as we think about the clash of powerful forces in our world

and in our selves.

Psalm 111 and Mark 1: 21-28 will be our guide posts

as we share this time together.

No football games, so you may as well go to church…:-)

FIRST READING: Deuteronomy 18:15-20

¹⁵Instead, he will choose one of your own people to be a prophet just like me, and you must do what that prophet says. ¹⁶You were asking for a prophet the day you were gathered at Mount Sinai and said to the LORD, “Please don’t let us hear your voice or see this terrible fire again if we do, we will die!”

¹⁷Then the LORD told me:

Moses, they have said the right thing. ¹⁸So when I want to speak to them, I will choose one of them to be a prophet like you. I will give my message to that prophet, who will tell the people exactly what I have said. ¹⁹Since the message comes from me, anyone who doesn’t obey the message will have to answer to me.

²⁰But if I haven’t spoken, and a prophet claims to have a message from me, you must kill that prophet, and you must also kill any prophet who claims to have a message from another god.

PSALMODY: Psalm 111

 ¹Shout praises to the LORD!
With all my heart I will thank the LORD
when his people meet.
²The LORD has done many wonderful things!
Everyone who is pleased with God’s marvelous deeds
will keep them in mind.
³Everything the LORD does is glorious and majestic,
and his power to bring justice will never end.

⁴The LORD God is famous for his wonderful deeds,
and he is kind and merciful.
⁵He gives food to his worshipers
and always keeps his agreement with them.
⁶He has shown his mighty power to his people
and has given them the lands of other nations.

⁷God is always honest and fair,
and his laws can be trusted.
⁸They are true and right and will stand forever.
⁹God rescued his people,
and he will never break his agreement with them.
       He is fearsome and holy.

¹⁰Respect and obey the LORD!
This is the first step to wisdom and good sense.
God will always be respected.

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

In your letter you asked me about food offered to idols. All of us know something about this subject. But knowledge makes us proud of ourselves, while love makes us helpful to others. ²In fact, people who think they know so much don’t know anything at all. ³But God has no doubts about who loves him.
⁴Even though food is offered to idols, we know that none of the idols in this world are alive. After all, there is only one God. ⁵Many things in heaven and on earth are called gods and lords, but none of them really are gods or lords. ⁶We have only one God, and he is the Father. He created everything, and we live for him. Jesus Christ is our only Lord. Everything was made by him, and by him life was given to us.
⁷Not everyone knows these things. In fact, many people have grown up with the belief that idols have life in them. So when they eat meat offered to idols, they are bothered by a weak conscience. ⁸But food doesn’t bring us any closer to God. We are no worse off if we don’t eat, and we are no better off if we do.
⁹Don’t cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. ¹⁰You know all this, and so it doesn’t bother you to eat in the temple of an idol. But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees you and decides to eat food that has been offered to idols. ¹¹Then what you know has destroyed someone Christ died for. ¹²When you sin by hurting a follower with a weak conscience, you sin against Christ. ¹³So if I hurt one of the LORD’S followers by what I eat, I will never eat meat as long as I live.

GOSPEL: Mark 1:21-28

²¹Jesus and his disciples went to the town of Capernaum. Then on the next Sabbath he went into the Jewish meeting place and started teaching.   ²²Everyone was amazed at his teaching. He taught with authority, and not like the teachers of the Law of Moses.   ²³Suddenly a man with an evil spirit in him entered the meeting place and yelled,  ²⁴“Jesus from Nazareth, what do you want with us? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are! You are God’s Holy One.”

²⁵Jesus told the evil spirit, “Be quiet and come out of the man!”   ²⁶The spirit shook him. Then it gave a loud shout and left.
²⁷Everyone was completely surprised and kept saying to each other, “What is this? It must be some new kind of powerful teaching! Even the evil spirits obey him.”   ²⁸News about Jesus quickly spread all over Galilee.

