Music and Meditation for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Sunday, December 22, 2019 | The Fourth Sunday of Advent

"Breath of Heaven"
Words and Music by Amy Grant
Performed by Amy Grant in the Official Lyric Video (2019)

Text in the video and video description at YouTube

Readings

Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Jesus said to them, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

John 20:21-22

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

The Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Music and Meditation for the Third Sunday of Advent

Sunday, December 15, 2019 | The Third Sunday of Advent

"He Who Is Mighty"
Words and Music by Sovereign Grace (2014)
Performed by Kate DeGraide and Rebecca Elliott in a studio session for the album Prepare Him Room (BMI, 2014)

Text is in the video description at YouTube.

Readings

And Mary said:

"My soul magnifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my savior,
for he has looked upon the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, all generations shall call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name."

Luke 1:46-48 (ESV)

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever, Amen.

The Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent

Music and Meditation for the Second Sunday of Advent

Sunday, December 8, 2019 | The Second Sunday of Advent

"Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus"

Words by Charles Wesley (1744) with new chorus by Laura Story

Music is the hymn tune HYFRODOL by Rowland Prichard

Laura Story sings on her album God With Us (Fair Trade Services, 2015)

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

Come now great Redeemer

Come Emmanuel

Bless the nations with your presence here

Born our souls to rescue

Born to save your very own

Long expected Jesus

Make our hearts your home

Readings

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV)

Almighty God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

The Collect for the Second Sunday of Advent