I, GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY am the beginning and will be the end; I am that one…FEAR NOT, for I am with you, be not afraid, for I am your GOD; I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. [Isaiah 41:4b, 10]
One thing I asked of the FOUNT OF LIFE, that…will I seek: to live in the house of the WOMB OF LIFE, and to inquire in her temple. She will shield me in her shelter when the day is evil; she will cover me under the cover of her tent…If I but believe, I shall see the goodness of SHE WHO IS FAITHFUL in the land of the living. Wait for the LIVING GOD; be strong, and let your heart take courage… [Psalm 27:4-5, 13]
“Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated…sanctify as Sovereign,” Christ in your hearts…have a ready defense for anyone who asks from you an account for the hope that is in you. Yet do so with gentleness and reverence… [1Peter 14b, 15-16a]
*Readings for our Parish in this Year C are from The Rev. Dr. Wilda [Wil] Gafney, Womanist biblical scholar, and is the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. She is the author of A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church Yr C, here after designated on my posts as WCL and translator of its biblical selections. Learn more about her and her work at her website: https://www.wilgafney.com/ [for slightly more detail, see my blog post for December 1, 2024, Advent I WCL]
**Readings for Advent II, December 8, 2024:
Isaiah 41:4–5, 8–10, 17–20: Who has worked and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY am the beginning and will be with the end; I am that one. 5 The coastlands seen and fear, the ends of the earth tremble; they have drawn near and come. 8 Now you, Israel [born of Rebekah], my slave, Jacob, who I choose, seed of [Sarah and] Abraham my dear friend; 9 who I snatched from the ends of the earth, and called from her farthest edges, saying to you, “You are my slave, you I chose and I will not reject you. 10 Fear not, for I am with you, be not afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, truly will I help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” 17 The poor and needy seek water and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst; I the GOD WHO PROVIDES will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 18 I will open the bare heights, rivers, and in the midst of the valleys, fountains; I will situate the wilderness as a pool of water, and the dry land as springs of water. 19 I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will place in the desert the cypress, the elm, and the box tree together. 20 So that they may see and know, may consider and comprehend, that the hand of the MIGHTY GOD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Psalm 27: 4–5, 7–10, 13–14 4: One thing I asked of the FOUNT OF LIFE, that [one thing] will I seek: to live in the house of the WOMB OF LIFE all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the WELLSPRING OF LIFE, and to inquire in her temple. 5 She will shield me in her shelter when the day is evil; she will cover me under the cover of her tent; she will raise me high on a rock. 7 Hear my cry, FAITHFUL ONE, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! 8 To you my heart says, “Seek my face!” Your face, JUST ONE, do I seek. 9 Do not hide your face from me. Do not send your slave away in anger; you have been my help. Do not abandon me, do not forsake me, God of my salvation! 10 If my mother and father forsake me, the COMPASSIONATE GOD will gather me in. 13 If I but believe, I shall see the goodness of SHE WHO IS FAITHFUL in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LIVING GOD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY!
1 Peter 3:13-17: Now who will harm you if you all are zealots for good? 14 Yet if you suffer because of righteousness, you all are blessed: “Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated.” 15 Rather, “sanctify as Sovereign,” Christ in your hearts. Always have ready a defense for anyone who asks from you an account for the hope that is in you. 16 Yet do so with gentleness and reverence, maintaining a good conscience, so that when you are maligned, they who abuse you for a good way of life in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For suffering for doing good is better, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.
Luke 1:26–38: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee, Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the name of the virgin was Mary. 28 And the angel came to Mary and said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Most High God is with you.” 29 Now, she was troubled by the angel’s words and pondered what sort of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Fear not Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Sovereign God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his sovereignty there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have not known a man intimately?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit, She will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the one born will be holy. He will be called Son of God. 36 And now, Elizabeth your kinswoman has even conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for she who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the woman-slave of God; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
Leader: ~ O GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY, calm us in our preparations for the celebration ahead, that we may take time, now and always, to reflect on the Holy YES of Mary, to prepare ourselves as God-Bearers of and for Christ, your true gift. Overflow us with Your love as we make way for the coming of our Savior in each and every day.
~ O GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY, for all who cry out from the wilderness of hunger, separation, and fear, urge us to exhort all who govern on this Earth, in this Country, and in this Community, to deliver the distressed from the shadow of death into the brightness of safety and abundance. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
~ O GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY, shine Your healing light and love on those who dwell in the darkness of chronic illness or spiritual isolation, and sustain the energy of all who give them care. We now join our hearts to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions
~ O GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY, hold fast to those traveling the rough way of grief as You embrace our loved ones now arrived in the fullness of joy to Your everlasting splendor. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
~ O GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
~ O GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY, grant continuing renewal and unlimited vitality to all who guide us in our worship and on our spiritual paths, with food for our souls, as they teach us Your words, and share our journey to eternal life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
The Celebrant adds: O GOD WHO PROVIDES, pull us ever closer to keep us
from fear and to strengthen our souls. Fill us with the courage to sanctify as
SOVEREIGN the Christ in our hearts, the One who is coming, and yet who is
always here. Grant us the hope and peace of this Advent time, now
and always, so to put our life in Christ above all worldly pursuits. We ask
through Jesus, Your Son, earth-born and holy; and the Holy Spirit, She who is also
within us all; who together with You are One God, Most High, beyond forever. Amen.