Account Of What Might Have Happened Just Before Jesus Appeared

 FIRST READING: Jonah 3:1-5, 10

Once again the LORD told Jonah ²to go to that great city of Nineveh and preach his message of doom.
³Jonah obeyed the LORD and went to Nineveh. The city was so big that it took three days just to walk through it. ⁴After walking for a day, Jonah warned the people, “Forty days from now, Nineveh will be destroyed!”
⁵They believed God’s message and set a time when they would go without eating to show their sorrow. Then everyone in the city, no matter who they were, dressed in sackcloth.

                ¹⁰When God saw that the people had stopped doing evil things, he had pity and did not destroy them as he had planned.

PSALMODY: 62:5-12

⁵Only God gives inward peace, and I depend on him.

⁶God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe,
and he is the fortress where I feel secure.
⁷God saves me and honors me.
       He is that mighty rock where I find safety.
⁸Trust God, my friends,
and always tell him each one of your concerns.
God is our place of safety.

⁹We humans are only a breath;
none of us are truly great.
All of us together weigh less than a puff of air.
¹⁰Don’t trust in violence or depend on dishonesty
or rely on great wealth.

¹¹I heard God say two things:
“I am powerful, ¹²and I am very kind.”
The LORD rewards each of us according to what we do.

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

          ²⁹My friends, what I mean is that the Lord will soon come, and it won’t matter if you are married or not. ³⁰It will be all the same if you are crying or laughing, or if you are buying or are completely broke. ³¹It won’t make any difference how much good you are getting from this world or how much you like it. This world as we know it is now passing away.

GOSPEL: Mark 1:14-20

¹⁴After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and told the good news that comes from God. ¹⁵He said, “The time has come! God’s kingdom will soon be here. Turn back to God and believe the good news!”
¹⁶As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen and were casting their nets into the lake. ¹⁷Jesus said to them, “Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” ¹⁸Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.
¹⁹Jesus walked on and soon saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat, mending their nets. ²⁰At once Jesus asked them to come with him. They left their father in the boat with the hired workers and went with him.

FIRST READING: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 [11-20]

          ^1-2Samuel served the LORD by helping Eli the priest, who was by that time almost blind. In those days, the LORD hardly ever spoke directly to people, and he did not appear to them in dreams very often. But one night, Eli was asleep in his room, ³and Samuel was sleeping on a mat near the sacred chest in the LORD’S house. They had not been asleep very long ⁴when the LORD called out Samuel’s name.
“Here I am!” Samuel answered. ⁵Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. What do you want?”
“I didn’t call you,” Eli answered. “Go back to bed.”
Samuel went back.
⁶Again the LORD called out Samuel’s name. Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “What do you want?”
Eli told him, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to sleep.”
⁷The LORD had not spoken to Samuel before, and Samuel did not recognize the voice. ⁸When the LORD called out his name for the third time, Samuel went to Eli again and said, “Here I am. What do you want?”
Eli finally realized that it was the LORD who was speaking to Samuel. ⁹So he said, “Go back and lie down! If someone speaks to you again, answer, ‘I’m listening, LORD. What do you want me to
do?’
Once again Samuel went back and lay down.
¹⁰The LORD then stood beside Samuel and called out as he had done before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
“I’m listening,” Samuel answered. “What do you want me to do?”
[¹¹The LORD said:

Samuel, I am going to do something in Israel that will shock everyone who hears about it! ¹²I will punish Eli and his family, just as I promised. ¹³He knew that his sons refused to respect me, and he let them get away with it, even though I said I would punish his family forever. ¹⁴I warned Eli that sacrifices or offerings could never make things right! His family has done too many disgusting things.

