise.

3. Rorate Caeli Sunday proclaims that God will shower down from heaven His mercy upon the earth. The Psalmist says Zion is the focal point for this deluge of Divine grace. Like Palisades Park, Jerusalem is built upon numerous valleys and hills. The highest point in Jerusalem is Mount Zion, and that is where the temple stood for hundreds of years. Zion is where God’s glory physically dwelt upon the earth.

4. Zion is often used in the Old Testament to refer to the Jewish people. They are His chosen people Israel; they are His Zion. But the Psalmist foresees a time when Zion is oppressed and the people are prisoners. This happened several times in Zion’s history, and of particular national importance was when Babylon had conquered Judah, razed the temple to the ground and took thousands into Babylonian captivity. Our Hymn of the Day expresses the desire of Zion’s restoration: „O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear.“ (LSB 357,1).

5. Emmanuel means „God with us“. The Prophet Isaiah tells us: »Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call Him Immanuel« (Isaiah 7,14). The Angel Gabriel said to Mary: »Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you! Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Your Child 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 father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His reign will never end« (Luke 1,28,.30.32-33). Thus the psalm was fulfilled: »It is the time to favor her; the appointed time has arrived.«

6. With Mary’s favor comes Zion’s favor, and with Zion’s favor comes the Gentiles’ favor. Jesus Immanuel is the Light to the Gentiles and the Glory of Zion Israel (Luke 2,32). The Lord has heard the groans of those imprisoned for their sin and set free those who were doomed to die. This is the gospel that Advent prepares us to celebrate.

7. If the Son of God is with us, then who can be against us (Romans 8,31)? He has forgiven our sin and set our conscience free from the law’s condemnation. He has liberated us from death and the grave. Death no longer separates us from God and our sin no longer weighs us down.

8. on the 4. Sunday in Advent the heavens shower down righteousness and salvation (Isaiah 45,8), for the Lord has arisen and has had pity upon His creation; it is now the time of grace; the appointed time has advented and arrived (Psalm 102,13). Thus the Prophet Isaiah proclaims: »Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared His holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God« (Isaiah 52,9-10).

9. Today’s O Antiphon proclaims our Lord’s visitation unto us:

℣ O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the Burning Bush and gave him the Torah on | Sinai: *

℟ Draw near with outstretched arm and re- | deem us.

The antiphon teaches us that Zion is not merely Israel but that Zion is now the Church. The Psalmist proclaims: »Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for the Lord judges the peoples with equity and guides the nations upon the earth« (Psalm 67,4). »Praise the Lord, all nations, for great is His steadfast love toward us« (Psalm 117,1-2). The Church is full of Christians from many nations and she is the Lord’s Zion; we believe that Jesus is the promised Jewish Messiah who saved the world through His vicarious sacrifice. We declare in church the Name of the Lord, and in our borough we praise Him as the Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ’s birth is soon upon us once again, and we sing praise to Him as we celebrate that day a week from today, for it is the great day of God’s visitation among mankind. God is with us in Jesus, and His arrival restored and redeemed us back to God our Father. Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Pleasing Theme of Thy Father’s heart; inspire us to sing Thy praises just as Your mother Mary magnified and rejoiced in You, so that we may also rejoice in Your blessed visitation among mankind. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

O Root of Jesse antiphon. 19. December

O Radix Jesse

℣ O Root of Jesse, standing as an Ensign before the peoples, before whom all kings are mute, to whom the nations will do | homage: *

℟ Draw near quickly to de- | liver us.

A Shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. On that day the Root of Jesse shall stand as a Signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of Him, and His dwelling shall be glorious (Isaiah 11,1.10). But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He go forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5,2). And again, Isaiah says: There shall be a Root of Jesse, and He shall arise to reign over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles trust (Romans 15,12).

The Apostle Paul writes: The Jews are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever (Romans 9,4-5). Jesus is the Jewish Messiah promised to all the patriarchs. His lineage stretches back through David, Jesse, Judah, Jacob (Israel), Isaac and Abraham. But Paul also says that Jesus is also the Christ of the Gentiles (the nations). The Prophet Isaiah even foretold this (11,10). Jesus is thus the Savior of the entire world: no nation, race or people is left out; He was born to redeem all men and women. Through Abraham's offspring all the Earth has been blessed.

Prayer: O Jesus Christ, Thou Root of Jesse, send forth the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel so that all nations and people may hear and believe that Jesus was born and has obtained eternal life and salvation for all people. Amen.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

O Adonai antiphon. 18. December

O Adonai

℣ O Adonai and Ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the Burning Bush and gave him the Law on | Sinai: *

℟ Draw near with outstretched arm and re- | deem us.

The LORD shall judge the poor with righteousness, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around His waist and faithfulness the belt around His loins (Isaiah 11,4-5), for the LORD is our Judge, Ruler and our King; He will save us (Isaiah 33,22). And Moses said: I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt (Exodus 3,2). The LORD said to Moses: Draw near to Me onto the mount, and I will give you tablets of stone, a law and commandments which I have written; so that you may teach them (Exodus 24,12).

Adonai is Hebrew for "Lord". In this antiphon we confess that Jesus is the LORD. We tend to confine Jesus to only the New Testament, but as this antiphon reminds us: He also appears in the Old Testament. We call these pre-incarnation appearances of Jesus "theophanies" (Theophany is Greek and means "the appearance of God to a human being"). Jesus is the one who who walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Jesus is the one who spoke the law to the serpent but gospel to Eve. Jesus is the one who appeared in the Burning Bush to Moses. These all show that Jesus appears to redeem His people. He fulfilled those promises in the New Testament with His death and resurrection. His birth in Bethlehem heralds that great redemption.

Prayer: O Jesus Christ, Thou our LORD, send out Your grace through the gospel so that we may be assured that You have purchased our forgiveness and earned for us eternal life. Amen.

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Friday, December 23, 2016

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Monday, December 19, 2016

Sunday, December 18, 2016