Melt Away Our Fears--Dec. 24, 2020

 

O God, you send out your word,

and it melts away our fears,

making weak hands strong 

and feeble knees firm. 

 

By your tender mercy,

as we sit in death’s dark

shadow, dawn from on high 

breaks upon us, giving us light.

 

You gave us Christ, in human likeness;

he emptied himself, took the form

of a slave, to guide our feet

into the way of peace.

 

Lectionary Readings, Including for Christmas Eve

Ps. 18:1-20; 147:12-20; 126; 62

Isa. 35:1-10

Rev. 22:12-17, 21

Luke 1:67-80

Ps. 132; 114; 126; 62

Isa. 59:15b-21

Phil. 2:5-11

 

Selected Verses

Ps. 147:18

[The LORD] sends out his word, and melts [the ice and the snow];
          he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.

 

Isa. 35:3-4a

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear!  Here is your God.  …”

 

Phil. 2:7a

…but emptied himself,
          taking the form of a slave,
          being born in human likeness.

 

Luke 1:78-79

“…By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  

[Zechariah’s prophecy]