¹⁵The next morning, Samuel got up and opened the doors to the LORD'S house. He was afraid to tell Eli what the LORD had said. ¹⁶But Eli told him, "Samuel, my boy, come here!"
"Here I am," Samuel answered.
¹⁷Eli said, "What did God say to you? Tell me everything. I pray that God will punish you terribly if you don't tell me every word he said!"
¹⁸Samuel told Eli everything. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD, and he will do what's right."
¹⁹As Samuel grew up, the LORD helped him and made everything Samuel said come true. ²⁰From the town of Dan in the north to the town of Beersheba in the south, everyone in the country knew that Samuel was truly the LORD'S prophet.]

PSALMODY: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

¹You have looked deep into my heart, LORD,
       and you know all about me.
²You know when I am resting or when I am working,
       and from heaven you discover my thoughts.

³You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.
⁴Before I even speak a word,
you know what I will say,
⁵and with your powerful arm
you protect me from every side.
⁶I can’t understand all of this!
Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.

¹³You are the one who put me together
inside my mother’s body,
¹⁴and I praise you
because of the wonderful way you created me.
Everything you do is marvelous!
Of this I have no doubt.

¹⁵Nothing about me is hidden from you!
I was secretly woven together
deep in the earth below,
¹⁶but with your own eyes
you saw my body being formed.
Even before I was born, you had written in your book
everything I would do.

¹⁷Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding,
       much more than I could ever imagine.
¹⁸I try to count your thoughts,
       but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach.
And when I awake, I will find you nearby.

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

          ¹²Some of you say, “We can do anything we want to.” But I tell you that not everything is good for us. So I refuse to let anything have power over me. ¹³You also say, “Food is meant for our bodies, and our bodies are meant for food.” But I tell you that God will destroy them both. We are not supposed to do indecent things with our bodies. We are to use them for the Lord who is in charge of our bodies. ¹⁴God will raise us from death by the same power that he used when he raised our Lord to life.
¹⁵Don’t you know that your bodies are part of the body of Christ? Is it right for me to join part of the body of Christ to a prostitute? No, it isn’t! ¹⁶Don’t you know that a man who does that becomes part of her body? The Scriptures say, “The two of them will be like one person.” ¹⁷But anyone who is joined to the Lord is one in spirit with him.
¹⁸Don’t be immoral in matters of sex. That is a sin against your own body in a way that no other sin is. ¹⁹You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. ²⁰God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.

GOSPEL: John 1:43-51

          ^43-44The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. There he met Philip, who was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. Jesus said to Philip, “Come with me.”
⁴⁵Philip then found Nathanael and said, “We have found the one that Moses and the Prophets wrote about. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”
⁴⁶Nathanael asked, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip answered, “Come and see.”
⁴⁷When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said, “Here is a true descendant of our ancestor Israel. And he isn’t deceitful.”
⁴⁸“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
⁴⁹Nathanael said, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God and the King of Israel!”
⁵⁰Jesus answered, “Did you believe me just because I said that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see something even greater. ⁵¹I tell you for certain that you will see heaven open and God’s angels going up and coming down on the Son of Man.”

The Baptism of Our Lord

(First Sunday after the Epiphany)

FIRST READING: Genesis 1:1-5

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
²The earth was barren, with no form of life;
it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness.
But the Spirit of God was moving over the water.

³God said, “I command light to shine!” And light started shining. ⁴God looked at the light and saw that it was good. He separated light from darkness ⁵and named the light “Day” and the darkness “Night.” Evening came and then morning — that was the first day.

PSALMODY: Psalm 29

¹All of you angels in heaven,
honor the glory and power of the LORD!
²Honor the wonderful name of the LORD,
and worship the LORD most holy and glorious.

³The voice of the LORD echoes over the oceans.
The glorious LORD God thunders
       above the roar of the raging sea,
       ⁴and his voice is mighty and marvelous.
⁵The voice of the LORD destroys the cedar trees;
       the LORD shatters cedars on Mount Lebanon.
⁶God makes Mount Lebanon skip like a calf
       and Mount Hermon jump like a wild ox.

⁷The voice of the LORD makes lightning flash
⁸and the desert tremble.
And because of the LORD,
the desert near Kadesh shivers and shakes.

