Opening Song:Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus by Charles Wesley, Rita West, and Rowland Hugh PrichardLyrics:Come Thou long expected JesusBorn to set thy people freeFrom our fears and sins release usLet us find our rest in theeIsrael's strength and consolationHope of all the earth thou artDear desire of every nationJoy of every longing heartBorn thy people to deliverBorn a child and yet a KingBorn to reign in us foreverNow thy gracious kingdom bringBy thine own eternal SpiritRule in all our hearts aloneBy thine all sufficient meritRaise us to thy glorious throneYou're our joyYou're our hopeIsrael's strength and consolationHope of all the earth thou artDear desire of every nationJoy of every longing heartPassage: 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.(Philippians Musical Reflection: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, tune by Rowland Hugh PrichardReflection Notes: This jubilant Advent text was written by the well-known hymn writer, Charles Wesley. While several tunes have been used over the years, one of the most popular for the Advent season is HYFRIDOL, a lilting Welsh melody composed by Rowland Hugh Prichard in the early nineteenth century. Prayer:Ever-present God, you taught us that the night is far spent and the day is at hand. Grant that we may ever be found watching for the coming of your Son. Save us from undue loveof the world, that we may wait with patient hope for the day of the Lord, and so abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may not be ashamed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A prayer from the Church of Scotland