Emmanuel

Advent 7 – Emmanuel

Leader: As our nights grow longer and our days grow short,

we look on these earthly signs--light and green branches--

and remember God's promise to our world:

Christ, our Light and our Hope, will come.

Listen to the words of the gospel of Matthew:

“… an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said ‘Joseph, son of

David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is

from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he

will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what had been

spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear

a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us.’”

(Matthew 1:20b-23)

Leader: Let us pray.

All: Eternal God, you do not abandon us in exile

but hear our plea for returning and rest:

Visit us, we pray, with your presence

and raise us to greet with hope and joy

the promised day of salvation;

through Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns

now and for ever. AMEN.