In some parts of the church, they use as part of their Christmas worship, these seven O antiphons. Each of them addresses Jesus Christ using a Messianic title drawn from Old Testament prophecy.

Our Old Testament readings are Jeremiah 23:5-6 & Micah 5:1

Jeremiah 23:5-6 “The days are surely coming,” says the LORD,”when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ’The LORD is our righteousness.’”

Micah 5:1 - Now you are walled around with a wall; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel upon the cheek.

Our New Testament reading is Revelation 22:16-17

Revelation 22:16-17 - “It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let everyone who hears say, “Come.” And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

In some parts of the church they use as part of their Christmas worship, these seven O antiphons. Each of them addresses Jesus Christ using a Messianic title drawn from Old Testament prophecy.

In some parts of the church they use as part of their Christmas worship, these seven O antiphons. Each of them addresses Jesus Christ using a Messianic title drawn from Old Testament prophecy. Read backwards, the initials of each title in Latin form the words “Ero Cras” or "Tomorrow I come" – looking forward to the second coming of Jesus Christ. The seven antiphons which we will look at individually over the next 7 days are:

• Sapientia - Wisdom
• Adonai - Holy Lord
• Radix Jesse - Root of Jesse
• Clavis David - Key of David
• Oriens - Morning Star
• Rex Gentium - King of the Nations
• Emmanuel - God with us

• Isaiah 11:1-3
• Isaiah 28:29.

It is the beginning of Advent today! Advent is a season of expectation and preparation, waiting to celebrate joyfully the birth of Jesus at Christmas and look forward to His promised return. It’s a time to reflect, anticipate, and align our hearts with the hope, peace, joy, and love that Christ brings.Today we have a harmony of the Christmas Nativity from all 4 Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Each Gospel gives us a section of the story, therefore telling it from different perspectives. Our Gospel readings are: 1. Pre-existence of Christ - John 1:1-18 2. Gabriel visits Mary - Luke 1:26-38 3. Mary visits Elizabeth - Luke 1:39-56 4. Angel visits Joseph - Matthew 1:18-24 5. Birth of Jesus Christ - Luke 2:1-7 6. Shepherds visit Jesus - Luke 2:8-20 7. Magi visit Jesus - Matthew 2:1-12

Christ is born, glorify Him.

Christ from heaven, go out to meet Him.

Christ on earth, be exalted. Sing to the Lord all the whole earth;

and that I may join both in one word, let the heavens rejoice,

and let the earth be glad, for Him who is of heaven and then of earth.

Christ in the flesh, rejoice with trembling and with joy;

with trembling because of your sins,

with joy because of your hope.

Come on in to hear more of this person of the ancient Church!

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71:1 In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed.

71:2 Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn your ear to me, and save me.

71:3 Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

71:4 Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

71:5 For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh; my confidence from my youth.

71:6 I have relied on you from the womb. You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb. I will always praise you.

71:7 I am a marvel to many, but you are my strong refuge.

71:8 My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your honor all the day. 71:9 Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.

71:10 For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together, 71:11 saying, “God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him.”

71:12 God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me.

71:13 Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me.

71:14 But I will always hope, and will add to all of your praise.

71:15 My mouth will tell about your righteousness, and of your salvation all day, though I don’t know its full measure.

71:16 I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Yahweh. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.

71:17 God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.

71:18 Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come.

71:19 Your righteousness also, God, reaches to the heavens; you have done great things. God, who is like you?

71:20 You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles, you will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.

71:21 Increase my honor, and comfort me again.

71:22 I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God. I sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.

71:23 My lips shall shout for joy! My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!

71:24 My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long, for they are disappointed, and they are confounded, who want to harm me.

Today we continue our Christmas series with a Nativity Sermon By Isaac the Syrian.

O God, This Christmas night bestowed peace on the whole world; So let no one threaten; This is the night of the Most Gentle One - Let no one be cruel; This is the night of the Humble One - Let no one be proud. Now is the day of joy - Let us not revenge; Now is the day of Good Will - Let us not be mean. In this Day of Peace - Let us not be conquered by anger. Today the Bountiful impoverished Himself for our sake; So, rich one, invite the poor to your table. Today we receive a Gift for which we did not ask; So let us give alms to those who implore and beg us. This present Day cast open the heavenly doors to our prayers; Let us open our door to those who ask our forgiveness. Today the Divine Being took upon Himself the seal of our humanity, In order for humanity to be decorated by the Seal of Divinity. Amen

For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David.

39:1 I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue.

I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”

39:2 I was mute with silence.

I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.

39:3 My heart was hot within me.

While I meditated, the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue:

39:4 “Yahweh, show me my end, what is the measure of my days.

Let me know how frail I am.

39:5 Behold, you have made my days handbreadths.

My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.”

Selah.

39:6 “Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain.

He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.

39:7 Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

39:8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.

Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.

39:9 I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.

39:10 Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

39:11 When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth.

Surely every man is but a breath.”

Selah.

39:12 “Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and give ear to my cry.

Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.

39:13 Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away, and exist no more.”