151 Advent 4

Sentence: Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. Luke 1.45

Collect: Gracious God, you have visited your people and redeemed us in your Son: as we prepare to celebrate his birth, make our hearts leap for joy at the sound of your word, and move us by your Spirit to bless your wonderful works. We ask this through him whose coming is certain, whose Day draws near, your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Micah 5:2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace. Hear the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

Psalm 80 APBA p 307
1. Hear, O shepherd of Israel, you that led Joseph like a flock:
you that are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine out in glory;
2. Before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh:
stir up your power, and come to save us.
3. Restore us again, O LORD of hosts:
show us the light of your countenance and we shall be saved.
4. O LORD God of hosts:
how long will you be angry at your people’s prayer?
5. You have fed them with the bread of tears:
and given them tears to drink in good measure.
6. You have made us the victim of our neighbours:
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7. Restore us again, O LORD of hosts:
show us the light of your countenance and we shall be saved.

Hebrews 10:5-10
When Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, 'See, God, I have come to do your will, O God' (in the scroll of the book it is written of me)." When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "See, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hear the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

Alleluia, Alleluia! Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word. Alleluia. Luke 1:38

Luke 1:39-55 ... Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ.
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." For the Gospel of the Lord, praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.