Chapel Worship Guide 12.1.2013

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM,

December 1, 2013, The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Advent 1—Praise in Scripture and Song–Worship this morning led by the First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville 

Today is the first Sunday of Advent—a time when we celebrate Jesus’ first coming.  We look back today at the promise of hope which is why if you’ve ever seen an Advent wreath, today’s candle to be lit is the candle of Prophecy of Hope.  Humankind has been straying ever since the Garden of Eden when we fell from grace, so God promised to send us a Servant, a Shepherd like Himself.

Scripture (Old Testament))   Ezekiel 34:11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

That person who would seek all those sheep who were lost would find His first days upon this earth in the humility of a manger.  This amazing and holy Shepherd was introduced to us as the little baby Jesus whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.

Scripture Reading (New Testament) Luke 1: 26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

As we continue through this first week of Advent, let’s remember the importance of God keeping His promise—the prophecy of hope—with the first Advent as we continue to look forward to Jesus return.