December 5, 2021
Dear friends,
Our hymn of the day for Sunday is “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People,” based on a beautiful passage from Isaiah 40. It’s God’s call to his prophets and apostles to bring good news to his people.
This is the kind of good news that a messenger would breathlessly report as he raced over mountains and across the countryside. It’s like a bold, oversized headline that reads “THE WAR IS OVER.” It belongs in every paper and on every news station. It’s the kind of news that calls for a host of angels singing “Glory to God in the highest!” It’s the kind of good news that you cannot help but spread because it is so astounding, so life-changing.
It is the good news of peace with God because has forgiven our sins. It is the center of our lives as Christians, and it is out of this news that everything else flows.
Below are the words of the hymn for Sunday. Rejoice in the Lord always!
“Comfort, comfort ye My people,
Speak ye peace,” thus saith our God;
“Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ‘neath their sorrows’ load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover
And her warfare now is over.“
Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He no more will see or heed.
She hath suffered many a day,
Now her griefs have passed away;
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever-springing gladness.
Hark, the herald’s voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Calling sinners to repentance,
Since the Kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
Let the valleys rise to meet Him
And the hills bow down to greet Him.
Make ye straight what long was crooked;
Make the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Choir rehearsal – Wednesdays, December 1, 15, and 22 @ 6pm
Midweek Advent Services – Wednesdays, December 1, 8, 15, and 22 @ 7pm
Family Night – Wednesday, December 8 @ 5:30pm
Elders/Council – Thursday, December 9 @ 6/7pm
Sunday School Christmas Program – Sunday, December 12 @ 11:30am
Men’s Bible Study – Wednesday, December 15 @ 8pm
Christmas Eve Divine Service – Friday, December 24 @ 7pm
Christmas Day Divine Service – Saturday, December 25 @ 9am