Little Bird Creations: Advent 23

The Fourth Sunday in Advent

The fourth candle is lit today.

Week Four

* Invocation

Heavenly Father, in this fourth week of Advent, as we look to the coming of the Christ, prepare our hearts and minds for the great Light of Your Way.

* Summation

In this fourth week we read of the Angel announcing the coming of the Savior to those whom the Lord has called according to His grace. As His faithful people people responded with humble hearts and wills conformed to His, so let us do likewise.

* Bible Reading

From Luke 1

And there appeared unto Zachariasan angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard;

And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name wasMary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord iswith thee: blessed artthou among women.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

ForHe that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy isHis name.

And his mercy ison them that fear him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from theirseats, and exalted them of low degree.

* The Lighting

We light the fourth candle of Advent. We kindle it in PEACE that Your will is good and right and that we will FOLLOW in it.

* Prayer

O Christ, Light of the world, come to us. When Your calling for us looks overwhelming, depressing, life-shattering, and not what we would chose, help us, like Mary, who in faith conformed her will to Yours, to follow Your leading, to cast down our pride, that we may be exalted by You when we humbly submit to Your direction. Let our spirits rejoice in God our Saviour. By Your mighty arm, continue to do great things to us and through us, that we might always bless Your holy name.

* Song

God of Peace, O shine on us;

Guide our path in this life's night,

That our will in Thine be done;

Come to us, O Christ the Light.

Only One More Window to Open

Scenes

We have no white Christmas, but the wet reflections are pretty.

The Märlitram in Zürich. It is for little children to hear stories from an angel, as St. Nicholas drives. It is sponsored by the Jelmoli store, celebrating 60 years this Christmas.