2020 Advent Service from Baylor Chapel on Vimeo.
Welcome and Invitation to Pray – Carlos Colón
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (arr. Carlos Colón)
O come, o come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
and order all things, far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and cause us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, Desire of nations, bind
all peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease;
fill all the world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Praying with Psalm 80
Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel,
You who lead us like a flock;
You who are Holy and Other;
Light the way before us.
Awaken your might;
Come and save us. Restore us, O God,
And cause your face to shine upon us.
Hymn: Restore Us, O God (Calvin University Women’s Choral – published by GIA Music)
Prayers of Confession and Longing
(singing) Restore us, O God ; cause Thy face to shine on us;
Restore us, O God, that we may be saved.
Merciful One, we are sinful. We have hurt you and one another and our world. We have wandered from your path, we have listened to lesser truths, we have committed ourselves to our own agendas. Forgive us, Lord . . . restore us..
(singing) Restore us, O God ; cause Thy face to shine on us;
Restore us, O God, that we may be saved.
Compassionate One, we are broken. Our limitations are ever before us . . . our weaknesses are always with us. We are frail creatures of dust. We are wounded in so many ways and we cry. Heal us, Lord . . . restore us. (singing) Restore Us, O God . ..
Living One, we are longing. We are hungry and thirsty for your righteousness. Deep within we know our home to be in you, but we are lost. We wander in this world and are lost. Find us, Lord . . . restore us. (singing) Restore Us, O God . . .
Remembering the Words of Isaiah
Come. Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.
He will judge between nations. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, and they will study war no more.
A shoot will come forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion together, and a little child shall lead them.
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
They will enter Zion with singing; gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
The Lord will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceiveand bear a son,
and shall call his name Emmanuel.
People of Sion (Composed by Carlos Colón)
New Testament Reading
From the Gospel of John From Colossians
In the beginning was the Word. He is before all things.
The Word was with God . . . is God. In Him all things hold together.
In Him was life. All things were created by and for him.
The Word became flesh. God’s fullness dwelt in him.
He was in the world. To reconcile all things.
2 Minute Reflection by Burt
Evening prayer: O Gladsome Light (Calvin University’s Capella Choir – Dr. Pearl Shangkuan, Director)
Lyrics: Third Century Greek Candle Lighting Hymn Music: Carlos Colón (Published by GIA Music)
O Gladsome Light of the holy glory, of the immortal Father:
Heavenly blessed, Jesus Christ.
Now, that we have come to the setting of the sun,
And we behold the light of the evening.
We praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
It is right, at all times, to worship Thee with songs of praise:
O Son of God, and giver of life.
Therefore, all the world glorifies Thee.
Carlos Colón 