Painted clouds over grassy Lake Okeechobee

In case anyone wondered if the drought was having an effect on Lake Okeechobee, just check out this picture. Where water once was, grass now is... a little prairie growing on the north of the lake! It's really pretty, but we need lots of rain in the basins north of Okeechobee... enjoy the picture, though! This is classic Okeechobee, the vaulted sky and natural land, painted clouds at sunset!

A very special Christmas

Christmas Eve service was very special this year. It was a celebration of God's light in our darkness, and the light of the candles and decorations seemed to shine out the news: News, news! Jesus Christ has come for us, true Light of true Light, very God of very God, into our darkened world: rejoice! May you know that Light this year, in ways that you need the most... Alleluia!

Yet searched and true they found it!

I sing the birth

A Christmas carol by Ben Jonson

I sing the birth was born tonight,
The Author both of life and light:
The angels so did sound it,
The angels so did sound it, so did sound it;
The like the ravished shepherds said,
Who saw the light and were afraid,
Yet searched, and true they found it,
Yet searched, and true they found it,
True they found it, and true they found it.

The Son of God, the eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,
And freed the world from danger,
And freed the world from danger, freed from danger,
He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word which heaven and earth did make,
Was now laid in a manger,
Was now laid in a manger
In a manger, laid in a manger.

What comfort do we by Him win,
Who made Himself the price of sin,
To make us heirs of glory!
To make us heirs of glory, heirs of glory!
To see this Babe, all innocence,
A Martyrs born in our defense--
Can man forget the story,
Can man forget,
Can man forget the story,
Forget the story?
Can man forget the story?

Selah!

Advent at Okeechobee Presbyterian Church

A beautiful arrangement crafted by Joyce -- thanks Joyce!

Advent services

Advent at Okeechobee Presbyterian Church is special! Our services progress through the Advent candles of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, culminating in the lighting of the Christ candle on Christmas Eve -- which then is shared throughout the congregation in candlelight service, signifying the light of Jesus that fills our lives and makes us new.

The schedule for the remaining services in Advent:

• Sunday morning, December 16th 10:30 a.m. -- third Sunday of Advent
• Sunday morning, December 23rd 10:30 a.m. -- fourth Sunday of Advent
• Monday evening, December 24th 7:00 p.m. -- Christmas Eve candlelight service!

Join us in worship of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we prepare our hearts for His advent here!

God bless you and your family this year... may you sense a special grace renewing you in faith and wonder for His awesome care!

A Litany for Advent

Antiphons

O Wisdom,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
pervading and permeating all creation,
you order all things with strength and gentleness.
Come now and teach us the way to salvation.

Come Lord Jesus!

O Adonai,
Ruler of the house of Israel,
you appeared in the burning bush to Moses
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come with outstretched arm to save us:

Come Lord Jesus!

O Root of Jesse,
rising as a sign for all the peoples,
before you earthly rulers will keep silent
and nations give you honor:
Come quickly to deliver us.

Come Lord Jesus!

O Key of David,
Scepter over the house of Israel,
you open and no one can close;
you close and no one can open:
Come to set free the prisoners
who live in darkness and the shadow of death.

Come Lord Jesus!

O Ruler of the nations,
Monarch for whom the people long,
you are the Cornerstone uniting all humanity:
Come save us all, whom you formed out of clay.

Come Lord Jesus!

O Immanuel,
our Sovereign and Lawgiver,
you are the desire of all the nations and Savior of all:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.

Come Lord Jesus!

Silence.

Prayer

God of grace,
Ever faithful to your promises,
The earth rejoices in hope of our Savior’s coming
And looks forward with longing
To His return at the end of time.
Prepare our hearts to receive Him when He cmes,
For He is Lord forever and ever. Amen.

Selah.

“Litany of Advent: O Antiphons,” Book of Common Worship, 167.

To do thy will, O Lord!

Our Great Redeemer

Words: Christian Hymnbook, 1865, as alt. in The Hymnal 1982.
Tune: This Endris Nyght

"I come," the great Redeemer cries,
"To do thy will, O Lord!"
At Jordan's stream, behold!
He seals the sure prophetic word.

"Thus it becomes to fulfill
all righteousness," He said.
Then, faithful to the Lord's commands,
through Jordan's flood was led.

Hark, a glad voice! The Father speaks
from heaven's exalted height:
"This is my Son, my well-beloved
in whom I take delight."

The Savior Jesus, well-beloved!
His Name we will profess,
like Him desirous to fulfill
God's will in righteousness.

No more we'll count ourselves our own
but His in bonds of love.
Oh, may such bonds for ever draw
our souls to things above!

Selah.

A prayer for Christ the King Sunday

Prayer of Confession

Caring God, in our anxiousness, we cling tightly to familiar people. Afraid to extend our hand, we bind up our gifts, fearing we won’t have enough for ourselves. Loving Jesus, lacking trust in you we clutch our possessions as if they are the meaning of life. Our hesitancy to share stops the flow of your compassion. Holy God, loosen our closed hands and tight hearts that we may offer the gifts we have, to touch the bruised world. Let your compassion flow through us.

Continue in silent prayer...

Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Through Christ, God was pleased to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of the cross. God has rescued us from the power of darkness, and in Christ we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins.

Gloria Patri

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen, Amen!

Selah.

A Thanksgiving psalm: Fountain of mercy, God of love!

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come into His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord is God. It is He that made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations!

Fountain Of Mercies, God Of Love

Fountain of mercy, God of love,
Whose gifts all creatures share,
The rolling seasons as they move
Proclaim Thy constant care.

When in the bosom of the earth
The sower hid the grain,
Thy goodness marked its secret birth,
And sent the early rain.

The spring’s sweet influence, Lord, was Thine,
The seasons knew Thy call;
Thou mad’st the summer sun to shine,
The summer dews to fall.

The gifts of mercy from above
Matured the swelling grain;
And now the harvest crowns Thy love,
And plenty fills this plain.

O ne’er may our forgetful hearts
O’erlook Thy bounteous care,
But what our Father’s hand imparts
Still own in praise and prayer.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God Whom we adore,
Be glory, as it was, is now,
And shall be evermore!

Selah.

A prayer for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Prayer of Confession

God of consuming fire, treat us not as stubble through the folly of our misdeeds. We are misled by arrogance as we boast of our goodness. We look with disdain on those less fortunate, and ignore the poverty of our own souls. Claiming to be among the mighty, we favor those gifted with similar strengths. As individuals and as a nation, we test your patience. Yet in Christ you love us still. Forgive our pride…

Continue in silent prayer...

Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

The proof of God’s amazing love is this: While we were sinners Christ died for us. Because we have faith in Him, we dare to approach God with confidence. In Christ’s name we are forgiven!

Gloria Patri

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen, Amen!

Selah.