INTROIT: See, your righteous King comes bringing salvation.  O Lord, I give my soul to YOU.  Don't let me suffer shame.  Don't let my enemies defeat me.  My hope is with YOU, and I will never suffer shame.  My enemies will suffer shame.

COLLECT: Show YOUR power, O Lord, and come.  Protect us and save us from the danger of our sins.  We pray to YOU, O Christ, with the Father and Holy Spirit, now and forever.  Amen.

JEREMIAH 33:14-16
    14.  The Lord says, "The day will happen that I will do the good thing I promised to ISRAEL and JUDAH.
    15.  At that time I shall choose for King a Righteous Son from DAVID'S family.  That King will reign correctly and honestly.
    16.  The people living in the country JUDAH will be saved, and the city named   JERUSALEM will have peace.  That King will be named 'Our Righteous Lord.'"

I THESSALONIANS 3:9-13
     9.  Now we can thank God for you.  We thank God for the happiness you give to us.
    10.  Day and night we ask God with all our heart to let us see you face-to-face, and to give you support for your faith.
    11.  May our God and Father HIMSELF and our Lord Jesus lead us to you.
    12.  The Lord make you grow in love, and may your love overflow for one another and for all people, the same-as we love you.
    13.  God will make your faith strong so that you will be holy and without blame standing before our God and Father on the day our Lord Jesus comes with all the holy angels.

GRADUAL: Rejoice, O children of God!  Sing praise, children of heaven!  See, your righteous King comes bringing salvation.  Praise Christ.  Jesus comes in the name of the Lord.  In YOUR house, O Lord, we praise YOU.

LUKE 21:25-36
    25.  And warnings will appear in the sun and moon and stars.  And nations will not trust one-another.  People will fear because of the noise of the tossing-motion of the sea.
    26.  Then people will faint with fear.  People will worry about the future things in the world, because God will shake the sky and the earth.
    27.  Then people will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with power and much glory.
    28.  Happen all these things begin, you look-up and show courage; because your Savior approaches.
    29.  And Jesus told the disciples a comparison story: "Remember the FIG tree and all the other trees.
    30.  Happen you see the leaves begin growing, you know summer is now near.
    31.  In the same way happen you see these things, you know the kingdom of God is near.
    32.  Remember this!  These people will not dissolve until all these things happen.
    33.  The sky and the earth will dissolve, but MY words will not dissolve.
    34.  Now watch yourselves!  Don't let yourselves think only about pleasure times and strong drinks and the worries of this life.  Or that day will happen quickly and surprise you.
    35.  Because that day will happen quickly and catch all people living on the earth.
    36.  But you must watch, and pray always for strength to help you escape all these future things.  Pray for strength to stand with confidence in-front-of the Son of Man."
 
 

INTROIT: Make us new people, O God;  make YOUR face smile on us, then we can be saved.  Listen to us, O Great Shepherd, YOU lead YOUR people same-as sheep; YOU sit amongst the angels.  YOU lead YOUR people out-of EGYPT and YOUR people filled the land.  Make us new people, O Almighty God; make YOUR face smile on us, then we can be saved.

COLLECT: O Lord, come and help us prepare our hearts for YOUR only Son.  And because Jesus comes, we can serve YOU with pure minds.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, YOUR Son, our Lord.  Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God. Amen.

MALACHI 3:1-4
     1.  The Lord of heaven says, "I will send MY announcer to prepare the way for ME.  While you are waiting for the Lord, quickly HE will come to HIS temple.  The announcer of the promise will come, and you will be happy to see HIM."
     2.  Happens the Lord comes, can anyone accept that?  Happen the Lord shows HIMSELF, can anyone stand in-front-of HIM?  HE is the same-as a fire that melts and separates the good from the bad; or the same-as SOAP that washes-away dirt.
     3.  And HE will sit the same-as a man makes SILVER pure.  And HE will make pure the children of LEVI the same-as GOLD and SILVER.  Then they will bring correct offerings to the Lord.
     4.  Then Judah's offering and the city JERUSALEM'S offering will please the Lord the same-as years ago.

