Opening Song: O Righteous Branch (https://open.spotify.com/track/7lxsGxIKLcolG3gh8yPUXr?si=dea0306e01754d06) by Caroline Cobb Smith Lyrics: Oh righteous branch from Jesse's root Please come and bring Your kingdom The lion dwelling with the lamb Bring peace and life and freedom Oh Son of David come to rule And reign in us forever Come write Your law upon our hearts And keep us like a shepherd Hallelujah Jesus we wait for You Hallelujah Jesus come soon come soon Messiah come Your Spirit give Turn stony hearts to flesh Redeem us from captivity The power of sin and death Jesus come soon come soon At last at last the morning comes With healing in its wings We'll leap like calves loosed from their stalls For You have done great things Yes You have done great things Passage: 14 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 33:14–16 ESV) Musical Reflection: O Come, O Come Emmanuel, chant adapted by Thomas Helmore Reflection Notes: The tune VENI IMMANUEL comes from a 15th century chant and originally served as part of a requiem mass. Thomas Helmore adapted it for congregational use as a hymn in the late 1800s, while still retaining the speech-like flow of the original chant. The text dates back to the 8th century and was translated from Latin to English by J. M. Neal. Prayer: This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.