Hark! the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King! Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies, with angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Hark! the herald angels sing glory to the newborn King!”
“It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold. Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven’s all gracious King, the world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.”
Lord, may we hear this glorious sound! “Still through the cloven skies they come, with peaceful wings unfurled, and still their heavenly music floats, over all the weary world. Above its sad and lowly plains, they bend on hovering wing, and ever o’er its Babel sounds, the blessed angels sing.”
“How silently, how silently. the wondrous gift is given; so, God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of His Heaven. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.” Make us ready Lord!
“O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray! Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us to-day. We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!” Spread the Good News! The Messiah is coming!
Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble. Psalm 119:65
“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17
“Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.”
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 1 John 5:1
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me. John 8:42
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad. Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” Praise the Lord!
Today is the Third Sunday of Advent. We light the candle of JOY.
A candle is burning, a candle of JOY,
A candle to welcome brave Mary’s new boy
Our hearts fill with wonder and eyes light and glow
As joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow
“Behold, the Bridegroom draweth nigh!” Hear ye the often-repeated cry, for blest are they whom he shall find, with ready heart and watchful mind; go forth, my soul, to him.
“Behold, the Bridegroom cometh by!” The call is echoed from the sky, go forth, ye servants, watch and wait; the slothful cannot join his train; no careless one may entrance gain, awake, my soul, before it’s too late.
“Lo! he comes with clouds descending, once for favored sinners slain; thousand, thousand saints attending, swell the triumph of his train. Alleluia! Alleluia! God appears on earth to reign.”
“Every eye shall now behold him, robed in dreadful majesty; those who set at naught and sold him, pierced, and nailed him to the tree, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, shall the true Messiah see. Now Redemption, long expected, see in solemn pomp appear! All his saints, by man rejected, now shall meet him in the air. Alleluia! Alleluia! See, the day of God appear!”