An Example of Faith & Trust

This Sunday we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent. This Sunday we hear from Luke’s Gospel about the angel Gabriel’s visit with Mary.

Christmas Services. There will be two services online this week, one Christmas Eve and one Christmas Day. Both services will have a special musical offering from Gerald and Allison Lynn Flemming of “Infinitely More.”

Family Ministry

St. George’s families, first off this week in our Sunday email is a link to a great video about today’s Gospel story which even the older kids will enjoy. To go with this great video, I also included the “leader guide” so parents could dive a little deeper into the story with their kids. There is also a Family Page and some colouring and activity pages.

Please sign up for our weekly emails to get those links to these great resources to use together with your family.  

Opening Music

The first piece of Advent music I am recommending is “Come, Thou long expected Jesus.”

The Reading

The reading for the Fourth Sunday of Advent is Luke 1:26-38:

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 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. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 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. 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. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

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.1

Prayers and Message

And here is the link to the video of this Sunday’s Prayers and Message: 

Closing Music

I selected two Christmas hymns for this week to conclude with, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Go, Tell It on the Mountain.” I hope they help get you in the spirit!

A blessed and safe Sunday to you, and thank you so much for your continued support of the ministry and mission of St. George’s.

Be Well and God Bless.

Peace,

The Rev’d Canon Rob Park

P.S. If you are looking for even more church this Sunday be sure to check out a special Diocesan Lessons and Carols Service on our diocesan Facebook page and the diocesan YouTube page tonight at 7pm.

  1. Scripture quotation is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.