This Week at Mt. Olive

Good morning, fellow redeemed!

O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before whom all kings are mute, to whom the nations will do homage:
Come quickly to deliver us.

But deliver us from evil.
What does this mean?--Answer.
We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from all manner of evil, of body and soul, property and honor, and at last, when our last hour shall come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself into heaven.

Matthew 3:7b: [John the Baptist said,] "Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?"

Today's O Antiphon has an important verb to learn: deliver. Christians talk a lot about being saved, but rarely talk about being delivered. Yet, it is deliverance that we so badly need. I've heard the story of the Bible called the account of the greatest rescue operation in history. In other words, the Bible tells about deliverance. John the Baptist's preaching was prophetic preaching, indicating the very real wrath of God against sin. That preaching strikes a nerve in us, for it's against the sin of humanity that the wrath of God is kindled.

Once again, we take note of the verb "deliver". The picture in minds may be a helicopter plucking a downed airman from the sea, or firefighters who heroically rescue a child from a burning building. The deliverance brought about by the root of Jesse is no less dramatic.

In fact, this Root of Jesse has a name that tells of deliverance. In Hebrew, it's Yehoshua, after his Old Testament namesake, Joshua. You probably know him better by the name you've learned since you were a child: Jesus. His name means, The Lord delivers. Indeed, at the cross, in His bleeding and dying, Jesus delivers sinners from the wrath to come.

O Root of Jesse, our Lord Jesus, lead us to Your arrival as our Deliverer, that You will deliver us sinners from the punishment we so rightly deserve. Amen

This Week at Mt. Olive:
There will be no Board of Elders meeting tonight.

Tuesday is Christmas program practice beginning at 6:30 p.m. There will be some light supper provided for the cast and crew, and practicing will begin between 6;45 p.m. and 7 p.m. Please bring your costume and script!

Wednesday, there will be a fourth Advent Midweek service. This will be held at the regular times of 12:15 and 7:15 p.m. The Advent Psalm is 85, though we won't be using the entire Psalm in the service.

Thursday is Youth Cookie Baking, Taking, and Caroling day! Beginning at 9:30 a.m., with lunch provided, the young people of Mt. Olive will be baking and decorating cookies to take to the homebound members. This is an all day event, and lunch is provided.

Also on Thursday, young people, if you want to participate in the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, I need to know that before Thursday, as that's when I'll be handing out parts.

The Worship Schedule for the Weekend:
Christmas Eve, December 24 (Saturday)
6:30 p.m. - Sunday School Christmas Service
11 p.m. - Candlelight Service

Christmas Day, December 25 (Sunday)
8 a.m. - Divine Service
9:15 a.m. - Adult Bible Class is invited to bring a Christmas goodie to share as we watch the rest of "The Star of Bethlehem".
Sunday School Convocation
10:30 a.m. Divine Service

God bless!
Pastor Kevin Jennings