Reader: “And he will stand to lead his flock”
Response: “with the Lord’s strength.”
Scripture: Micah 5:1-5a
Mobilize! Marshal your troops!
The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem.
They will strike Israel’s leader
in the face with a rod.
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel,
whose origins are in the distant past,
will come from you on my behalf.
The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then at last his fellow countrymen
will return from exile to their own land.
And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
Then his people will live there undisturbed,
for he will be highly honored around the world.
And he will be the source of peace.
Reader: “The inspired word of God.”
Response: “Thanks be to God.”
Music: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” Salt Lake Vocal Artists These 8 minutes will help you be quiet. Just listen. It’s gorgeous!!! Arr. Dan Forrest
Bonus: Beautiful!
“Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying” Nordic Choir of Luther College
“Wake, Awake for Night Is Flying” Philip Nicolai, 1597, trans. Catherine Winkworth, 1858
Wake, awake for night is flying:
The watchmen on the heights are crying,
Awake, Jerusalem, arise!
Midnight’s solemn hour is tolling,
His chariot wheels are nearer rolling,
He comes; prepare, ye virgins wise.
Rise up, with willing feet,
Go forth, the bridegroom meet: Alleluia!
Bear through the night your well-trimmed light,
Speed forth to join the marriage rite.
Zion hears the watchmen singing,
Her heart with deep delight is springing,
She wakes, she rises from her gloom:
forth her Bridegroom come, all glorious,
In grace arrayed, by truth victorious,
Her star is ris’n, her light is come!
All hail, Incarnate Lord,
our crown, and our reward! Alleluia!
We haste along, in pomp of song,
And gladsome join the marriage throng.
Lamb of God, the heav’ns adore thee,
And men and angels sing before thee,
With harp and cymbal’s clearest tone.
By the pearly gates in wonder
We stand, and swell the voice of thunder
That echoes round thy dazzling throne.
No vision ever brought,
No ear hath ever caught such rejoicing!
We raise the song, we swell the throng
To praise Thee ages all along. Amen.
Prayer:
O Holy child of Bethlehem descend to us we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels, the great, glad tidings tell. O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. ―Phillip Brooks