Welcome: –

Liturgy for Advent Two:

Narrator: Today we light the candle of Peace.

[The candle of Hope, and then the candle of Peace are lit.]

  All is not okay with the World, and no-one needs to check the latest news to know that.  Jesus knew that too.  His heart was for the people of Jerusalem, of Judea, and of Galilee – Jews and Gentiles – who God had planned would hear about his amazing deeds.  The God who miraculously gave children to Sarah, to Elizabeth (the mother of John the Baptist) and to Mary declared to the World – then and now – ‘I am at work, I am working for your good’.  God was revealing that He is the true source of love and peace.

  Ancient and modern Christmas carols all point us to the One who is the Prince of Peace – the only one who can bring peace to hearts and reconciliation across Tribes and Nations.  Beautiful songs have come out of agony, such as ‘O Holy Night’ (1847) from France, which declares that in Jesus Christ the Saviour all ‘oppression shall cease’ – incredible now in the light of the revolutionary rumblings at the time, when starving peasants were desperate for food.  ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’ (1863) came from the American Civil War – the author’s son being one of thousands severely injured and affected for life in that conflict.  ‘Silent Night’ was written in 1818 in Austria, in the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars.

On that first Christmas, the shepherds, the parents of Jesus and the Magi were all confronted with an amazing declaration: that this baby born into lowly circumstances in a backwater of the Roman Empire was to be the Prince of Peace.  Yet Jesus was not going to bring a peace that had everyone nodding in agreement.  Instead, he was going to bring a different sort of division as God’s truth would defeat sin and suffering in ways none of us could imagine.  He was not going to dance to anyone’s tune nor take sides in any conflict. Rather, it is we – sin-affected Humanity – who must turn to him and surrender to God’s ways.  In doing that, the wars of our own hearts, and those of the world, will cease.  And, finally, at the Second Advent, however that unfolds, true and lasting peace will reign.  Let it start with me, Lord Jesus!

The hope we have in Jesus Christ brings joy into our heart,

And when we know the love of God, His peace He will impart. 

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn ‘Carol of the Birds’  (from Five Australian Christmas Carols)

Verse 1 of 3

Out on the plains the Brolgas are dancing,

Lifting their feet like war-horses prancing,

Up to the Sun the Woodlarks go winging

Faint in the dawn light echoes their singing.

Orana!  Orana!  Orana to Christmas Day!

Verse2 of 3

Down where the tree ferns grow by the river,

There where the waters sparkle and quiver,

Deep in the gullies Bellbirds are chiming,

Softly and sweetly their lyric notes rhyming.

Orana!  Orana!  Orana to Christmas Day!

Verse 3 of 3

Friarbirds sip the nectar of flowers,

Currawongs chant in Wattletree bowers,

In the blue ranges Lorikeets calling,

Carols of bush birds rising and falling.

Orana!  Orana!  Orana to Christmas Day!

John Wheeler

Prayer of Praise    

Almighty God, Creator of all there is, seen and unseen, known and yet to be known, you are wonderful in your glory.

You are the giver of life and breath, the source of real peace and joy.  We worship and adore you.

We see with clarity that all Worldly powers come under your authority, and that all of Humanity are obliged to humble themselves before you as the true and living God of all. 

We know you as steadfast in keeping your covenant relationship with us, in helping those who flee to you for comfort, and in giving hope to those who despair of life and love.  We worship and adore you.

You are the one who accomplished our salvation.  You are the one who awakened in our spirit the desire to receive your Word which works its very power in those who believe. 

For we know that by obedience to your Word alone we grow mature in the likeness of Christ.  May we never take it for granted, for your Word points us to Christ.  It unveils His glory. 

It speaks to us of truth and opens our eyes not only to an understanding of his sacrifice for us, but also of the promise of eternal life. 