PHILIPPIANS 1:3-11
     3.  Every time I remember you, I thank my God.
     4.  Every time I pray for you, I thank HIM with happiness.
     5.  From the first day until today, I pray with happiness that you helped me to tell the Good Story.
     6.  I know God began a good work in you, and HE will finish HIS work on the day that Christ Jesus comes.
     7.  I am happy about you all, and that is good.  You all share the honor God gives-me both now while I am in prison and in the past while I defended and announced the Good Story.
     8.  God knows I tell the truth, because my deep feeling for you comes from the heart of Christ Jesus HIMSELF.
     9.  I pray that your love will continue growing more and more together-with true knowledge and all understanding.
    10.  Then you can choose the best things, and you will remain pure and without blame until the day Christ comes.
    11.  Then your lives will be filled with good examples of the correct way.  Only Jesus can help you live to give glory and praise to God.

GRADUAL: Rejoice, O children of God!  Sing praise, children of heaven!  See, your righteous King comes bringing salvation.  Praise Christ.  Jesus comes in the name of the Lord.  In YOUR house, O Lord, we praise YOU.

LUKE 3:1-6
     1.  During the year the king TIBERIAS reigned fifteen years, PONTIUS PILATE was governor of the country JUDEA, and HEROD reigned over the country GALILEE, and HEROD'S brother named PHILIP reigned over the countries ITUREA and TRACHONITIS, and LYSANIUS reigned over the country ABILENE.  All this happened while ANNAS and CAIAPHAS were chief priests in the Jewish temple.
     2.  Then God spoke to JOHN, the son of ZACHARIAS, out in the dry country.
     3.  JOHN went and preached to all the area near the river named JORDAN.  "Change from your sins and get baptized, and God will forgive your sins."
     4.  The prophet ISAIAH wrote about JOHN, "Someone is shouting in the dry country: 'Prepare the way for the Lord.  Make the way straight for the Lord.
     5.  All the valleys must be filled with dirt, and all the hills cut-down.  The curvy roads must be made straight, and the rough roads become smooth.
     6.  All people must see that God saves them.'"
 

INTROIT: Show us YOUR mercy, O Lord, and give us YOUR salvation.  I will hear God the Lord speak, because HE will speak peace to HIS people and to HIS dear children; but HIS people must not change again to foolish living.  Truly HIS salvation is near to those people honoring HIM, then glory will stay in our nation.  Also the Lord will give good, and our ground will grow much food.  Righteousness surrounds our God and prepares a road for HIS walking.

COLLECT: Almighty God, through John the BAPTIZER YOU announced salvation; now help us to know about this salvation and serve YOU with a holy and righteous life all the days of our life.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, YOUR Son, our Lord.  Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God.  Amen.

ZEPHANIAH 3:14-18
    14.  Sing happily women of the church; shout men of God.  Be happy and rejoice with all your heart, you women of the city JERUSALEM.
    15.  The Lord will cancel your punishment.  HE will chase-away your enemies.  The Lord is King over ISRAEL, and HE lives with you.  Then you will not fear any bad happenings.
    16.  On that day the city JERUSALEM will hear, "Don't fear, city of God.  Don't give-up people of God.
    17.  The Lord, your God, lives with you.  HE has power to help you.  HE will feel happy with you.  HE will make you new with HIS love.  HE will sing and feel happiness about you the same-as people celebrating.
    18.  I will gather the people that in the past leave and are-now crying."

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7
     4.  Be-happy in the Lord always.  Again I urge you, happiness.
     5.  Let all people know you are kind.  The Lord is near.
     6.  Don't worry about anything, but thank God for everything.  And inform God about your needs.
     7.  The peace of God is more than all understanding.  That peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

GRADUAL: Rejoice, O children of God!  Sing praise, children of heaven!  See, your righteous King comes bringing salvation.  Praise Christ.  Jesus comes in the name of the Lord.  In YOUR house, O Lord, we praise YOU.