⁹The voice of the LORD makes deer give birth
before their time.
Forests are stripped of leaves,
and the temple is filled with shouts of praise.

¹⁰The LORD rules on his throne,
king of the flood forever.
¹¹Pray that our LORD will make us strong
and give us peace.

SECOND READING: Acts 19:1-7

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled across the hill country to Ephesus, where he met some of the LORD’S followers. ²He asked them, “When you put your faith in Jesus, were you given the Holy Spirit?”
“No!” they answered. “We have never even heard of the Holy Spirit.”
³“Then why were you baptized?” Paul asked.
They answered, “Because of what John taught.”
⁴Paul replied, “John baptized people so that they would turn to God. But he also told them that someone else was coming, and that they should put their faith in him. Jesus is the one that John was talking about.” ⁵After the people heard Paul say this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶Then Paul placed his hands on them. The Holy Spirit was given to them, and they spoke unknown languages and prophesied. ⁷There were about twelve men in this group.

GOSPEL: Mark 1:4-11

          ⁴So John the Baptist showed up in the desert and told everyone, “Turn back to God and be baptized! Then your sins will be forgiven.”
⁵From all Judea and Jerusalem crowds of people went to John. They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.
⁶John wore clothes made of camel’s hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.
⁷John also told the people, “Someone more powerful is going to come. And I am not good enough even to stoop down and untie his sandals. ⁸I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”
⁹About that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. ¹⁰As soon as Jesus came out of the water, he saw the sky open and the Holy Spirit coming down to him like a dove. ¹¹A voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.”

Isaiah 9:2-7
9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined.

9:3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.

9:4 For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

9:5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

9:6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

9:7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Psalm 96
96:1 O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.

96:2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.

96:3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.

96:4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.

96:5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.

96:6 Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

96:7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

96:8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts.

96:9 Worship the LORD in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.

96:10 Say among the nations, “The LORD is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.”

96:11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

96:12 let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

96:13 before the LORD; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.

Titus 2:11-14
2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,

2:12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly,

2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

2:14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)
2:1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.

2:2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

2:3 All went to their own towns to be registered.

2:4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

2:5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

2:6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.

2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

2:8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

2:9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see–I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:

2:11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

2:12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

2:15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”

2:16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.

2:17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;

2:18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

2:19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

7:2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.”

7:3 Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the LORD is with you.”

7:4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan:

7:5 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in?

7:6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle.

7:7 Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”

7:8 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel;

7:9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.

7:10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly,

7:11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.

7:16 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

Luke 1:46b-55
1:46b “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

1:48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

1:49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

1:50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

1:51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

1:52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

1:55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
89:1 I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

89:2 I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

89:3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:

89:4 ‘I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah

89:19 Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said: “I have set the crown on one who is mighty, I have exalted one chosen from the people.

89:20 I have found my servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him;

89:21 my hand shall always remain with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.

89:22 The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him.

89:23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.

89:24 My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted.

89:25 I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.

89:26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’

Romans 16:25-27
16:25 Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages

16:26 but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith –

16:27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

Luke 1:26-38
1:26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

1:27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

1:28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

1:29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

1:30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

1:31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.

1:32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.

1:33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

1:34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

1:35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.

1:36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.

1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

1:38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

A Different Service Of Worship For Christma

Grace United Church of Christ Wausau, WI

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 5:30 P.M.

The holidays can be difficult for us all: the stresses and strains of trying to offer a time of celebration take their toll. Many people find they have trouble feeling “in the spirit” of things, whether because of the recent (or anticipated) death of a family member or friend, the end of a marriage, the loss of work, or other trying change. Facing Christmas in a time of conflict and other terrors may make “being merry” a trying task.

