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This episode is dedicated to the victims, their families, and the heroes of Sandy Hook Elementary School. I will continue to pray and listen.
- What has been our Advent progress these last few days, in the midst of Christmas preparations?
- Why has A Christmas Story become so strongly loved during this season?
- It is a funny movie; but aren’t there other funny Christmas movies out there?
- It’s a quotable movie; but are there other highly-quotable Christmas movies?
- Is the film popular because it represents an America that no longer exists?
- Two Major Advent Themes:
- Every single material gift in this world–no matter how wonderful–will always fail to fully satisfy our deepest longings. (Heaven is our home, where nothing will ever disappoint us).
- How are the dual themes of judgment and mercy shown in this film?
- We need to be ready for the judgment we all will receive; we need to be right with God.
- This Christmas, we can ask God to come alive for us, reveal Himself to us, expecting that our lives will be changed.
A songsheet is available for personal use. Right-Click “Save As” to download.
***********SONG OF THE WEEK***********
Lyric Study and Guitar Workshop
The Everlasting
by Fellowship Church
Copyright (c) 2011 Creality Publishing, Inc. and Fellowship Church.
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqaU7piEIdA
***************Log Times******************
3:05 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
3:30 – Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
6:10 – Watchman Tell Us Of the Night
8:12 – O Come O Come Emmanuel (6th & 7th verses)
10:51 – Hope In the Lord
15:21 – Creator Of the Stars of Night
17:36 – Laudem Domini
19:05 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
26:48 – Song of the Week: The Everlasting by Fellowship Church
(lyric study and guitar workshop)
32:55 – Sharing: Advent IV and “A Christmas Story”
48:44 – Final Comments and Doxology
******************SONGS*******************
LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, YE MIGHTY GATES
George Weissel, 1642 (Based on Psalm 24)
Lift up Your heads, ye mighty gates
Behold the King of glory waits!
The King of Kings is drawing near
The Savior of the world is here.
O blest the land, the city blest
Where Christ the ruler is confest!
O happy hearts and happy homes
To whom the King of triumph comes!
Fling wide the portals of your heart
Make it a temple, set apart
From earthly use for heav’ns employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.
So, come my sov’reign, enter in!
Let new and nobler life begin;
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on
Until the glorious crown be won.
Public Domain
WATCHMAN TELL US OF THE NIGHT
John Bowring, 1825, Joseph Parry 1879
Watchman, tell us of the night
What its signs of promise are
Trav’ler o’er yon mountain height
See that glory beaming star.
Watchman does its beauteous ray
Aught of joy or hope foretell?
Trav’ler yes: it brings the day
Promised day of Israel
Watchman, tell us of the night
Higher yet that star ascends
Trav’ler blessedness and light
Peace and truth its course portends
Watchman will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Trav’ler ages are its own
See, it bursts o’er all the earth.
Watchman, tell us of the night
For the morning seems to dawn
Trav’ler darkness takes its flight
Doubt and terror are withdrawn
Watchman let thy wandrings cease
Hie thee to thy quiet home
Trav’ler, lo! the Prince of Peace
Lo! the Son of God is come!
Public Domain
O COME O COME EMMANUEL
veni veni Emmanuel, Latin 9th cent.; tr. by John Neale, 1818-1866
O Come Thou Dayspring from on high.
And cheer us by Thy drawing night.
Disperse that gloomy clouds of night
And put death’s dark shadows to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to Thee, O Israel.
O Come Desire of Nations bind
In one the hearts of all mankind
Bid thou our sad divisions cease
And by Thyself our King of peace.
Public Domain
HOPE IN THE LORD
Robert Filoramo, Jr.
Our Lord is the eternal God
Creator of the ends of the earth
He does not grow faint nor grow weary
And His knowledge is beyond compare
He gives strength unto the fainting
For the weak He makes vigor abound
Though young men may faint and grow weary
And though, they stumble and fall
They that hope in the Lord
will renew their strength
They will soar as with the wings of eagles
They will run and never grow weary
They will walk and never faint
Copyright (c) 1990 Robert Filoramo, Jr. and Koinonia Academy Press; Used by Permission. www.bobfiloramo.com
CREATOR OF THE STARS OF NIGHT
Latin, 9th century; Tr. by John M. Neale
Creator of the stars of night
Thy people’s everlasting light
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all
And hear your servants as we call
Thou grieving at the ancient curse
Should doom to death the universe
Has found the medicine full of grace
To save and heal the ruined race
Thou cames the Bridegroom of the Bride
As drew the world the evening tide
Proceeding from a Virgin shrine
The Spotless Victim all divine
At Whose dread Name, majestic now
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow
And things celestial Thee shall own
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.
O Thou Whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead
Preserve us while we dwell belo
From every insult of the foe.
To God the Father, God the Son
And God the Spirit, Three in One
Laud, honor, might and glory be
From age to age eternally.
Public Domain
LAUDEM DOMINI
Roman Gradual
Laudem Domini Loquetur os meum:
The praises of the Lord are spoken from lips of mine.
Public Domain
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