December 8
Psalm 130
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
The end of the first week of Advent, the approaching second Sunday of Advent, and we are being called to prepare ourselves for worship. Called to enter worship together as people who have received forgiveness. God has erased our sins. No one else can keep a valid record of our sin and he has not record of it. Only a record of our forgiveness. Only a record of his unfailing love for us. A record of our redemption.
As we finish our week of work, and we approach the day of gathering in worship, we come in gratitude to God for his grace. The grace we see as we have been called to follow his Son, Jesus. Knowing who he is, the Messiah sent by God. We are Called to follow him as those who know that we are forgiven and loved by God.
We will come together to receive hope for the future together. Putting our hope in the Lord, the one who has unfailing love and who brings full redemption. We are called into renewal. Gathering to have a piece of the old life scraped off and the new life added in its place. Piece by piece being restored. Being made ready for that day we look forward to in Advent, the day of Christ’s full appearing in glory to make his home with us forever.
Prepare to be renewed. Prepare to worship and receive his grace. Gathering in the name of the risen Lord who is returning to be with us.
Song – I Will Wait For You
Prayer
Lord God Almighty, King of glory and love eternal, you are worthy at all times to receive adoration, praise, and blessing; we praise you now for sending your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, for whom our hearts wait, and to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, be honour and dominion, now and for ever. Amen.