This year we will be gathering together for A Service of the Longest Night. It is so named because of its proximity to the winter solstice – the longest night of the year. But the name is also fitting because – despite the trappings of gifts, special meals, and Christmas carols – the season can be darker than “normal” times of the year for those who struggle. For more information call 715.845.7051 or email graceucc@frontier.com. It is open to all regardless of where you are on your faith journey…

Come and join us.    

Music    Scriptures    Silence    Reflection    Prayer

All Are Welcome.

61:2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

61:3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion– to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.

61:4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

61:8 For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

61:9 Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.

61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

61:11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

Psalm 126
126:1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.

126:2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

126:3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.

126:4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.

126:5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.

126:6 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

Second Sunday in Advent

FIRST READING: Isaiah 40:1-11

Our God has said:

“Encourage my people! Give them comfort.
²Speak kindly to Jerusalem and announce:
Your slavery is past; your punishment is over.
I, the LORD, made you pay double for your sins.”

³Someone is shouting:
“Clear a path in the desert! Make a straight road
for the LORD our God.
⁴Fill in the valleys; flatten every hill and mountain.
Level the rough and rugged ground.
⁵Then the glory of the LORD will appear for all to see.
The LORD has promised this!”

⁶Someone told me to shout, and I asked,
“What should I shout?”
We humans are merely grass,
and we last no longer than wild flowers.
⁷At the LORD’S command, flowers and grass disappear,
and so do we.
⁸Flowers and grass fade away,
but what our God has said will never change.
⁹There is good news for the city of Zion.
Shout it as loud as you can from the highest mountain.
Don’t be afraid to shout to the towns of Judah,
“Your God is here!”
¹⁰Look! The powerful LORD God is coming
to rule with his mighty arm.
He brings with him what he has taken in war,
and he rewards his people.
¹¹The LORD cares for his nation,
just as shepherds care for their flocks.
He carries the lambs in his arms,
while gently leading the mother sheep.

PSALMODY: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

¹Our LORD, you have blessed your land

and made all go well for Jacob’s descendants.
²You have forgiven the sin
and taken away the guilt of your people.

⁸I will listen to you, LORD God,
because you promise peace to those
who are faithful and no longer foolish.
⁹You are ready to rescue everyone who worships you,
so that you will live with us in all of your glory.

¹⁰Love and loyalty will come together;
       goodness and peace will unite.
¹¹Loyalty will sprout from the ground;
       justice will look down from the sky above.

¹²Our LORD, you will bless us;
our land will produce wonderful crops.
¹³Justice will march in front,
making a path for you to follow.

SECOND READING: 2 Peter 3:8-15a

⁸Dear friends, don’t forget that for the Lord one day is the same as a thousand years, and a thousand years is the same as one day. ⁹The Lord isn’t slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.

¹⁰The day of the LORD’S return will surprise us like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a loud noise, and the heat will melt the whole universe. Then the earth and everything on it will be seen for what they are.
¹¹Everything will be destroyed. So you should serve and honor God by the way you live. ¹²You should look forward to the day when God judges everyone, and you should try to make it come soon. On that day the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and everything else will melt in the heat. ¹³But God has promised us a new heaven and a new earth, where justice will rule. We are really looking forward to that!
¹⁴My friends, while you are waiting, you should make certain that the Lord finds you pure, spotless, and living at peace. ¹⁵Don’t forget that the Lord is patient because he wants people to be saved.

GOSPEL: Mark 1:1-8

This is the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ²It began just as God had said in the book written by Isaiah the prophet,

“I am sending my messenger
to get the way ready for you.
³In the desert someone is shouting,
‘Get the road ready for the Lord!
Make a straight path for him.’ “

⁴So John the Baptist showed up in the desert and told everyone, “Turn back to God and be baptized! Then your sins will be forgiven.”
⁵From all Judea and Jerusalem crowds of people went to John. They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.
⁶John wore clothes made of camel’s hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.
⁷John also told the people, “Someone more powerful is going to come. And I am not good enough even to stoop down and untie his sandals. ⁸I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”