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UID:20260519T005401UTC-7497NBIRTD@https://messiahofthemountains.org/
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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\nToday Isaiah prophesies that a young woman
  will bear a son and name him Emmanuel. The gospel is Matthew’s account of
  the annunciation and birth of the one named Emmanuel\, God-with-us. Durin
 g these final days of Advent we pray\, “O come\, O come\, Emmanuel\,” a be
 loved hymn based on the O Antiphons\, ancient prayers appointed for the se
 ven days preceding Christmas. On this final Sunday of Advent we prepare to
  celebrate the birth of the one born to save us from the power of sin and 
 death.\n \n \nPrayer of the Day\nStir up your power\, Lord Christ\, and co
 me. With your abundant grace and might\, free us from the sin that hinders
  our faith\, that eagerly we may receive your promises\, for you live and 
 reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit\, one God\, now and forever.\nAm
 en.\n \nFirst Reading: Isaiah 7:10-16 An Israelite and Aramean military co
 alition presented a serious threat to King Ahaz of Judah. In response\, Ah
 az decided to secure his throne and kingdom by seeking Assyrian help. Isai
 ah reminds Ahaz that human attempts to establish security will fail. The p
 rophet gives the sign that is the only source of true safety: Immanuel\, G
 od is with us!\n \nPsalm: 80:1-7\, 17-19 Let your face shine upon us\, and
  we shall be saved. (Ps. 80:7)\n \nSecond Reading:  \nRomans 1:1-7 Most of
  the Christians in Rome do not know Paul. In this letter’s opening he intr
 oduces himself as an apostle divinely appointed to spread God’s gospel. Th
 e gospel’s content is the promised coming of Christ\, and Paul’s mission i
 s to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations\, including his 
 Roman audience.\n \nGospel:  \nMatthew 1:18-25 Matthew’s story of Jesus’ b
 irth focuses on the role of Joseph\, who adopts the divinely-begotten chil
 d into the family of David and obediently gives him the name Jesus\, which
  means “God saves.”\n18  Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in 
 this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph\, but before the
 y lived together\, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit.\n19 
  Her husband Joseph\, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to
  public disgrace\, planned to divorce her quietly.\n20  But just when he h
 ad resolved to do this\, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream a
 nd said\, “Joseph\, son of David\, do not be afraid to take Mary as your w
 ife\, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.\n 21  She wi
 ll bear a son\, and you are to name him Jesus\, for he will save his peopl
 e from their sins.”\n22  All this took place to fulfill what had been spok
 en by the Lord through the prophet:  \n23  “Look\, the virgin shall become
  pregnant and give birth to a son\,   and they shall name him Emmanuel\,” 
 which means\, “God is with us.”\n24  When Joseph awoke from sleep\, he did
  as the angel of the Lord commanded him\; he took her as his wife\n25  but
  had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son\, an
 d he named him Jesus.\n \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/636-forth-sunday-o
 f-advent-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor-naomi-carriker
DTSTART:20251221T160000Z
DTEND:20251221T170000Z
LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville
 \, NC 28714\, USA)
SUMMARY:Forth Sunday of Advent -  Year A - Worship Service - 11:00 AM Servi
 ce  --  Pastor  Naomi Carriker
URL:https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/636-forth-sunday-of-adve
 nt-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor-naomi-carriker
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