You have made us for yourself.  Our hearts are restless till we find our rest in you.  May we follow you path in our lives.  May all we do and say bring you honour and glory.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn ‘The King of Glory’ 

Chorus

The King of glory comes, the Nation rejoices,

open the gates before him, lift up your voices.

Verse 1 of 5

Who is the King of glory, how shall we call him?

He is Immanuel, the promised of Ages.

Chorus

The King of glory comes, the Nation rejoices,

open the gates before him, lift up your voices.

Verse2 of 5

In all of Galilee, in city or village,

he goes among his people curing their illness.

Chorus

The King of glory comes, the Nation rejoices,

open the gates before him, lift up your voices.

Verse 3 of 5

Sing then of David’s son, our Saviour and brother,

in all of Galilee was never another.

[pause]

Chorus

The King of glory comes, the Nation rejoices,

open the gates before him, lift up your voices.

Verse 4 of 5

He gave his life for us, the pledge of salvation;

he took upon himself the sins of the Nation.

Chorus

The King of glory comes, the Nation rejoices,

open the gates before him, lift up your voices.

Verse 5 of 5

He conquered sin and death; he truly has risen,

and he will share with us his Heavenly vision.

Chorus

The King of glory comes, the Nation rejoices,

open the gates before him, lift up your voices,

lift up your voices.

Willard Jabusch

Prayer of Confession   

Merciful God, we humbly come before you confessing our sins.  We confess that we have broken your holy Laws by our misdeeds and ill-spoken words. 

We confess our disobedience and ingratitude, our pride and our wilfulness.  We confess our failures and our shortcomings, towards you and towards our neighbours.  Forgive us.

Though we are made in your image, we often act as if we are self-made, with no obligation to honour you nor to serve you. 

We are more concerned with what others owe to us than with what we owe to them.  We show more respect to those who wield power and influence in the World than giving glory to you.  Forgive us.

Forgive our false claims to what is in the World around us, for our ungrateful use and abuse of the resources that you have created to sustain us. 

Forgive our wantonness and our wasteful living.  Forgive our desiring for more rather than a passion to share with those who have less. 

Forgive us and wipe the sins completely from our lives. 

Recall us to our true allegiance, so that, above the powers and rulers of this World, you alone may claim our fullest loyalty and love. 

Open our eyes to see more of your truth.  Open our minds to believe it more earnestly.  Open our mouths to declare it more fully. 

For this we pray, to your glory and honour.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(1 Thessalonians 1: 10b) 

The Apostle Paul reminded the Church in Thessalonica that God raised His Son, Jesus Christ, from death, and that it is Jesus who rescues us from the consequences that would have been ours had not we turned away from our sins towards the grace and mercy of God.  We have confessed our sins before God, and have professed our trust in this saving work of Jesus.  Therefore, we have the confidence that our sins have been forgiven and our lives cleansed in God’s sight.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination   

Almighty, gracious Father, for as much as our whole salvation depends upon our true understanding of your holy Word, grant to all of us that our hearts, being freed from worldly affairs, may hear and comprehend your holy Word with all diligence and faith, that we may rightly understand your gracious will, cherish it, and live by it with all earnestness, to your praise and honour, through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Bible Readings

Isaiah 9:

2  Isaiah said:

“The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light.  They lived in a land of shadows, but now light is shining on them.  3  You have given them great joy, Lord; you have made them happy.  They rejoice in what you have done, as people who rejoice when they harvest grain or when they divide captured wealth.

6  A child is born to us!  A son is given to us!  And he will be our ruler.  He will be called ‘Wonderful Counsellor’, ‘Mighty God’, ‘Eternal Father’, Prince of Peace’.

7  His royal power will continue to grow; his Kingdom will always have peace.  He will rule as King David’s successor; basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of Time.

The LORD Almighty is determined to do all this.

Ephesians 2:

11  Paul writes:

“You Gentiles by birth – called the ‘uncircumcised’ by the Jews, who call themselves ‘the circumcised’ (which refers to what men do to their bodies) – remember what you were in the past.  12  You were foreigners and did not belong to God’s chosen People.  You had no part in the Covenants, which were based on God’s promises to His people, and you lived in a World without hope and without God.  13  But now, in union with Christ Jesus, you, who used to be far away, have been brought near by the sacrificial death of Christ.  14  For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people.  With his own body be broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies.  15  He abolished the Jewish Law with its Commandments and Rules, in order to create out of the two Races one new people in union with himself, in this way making peace.

16  By his death on the cross Christ destroyed their enmity; by means of the cross he united both Races into one body and brought them back to God.  17  So Christ came and preached the Good News of peace to all – to you Gentiles, who were far away from God, and to the Jews, who were near to Him.  18  It is through Christ that all of us, Jews and Gentiles, are able to come in the one Spirit into the presence of the Father.”

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Luke 1:

26  In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth.  27  He had a message for a girl promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David.  The girl’s name was Mary.  28  The angel came to her and said,

“Peace be with you!  The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!”

29  Mary was deeply troubled by the angel’s message, and she wondered what these words meant.  30  The angel said to her,

“Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you.  31  You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.  32  He will be great and will be called the son of the Most High God.  The Lord God will make him a King, as was his ancestor David,  33  and he will be the King of the descendants of Jacob forever; his Kingdom will never end.”  (Isaiah 9: 6 & 7) 

34  Mary said to the angel,

“I am a virgin.  How, then, can this be?”

35  The angel answered,

“The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God’s power will rest upon you.  For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God.  36  Remember your relative, Elizabeth.  It is said that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old.  37  For there is nothing hat God cannot do.”

38  “I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.”

And the angel left her.

39  Soon afterward, Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea.  40  She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.  41  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby moved within her.  Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,  42  and said in a loud voice,

“You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  43  Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me?  44  Far as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness.  45  How happy you are to believe that the Lord’s message t you will come true.”

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn: ‘Hark, the Herald Angels sing’

Charles Wesley

Sermon

  We listen to this song.

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” – from A Wreath of Carols p25

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 This is quite a well-known song, with a number of YouTube videos available on the Web of individuals or groups or choirs singing the song.

  The song was penned at Christmas in 1863 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, an American poet, as he was nursing his son, Charles, back to health after he was severely injured during a Civil War battle earlier in December.  Henry Longfellow heard the Church bells ringing out on Christmas Day with the message of hope and peace and joy and love, which contrasted sharply with the seemingly unstoppable savagery and great loss of life and property associated with the progress of the American Civil War.  This YouTube video tells the story.

  This song has also been sung in the context of the Christmas Day truce on the Western Front in 1914, when there was a brief cessation of hostilities and the fraternisation between the warring sides.  The hope being that there will be such a permanent cessation of hostilities in future armed conflict between Nations.  This YouTube tells has the song in this context.

  While such hopes for the Human initiated cessation of armed conflict as the means for settling disputes is admirable, this is not the context in which peace is discussed in today’s passages.

  And we must also be careful to not enforce a meaning upon a word that appears in a translation of a passage that is not supported by the original Greek word or the context of the passage.

  The Good News Bible has the angel greeting Mary with the words,

“Peace be with you!  The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!”  (Luke 1: 28) 

  The word that Luke records as the word spoken by the angel that is translated as “peace”, is the Greek word ‘chairo’  (Strong’s NT5463)  , which is a common greeting that could equally be read as “be calmly happy” or “be well”, or “be joyful or rejoice”, or “be at peace”.  Other translations have the word as simply “greetings”.  (NEB, NRSV & NIV) 

  As well, among the descriptors assigned by the angel to the child that Mary will bear, as recorded by Luke, we do not find any word that could be translated as ‘peace’.  However, we have the angel describing Mary’s future child to be named Jesus by saying,

