Second Sunday In Advent

Readings:

AM Psalm 148, 149, 150; PM Psalm 114, 115
Amos 6:1-14; 2 Thess. 1:5-12; Luke 1:57-68


Collect

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

(BCP, p. 211)


The Song of Zechariah
Benedictus Dominus Deus

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old,
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham,
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

(Luke 1: 68-79)

Photo from Nike Chillemi.

Addendum: Doorman-Priest has a lovely sermon for 2 Advent posted at his site. I haven't had a chance to read the sermon yet, because I must get ready for church, but I will, when I return home. I know that the sermon is lovely because Doorman-Priest cannot tell a lie.