Worship Archive – December 8th 2024

Sunday Service from Hillside Circuit for December 8th 2024:

Lectionary Theme: A merciful and forgiving Saviour is coming

Occasion: 2nd Sunday in Advent

Lectionary readings:
Luke 1: 68-79
Malachi 3: 1-4
Philippians 1: 3-11
Luke 3: 1-6

[Click or tap on a Bible reference above to jump down the page to the Bible reading to read it for yourself (and/or to listen to it) and then click or tap on Back to top to come back here.]

Songs:

Here are the songs for Sunday morning service. Click or tap on a song to open it in YouTube.

At this time of giving.
You’re the Word of God the Father.
You laid aside your majesty.
Come Thou long expected Jesus.
O come, o come.
This is my body.
Long ago prophets knew.
Now unto Him.

You can listen and join in with prayers from the English Methodist Service Book. They can be found at the Prayers for worship webpage.

Children’s Address:

Audio Children’s Address for Hillside Circuit on December 8th 2024 with Dr Christine Tenga.

Sermon:

Audio message for Hillside Circuit on December 8th 2024 with Mrs Chipo Marara.

Bible readings:

Luke 1

68 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel!
He has come to save his people.
69 Our God has given us a mighty Saviour
from the family of David his servant.
70 Long ago the Lord promised
by the words of his holy prophets
71 to save us from our enemies
and from everyone who hates us.
72 God said he would be kind to our people
and keep his sacred promise.
73 He told our ancestor Abraham
74 that he would rescue us from our enemies.
Then we could serve him without fear,
75 by being holy and good as long as we live.

76 You, my son, will be called
a prophet of God in heaven above.
You will go ahead of the Lord
to get everything ready for him.
77 You will tell his people
that they can be saved when their sins are forgiven.
78 God’s love and kindness will shine upon us
like the sun that rises in the sky.
79 On us who live in the dark shadow of death
this light will shine
to guide us into a life of peace.

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Malachi 3

1 I, the LORD All-Powerful,
will send my messenger to prepare the way for me.
Then suddenly the LORD you are looking for
will appear in his temple.
The messenger you desire is coming with my promise,
and he is on his way.

2 On the day the LORD comes, he will be like a furnace that purifies silver or like strong soap in a washbasin. No one will be able to stand up to him. 3 The LORD will purify the descendants of Levi, as though they were gold or silver. Then they will bring the proper offerings to the LORD, 4 and the offerings of the people of Judah and Jerusalem will please him, just as they did in the past.

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Philippians 1

3 Every time I think of you, I thank my God. 4 And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. 5 This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. 6 God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.
7 You have a special place in my heart. So it is only natural for me to feel the way I do. All of you have helped in the work that God has given me, as I defend the good news and tell about it here in jail. 8 God himself knows how much I want to see you. He knows that I care for you in the same way that Christ Jesus does.
9 I pray that your love will keep on growing and that you will fully know and understand 10 how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns. And until that day, 11 Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God.

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Luke 3

1 For fifteen years Emperor Tiberius had ruled that part of the world. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was the ruler of Galilee. Herod’s brother, Philip, was the ruler in the countries of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene. 2 Annas and Caiaphas were the Jewish high priests.
At that time God spoke to Zechariah’s son John, who was living in the desert. 3 So John went along the Jordan Valley, telling the people, “Turn back to God and be baptized! Then your sins will be forgiven.” 4 Isaiah the prophet wrote about John when he said,

“In the desert someone is shouting,
‘Get the road ready for the Lord!
Make a straight path for him.
5 Fill up every valley and level every mountain and hill.
Straighten the crooked paths
and smooth out the rough roads.
6 Then everyone will see the saving power of God.’ “

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[Did you miss last week’s Sunday Services? They can now be found at Worship Archive – December 1st 2024.]