McPhail Weblog Dec 5 2021

McPhail Baptist Church

Prelude: “Prelude on Picardy

(Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence)”

Carol: “Angels From The Realms of Glory”

An Advent Prayer

Great and marvellous God, your gifts of life and light and love can be received only if we are open. So this is our prayer, that we might be open to You.

Open our eyes to see your glory in the coming again of the light of each day, and in the light of truth wherever spoken or done. Open our ears to hear the song of angels in the soft music of hope and longing within us, the laughter of friends, the cries for peace on earth, goodwill among all.

Open our hearts to the gifts of love that we yearn to give and receive; the hand on the shoulder, the time to listen, the smile of understanding, a new beginning free of past grievance.

And dear God, open us to Christ’s birth within us, and among us, that we may be born into the fullness of His image, and fullness of His kingdom, that we might open our hearts to the child of the cradle, and to the Christ of the cross. For it is in His name, we pray. Amen.

Special Music: "Once in Royal David's City"

Margot Lange

The Scriptures:

Isaiah 55:10-11

10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

James 1:19

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Special Music:

"What We All Want For Christmas"

Lynda and Ernie Cox