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God.  The Lord God will make him a King, as was his ancestor David, and he will be the King of the descendants of Jacob forever; his Kingdom will never end.”  (Luke 1: 32 & 33) 

  This is a reference from the passage that was read today from Isaiah 9, where we also have the Prophet Isaiah being led by God to proclaim:

“A child is born to us!  A son is given to us!  And he will be our ruler.  He will be called ‘Wonderful Counsellor’, ‘Mighty God’, ‘Eternal Father’, Prince of Peace’.”  (Isaiah 9: 6)  ,

and, that

“his Kingdom will always have peace”.  (Isaiah 9: 7) 

  How are we to understand what is meant by peace in this passage, within the context of the child referred to in Isaiah 9 as being the child promised to Mary, God’s Son, who is to be named Jesus?  The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘peace’ in this passage is the word ‘shalome’  (Strong’s OT7965)  .  It comes from a root meaning “to be complete or to be safe, in body, mind and estate”, and conveys the meaning of “to be safe in your welfare, health, or prosperity; to be at peace”.

  There are similar passages from the writings of the Prophet Micah, where we read:

“So the LORD will abandon His people to their enemies until the woman who is to give birth has her son.  ..  When he comes, he will rule his people with the strength that comes from the LORD and with the majesty of the LORD God Himself.  His people will live in safety because people all over the Earth will acknowledge his greatness, and he will bring peace.”  (Micah 5: 3 – 5)  ,

and from the writings of the Prophet Zechariah, where we read:

“Rejoice, rejoice, people of Zion!  Shout for joy, you people of Jerusalem!  Look, your King is coming to you.  ..  Your King will make peace among the Nations; he will rule from Sea to Sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the Earth.”  (Zechariah 9: 9 & 10) 

  Christopher Evans writes that these verses “envisage the abolition of war and the rule over (all) the Nations (by) Israel’s Messianic King”.  But we need to note that it is not the Kings of Nations who will abolish war and initiate peace, rather, it is the promised Messianic King who will enact the abolition of war and the introduction of peace.  (Christopher Evans in an article on Peace in A Theological Word Book of the Bible  Alan Richardson ed p165) 

  But how will this be achieved?

  Firstly, the Kings of Nations will acknowledge that Israel’s Messianic King is great and Lord over them and of the peoples of their Nations.  Secondly, Israel’s Messianic King will bring about a change in the hearts on the Kings of Nations and of all the peoples of their Nations, such that they no longer seek to resort to armed conflict to settle differences or to expand their territories, because they will submit to his power and recognise that his rule is based on what is right and what is just.  (Isaiah 9: 7)  .

  There are two issues that we need to recognise at this point.

  Firstly, what Isaiah is describing is of all Nations being in a permanent state of being at peace with each other and with God, something that is being introduced by Israel’s Messianic King.  Humanity, on its own initiative, has never achieved lasting peace between Nations, nor a change of heart among Nations to never again resort to armed conflict as the means to settle geo-political conflict.

  Jonathan Spyer, in an article in last week-end’s The Weekend Australian, titled “Ceasefire is no victory but restores the status quo”, acknowledges this.  He argues that the current ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah will not bring about a lasting peace between these two warring sides, because “the current ceasefire agreement does not include any change in the long-term strategic picture by Hezbollah”, which is and will always be focussed on the destruction of the Nation of Israel and of all Jews.  He acknowledges that the ceasefire will allow the people of Israel to return to their homes and farms in the north of Israel, but he argues that it is inevitable that Hezbollah will utilise the coming years for its “reconstruction and rearmament”.  He states that “The countdown to the next round (of armed conflict between these two sides) now appears set to begin.”  (Jonathon Spyer in “Ceasefire is no victory but restores the status quo” in Inquirer p39 in The Weekend Australian 30 November – 1 December 2024) 

  Secondly, what Isaiah describes as the rule of Israel’s Messianic king over all the Nations on Earth has never and is not being fulfilled.  No Nation, let alone any National Leader, has ever submitted themselves to the rule by God’s Son, Israel’s Messianic King, and if we consider current affairs, nor are they likely to do so in the foreseeable future.