LUKE 3:7-18
     7.  Many people came to JOHN for baptism.  JOHN said to them, "You people are the same-as snakes.  Do you think that you can escape from the anger of God in the future?
     8.  Live and show you really changed from your sins.  And don't begin thinking that ABRAHAM is our father.  I tell you that God is powerful enough to grow ABRAHAM'S children from these rocks.
     9.  God's axe is ready to cut-down trees.  Every tree not growing good fruit will be cut-down and thrown in the fire."
    10.  The people asked JOHN, "Then, what can we do?"
    11.  JOHN answered, "If anyone has two coats, give one coat to the man without a coat, and if anyone has food, then share your food."
    12.  Some tax collectors came for baptism and asked, "Teacher, what can we do?"
    13.  JOHN told them, "Be honest; collect only as the law permits."
    14.  Some soldiers asked JOHN, "What can we do?"  JOHN answered, "Don't force or accept bribes to get money from people, but be satisfied with your pay."
    15.  The people began to hope for something wonderful and began to wonder if JOHN maybe is the Promised Savior.
    16.  JOHN told the people, "I baptize you with water.  But the Promised Savior is much greater than me.  I am not important enough to untie the Savior's shoes.  The Savior will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
    17.  The Savior has the farmer's shovel to separate the good GRAIN and the bad parts.  The good GRAIN will be put in the farmer's BARNS, but the bad parts will be thrown in the fire that burns forever."
    18.  And in many other different ways JOHN preached the Good Story to the people.
 
 

INTROIT: O skies, send joy from above.  Let the clouds rain with righteous blessings.  Let the earth grow with mercy.  The skies show God's glory, and the earth shows the work of HIS hands.

COLLECT: O Lord, show YOUR power and come.  Help us with YOUR wonderful strength and grace.  Then our sins will not bother our service to YOU, but we will obey YOUR wishes through YOUR mercy and power.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, YOUR Son, our Lord.  Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God.  Amen.

MICAH 5:2-4
     2.  The Lord says, "BETHLEHEM EPHRATHA, that is one of the smallest towns in the country JUDAH, but from that town will come a king for ISRAEL.  HIS family goes-back to past ages.
     3.  And the Lord will give HIS people to their enemies until one mother gives-birth to her Son.
     4.  Then HIS other brothers living far-away will come home to ISRAEL.  HE will reign over HIS people with the power from the Lord and with the glory of the Lord God HIMSELF.  HIS people will live in peace, because people all-over the earth will know HIS great power."

HEBREWS 10:5-10
     5.  Then, happens Christ came into the world, Jesus said to God, "YOU don't-want gifts and offerings, but YOU prepared a body for ME.
     6.  YOU are not pleased with animal gifts burned on the altar, or other gifts to take-away sins."
     7.  Then Jesus said, "Here I am.  I will do YOUR wish, O God.  I will do the same-as written in the Holy Book."
     8.  Notice: first Jesus says, "YOU don't-want gifts, offerings, or burned animals on the altar, or anything to take-away sins."  Those things agree with the Holy Book Law, even-though you dont-like them.
     9.  Then Jesus said, "Here I am.  I will do YOUR wish, O God."  So God takes-away all the old gift offerings, and instead accepts the offering of Jesus' body.
    10.  Christ Jesus obeyed God's wish.  Jesus offered HIS body once on the cross for all people.  Through that gift we are all forgiven for our sins.

GRADUAL: Rejoice, O children of God!  Sing praise, children of heaven!  See, your righteous King comes bringing salvation.  Praise Christ.  Jesus comes in the name of the Lord.  In YOUR house, O Lord, we praise YOU.

LUKE 1:39-45
    39.  Then MARY leaved from home and travelled quickly to a town in the hills of JUDAH.
    40.  MARY went to the home of ZACHARIAS and met her cousin ELIZABETH.
    41.  Happened ELIZABETH heard MARY'S voice, then the baby in ELIZABETH'S body jumped.  The Holy Spirit came into ELIZABETH.
    42.  And ELIZABETH said, "You are the most blessed of all women, and the baby inside you is blessed.
    43.  Why is this wonderful thing happening to me?  I feel honored that the mother of my Lord visits me.
    44.  Happened I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with happiness.
    45.  And you are blessed because you believe that the Lord's promise will happen true."