Opening Song:Prepare Him Room by Rita BalocheLyrics:Who is man that You would care for usYou clothed Yourself in flesh to draw us nearIn sinful men You've made our hearts Your homeTo make Your glory known Your redemption clearLet ev'ry heart prepare Him roomFor nothing else compares with YouRestore the joy of our salvation LordPrepare our hearts for more of YouNo greater love has anyone than thisTo sacrifice the gift of Your only SonSo we lay aside all the earthly thingsAnd all that comes between this great dividePassage: 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.3 A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.7 He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”(Mark Musical Reflection: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (VENI, VENI, EMMANUEL) by Thomas HelmoreReflection Notes: The tune VENI IMMANUEL comes from a 15th century chant and originally served as part of a requiem mass. Thomas Helmore adapted it for congregational use as a hymn in the late 1800s, while still retaining the speech-like flow of the original chant. The text dates back to the 8th century and was translated from Latin to English by J. M. Neal. Prayer:O God, who looked on us when we had fallen down into death and resolved to redeem us by the Advent of your only begotten Son; grant, we beg you, that those who confess his glorious incarnation may also be admitted to the fellowship of their Redeemer, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. -Ambrose