Bullets for the Battle

Second Sunday of Advent

Opening
Lighting of the candles to the playing of Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.

Meditation
Sheep are important in the Middle East today. They were even more so in Roman Judea. They provided food and fiber and wealth for those who raised them yet their most important function in the days of the temple was sacrifice. The pinnacle of their importance to Judaism was the Passover Lamb, rooted both in the history of the nation and the relationship of man to God. In short, sheep mattered!

Sheep are venerable to attack from predators. They aren’t very smart. They need someone to watch over them if they are to flourish. Sheep require a shepherd.

Caring for sheep was menial, though necessary work, often relegated to children or servants. By the time Jesus was born shepherds were marginalized in Jewish society because the lifestyle their work dictated kept them from following all the rules and regulations of religious life. They were simple men following a humble way of life. Yet, without them, there would not have been any Passover lambs.

It was to these simple farm workers that God’s angels came to announce the birth of the perfect Lamb of God – He who came as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Like the good shepherds they were they responded to the angelic message and hurried to Bethlehem to see the child. Let us prepare our hearts to do likewise!

Scripture

Luke 2:8-20 (New King James)
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Hymn
Join us in song: (some good choices listed below)
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Silent Night
Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem

Prayer
Ask someone to pray that we respond to the call.

Closing
The Candles remain lit until the end of the service when the person who lit them blows them out.