  Does that then indicate a failure by Jesus, God Son, Israel’s Messianic King, to fulfill his role as “the Prince of Peace”?  Of course not!

  William Vine writes that “the Gospel has accomplished the harmonised relationship between God and Humanity, with the blessing of God’s peace upon individuals, God’s “rest and contentment”, being consequent upon this.  (William Vine in an article on ‘peace’ in An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words Vol 3 p170) 

  Christpher Evans writes that, in Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus, Paul explains the “double estrangement” which the Law of Moses highlights, that is, that between God and Humanity and that between Jew and Gentile.  Both are “abolished in the cross by Christ”.

  As Paul writes:

“By his death on the cross Christ destroyed their enmity; by means of the cross he united both Races into one body and brought them back to God.”  (Ephesians 2: 16) 

  Jesus Christ reconciles Jew and Gentile into a single body to God.  This is God’s act, with its intended scope being the restoration of the whole of Creation to its proper harmonious life in Christ.  (Colossians 1: 18 – 22)  The life, death and resurrection of Christ can be called God’s Gospel of peace for all of Humanity.  (Acts 10: 36)  Peace describes the removal of all estrangement between Humanity and God, secured through the obedience, righteousness and death of Christ for those who respond.  Peace is, thus, synonymous with eternal life, in contrast to the sinful life of “the flesh” which leads to death.  (Christopher Evans in an article on Peace in A Theological Word Book of the Bible  Alan Richardson ed p166) 

  It is crucial that we recognise the significance of the last sentence in today’s reading from Isaiah 9, where we read:

“The LORD Almighty is determined to do all this.”  (Isaiah 9: 7b) 

  For this tells us that God waited eight centuries from the time of Isaiah until the time of Mary and Joseph to accomplish his plan for the redemption and reconciliation of Humanity.  God waited until the time was right to exercise His power and authority over Time and Space and History, to become involved in the affairs of Humanity, to defeat the powers of sin and Death and to initiate His time of Peace.

  It is only as people and Nations are at peace with their God will there be lasting peace between people and Nations, for lasting peace is based on submittance to God’s rule in our lives.

  It is crucial that we recognise the significance of the obedience of Jesus to the will of God, “all the way to his death on the cross”.  (Philippians 2: 8) 

  It is crucial that we recognise the significance of the obedience of Mary in submitting herself to the will of God, as we read her saying to the angel,

“I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.”  (Luke 1: 38) 

  For it is this same humbleness before God and obedience to the will of God that God seeks from each of us, as we walk in His way.  For this is the way to peace.

  I will finish with this poem by an author by the name of Newstrom:

“He came into this World a babe,

this World that he himself had made;

he came to do the Father’s Will,

that ended on dark Calvary’s hill.”

(from Marred by David McCasland in Our Daily Bread 10 December 2008)

Let us finish be listening to this YouTube clip.

Let us finish by listening to this YouTube clip.

Emmanuel – God WITH us

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn ‘Infant Holy, infant lowly’ 

Polish Carol

Translated by Edith Reed

Offering

Offering Prayer    

Holy God, this Advent season we wait in peace,

A peace deeper than our anxiety and fear,

A peace growing from our trust in your loving power.

And we give in peace.

Receive these generous offerings,

And use them to bring your peace to our world.  Amen.

Prayers for Others

Heavenly Father, as once again we prepare for Christmas, help us to find time in our busy lives for quiet thought and prayer, that we may reflect upon the wonder of your love and allow the story of the Saviour’s birth to penetrate our hearts and minds.

So may our joy be deeper, our worship more real, and our lives worthier of all that you have done for us through the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We pray for the church:

• For the wider Christian family who will be celebrating this festival in so many different ways, and for those who dare not celebrate openly.
• For Christians in countries where there is persecution.
• For Christians in our own country, with whom we will share our celebrations
• For our Church family.

