BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260825T060926UTC-4407NcZCuV@https://messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260825T060926Z DESCRIPTION:We are a small church\, but big on Grace. We gather each Sunday at 11:00 am for worship by singing hymns\, hearing readings from the bibl e\, praying together and a celebration of Holy Communion. Communion is the spiritual bread our bodies need to live. All are invited to join us at th e Lord's table to be fed by his heavenly food\, There are no strangers in God’s house\, and if you choose to worship with us\, we would be honored b y your presence.\nIntroduction\nAt the heart of our Advent preparation sta nds John the Baptist\, who calls us to repent and make a new beginning. As the darkness increases we turn toward the approaching light of Christ. Fo r Christians he is the root of Jesse\, the righteous judge who welcomes al l\, especially the poor and meek of the earth. We wait with hope for that day when the wolf will dwell with the lamb\, and there will be no more hur t or destruction. From the Lord’s table we are sent in the spirit of John the Baptist to proclaim that in Christ the kingdom of God has come near.\n  \n \nPrayer of the Day\nStir up our hearts\, Lord God\, to prepare the wa y of your only Son. By his coming nurture our growth as people of repentan ce and peace\; through Jesus Christ\, our Savior and Lord\, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\, one God\, now and forever.\nAmen.\n  \nFirst Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10\nIsaiah describes the coming of a future\, ideal ruler who will renew David’s royal line (the stump of Jesse). Gifte d by the spirit of God\, this ruler will reign with perfect justice. Enmit y and danger will be restored to harmony and peaceful coexistence.\nPsalm: 72:1-7\, 18-19\n \nSecond Reading:  \nRomans 15:4-13 God’s promise to inc lude Gentiles within the circle of God’s blessed people has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Christians live out their unity by welcoming and encoura ging each other just as Christ has welcomed them into God’s family.\n \nGo spel:  \nMatthew 3:1-12 Just before Jesus begins his public ministry\, Joh n the Baptist appears\, calling people to mend their ways and speaking of a powerful one who is to come.\n1  In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea\, proclaiming\,\n2  “Repent\, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”\n3  This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah s poke when he said\,  “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:  ‘Pre pare the way of the Lord\;   make his paths straight.’ ” \n4  Now John wor e clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist\, and his food was locusts and wild honey. \n5  Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him\,\n6  and they were ba ptized by him in the River Jordan\, confessing their sins.  \n7  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism\, he sai d to them\, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming w rath?\n8  Therefore\, bear fruit worthy of repentance\,\n9  and do not pre sume to say to yourselves\, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor\,’ for I tell you\, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.\n10  Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees\; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.   \n11  “I baptize you with water for repentance\, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I\, and I am not worthy to carry his sanda ls. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.\n12  His winnowing fork is in his hand\, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gathe r his wheat into the granary\, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchabl e fire.”\n \nAfter the Sermon\, Holy Communion will be offered. Come as yo u are\, the gift of the Table of the Lord has been prepared as Jesus has r equested and now we are invited to the meal. Come to the table like Peter\ , with m ore enthusiasm than resolve and like James and John\, disappointe d and the priorities of God’s reign. Come to the table like Martha\, hosti ng and leading with confidence like Mary\, full of love and grief. Come to the table like Judas\, disillusioned and rebellious and like Mary Magdale ne\, faithful till the end. Come to the table\, because it is God who invi tes us and it’s God’s will that those who want to should meet God here.\nB lessing for the day (Our blessing is an adaptation of a Franciscan Prayer) \nMay God bless us with discomfort at a Easy answers\, half truths and sup erficial leaderships so that we may live out God’s will deep in our heartl and in our world.\nMay god bless with anger at injustice\, oppression and exploration and the environments that we may work for justice\, freedom an d peace.\nMay God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pa in\, rejection\, hunger and war so that we may reach out with hands and he arts to help them\, walk with them and turn their pain into hope and joy. \nAnd may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world\, so that we can do what others claim cannot b e done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all children\, the poo r and all others in any need.\nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\nGod be your hope and support\;\nGod be your light and your way\; and the bless ing of God Creator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/609-second-sunday- of-advent-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20251207T160000Z DTEND:20251207T170000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:Second Sunday of Advent - Year A - Worship Service - 11:00 AM Serv ice -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/609-second-sunday-of-adv ent-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR