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December 22, 2022

Signs of Our Time

Heather Murray Elkins   |   Read Psalm 96:1-13

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Lectionary Week
December 19–25, 2022
Scripture Overview

Joy over the Christmas miracle is the theme that binds this week’s passages together—unrestrained joy over what God has done and over who God is. These texts celebrate a God who reigns in strength and brings peace and light—the beginning of a new reality. As worshipers, we join in rejoicing over the coming of the messenger “who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’” (Isa. 52:7) and the angel who brings “good news of great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). We celebrate with all the earth by singing a new song (Ps. 96:1). The One who was present at creation, the eternal Word, “became flesh and lived among us” (John 1:14).

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

Read Isaiah 9:2-7. What or who in your life helps you to continue to walk in the world’s darkness?
Read Psalm 96. How do you join the earth in joy and worship? How does this allow you to shout for joy and sing to the Lord a new song?
Read Luke 2:1-20. Advent reminds us of Jesus’ bridging the gap between God and humanity. How does this reality change the way you experience the world?
Read John 1:1-14. Reflect on the incarnation of God in the form of a baby. In what ways does this influence the way you see and understand God’s nature?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Psalm 96:1-13

1 Sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Sing to the LORD! Bless his name! Share the news of his saving work every single day! 3 Declare God’s glory among the nations; declare his wondrous works among all people 4 because the LORD is great and so worthy of praise. He is awesome beyond all other gods 5 because all the gods of the nations are just idols, but it is the LORD who created heaven! 6 Greatness and grandeur are in front of him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Give to the LORD, all families of the nations give to the LORD glory and power! 8 Give to the LORD the glory due his name! Bring gifts! Enter his courtyards! 9 Bow down to the LORD in his holy splendor! Tremble before him, all the earth! 10 Tell the nations, “The LORD rules! Yes, he set the world firmly in place; it won’t be shaken. He will judge all people fairly.” 11 Let heaven celebrate! Let the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it roar! 12 Let the countryside and everything in it celebrate! Then all the trees of the forest too will shout out joyfully 13 before the LORD because he is coming! He is coming to establish justice on the earth! He will establish justice in the world rightly. He will establish justice among all people fairly.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

The sea is roaring the bass line; the descant of the morning stars soars above the melody line of the mountains. The trees are dancing, roots and all, as they reach the refrain. Here is a Christmas carol sung by creation in honor of the One who is coming.

People...

Holy One, may every breath be a blessing for all that moves and has its being in you. Amen.


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