Sunday 18 January 2015

1The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.2You have multiplied the nation.You have increased their joy.

They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest,as men rejoice when they divide the plunder.3For the yoke of his burden,and the staff of his shoulder,the rod of his oppressor,you have broken as in the day of Midian.4For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle,and the garments rolled in blood,will be for burning,fuel for the fire.5For a child is born to us.A son is given to us;and the government will be on his shoulders.His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.6Of the increase of his governmentand of peace there shall be no end,on David’s throne,and on his kingdom,to establish it, and to uphold it with justiceand with righteousness from that time on, even forever.The zeal of the Lord of Armies will perform this.

1Sing to the Lord a new song,for he has done marvelous things!His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

2The Lord has made known his salvation.He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations.3He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.

3All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.4Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!

5Sing praises to the Lord with the harp,with the harp and the voice of melody.6With trumpets and sound of the ram’s horn,make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world,that we would be holyand without defect before him in love,5having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself,according to the good pleasure of his desire,6to the praise of the glory of his grace,by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved.

· · · verses 7–14 are not read15For this cause I also,having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among youand the love which you have toward all the saints,16don’t cease to give thanks for you,making mention of you in my prayers,17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,the Father of glory,may give to you a spirit of wisdomand revelation in the knowledge of him,18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened,that you may know what is the hope of his calling,and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

13They were bringing to him little children,that he should touch them,but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them.14But when Jesus saw it,he was moved with indignation and said to them,“Allow the little children to come to me!Don’t forbid them,for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.15Most certainly I tell you,whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child,he will in no way enter into it.”16He took them in his arms and blessed them,laying his hands on them.