Grant that all who come together this Christmas time to worship you in whatever manner and place is suitable for them, that they may be enabled to renew their relationship with you.  Help us all to be glad of your presence, and to rejoice at the coming of Jesus.

May your blessing be upon all who worship with us, give us grace to live as faithful members of your family, that we may learn each day afresh to love and serve you.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for peace:

• Give peace to the World
• Give peace to the victims of war, the refugees, the widowed and the orphans.
• Give peace to family and friends; to those who have quarrelled and need to be reconciled.
• Give peace in our own divided hearts.

We know that without justice there can be no peace.  Let peace come when all people are respected, regardless of race and religion.  Let peace come when trading weapons of mass destruction is a crime. 

Let peace come when the Earth’s resources are used wisely for the common good.  Let peace come when money is used to serve and not enslave the World. 

Let peace come through the transformation of our lives that we may do justice, love and kindness and walk humbly with you, our God.

Heavenly Father, your Son came as the Prince of Peace and brought a message of Peace for all people.

Help us to be peacemakers in our own homes, at our work or wherever we meet people, so that the peace and goodwill of Christmas can find a place in the hearts of all people.

We pray for homeless people and for refugees who have no country to call their own.

Let your blessing be with those who work to help the homeless this Christmas, and give to all of us the determination to help where we can.

We pray for people who are lonely, those who are lonely because they have lost a partner, those who are lonely because no-one seems to care, those who are lonely because of handicap or illness.

Let your presence be with those who are alone at this season of friendship and may we take your friendship to those whom we know will be alone this Christmas.

We pray for friends and family who are ill at this time, or who are recovering from illness or injury.

We bring them to you in the confidence that you love them and know their every need and that your healing power is still the same today.  Bless all that is being done for their recovery and answer our prayers according to your will and purpose.  To your glory we pray.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

Now and forever.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn ‘Never in all Human story’ 

[This hymn is being sung to the tune of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’.]

Verse 1 of 3

Never in all Human story

Was a sight so wondrous seen,

Jesus Christ, the King of Glory,

Cradled in a manger mean,

Angel heralds in the sky,

Lowly shepherds kneeling by.

Verse 2 of 3

Then the lamp of life was lighted,

Brighter than the rising Sun;

Then were Heaven and Earth united,

Peace of God on Earth begun,

Peace the troubled World to fill,

Peace to those of holy will.

Verse 3 of 3

Prince of Peace!  Your way before you

Lies through nameless grief and pain;

Death’s dark shadow ever o’er you,

But it leads to highest reign;

Glory that could never be,

But by way of Calvary.

Joseph Pittman

Benediction    

“What means this glory round our feet”

What means this glory round our feet,”

The Magi mused, “more bright than morn?”

And voices chanted clear and sweet,

“Today the Prince of Peace was born.”

“What means that star,” the shepherds said,

“That brightens through rocky glen?”

And angels, answering overhead

Sang, “Peace on Earth, goodwill to men.”

All round about our feet shall shine

A light like that the Wise Men saw,

If we our loving wills incline

To that sweet life which is the Law.

So shall we learn to understand

The simple faith of shepherds then,

And clasping kindly hand in hand

Sing, “Peace on Earth, goodwill to men.”

And they who to their childhood cling,

And keep at eve the faith of morn,

Shall daily hear the angels sing,

“Today the Prince of Peace is born.”

James Lowell

And may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and remain with you always.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Benediction Song ‘Rejoice and be Merry’  

Carols for Choirs 1 number 32

Verse 1 of 1

Rejoice and be merry in songs and in mirth!

O praise our Redeemer, all mortals on Earth!

For this is the birthday of Jesus our King,

who brought us salvation, his praises we’ll sing.

Traditional English Carol