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Love & Light

WELCOME TO TODAY'S WORSHIP SERVICE BY THE SWEDENBORGIAN ON-LINE COMMUNITY

   

Dec. 19,  2010

 

Love the Light;  Light the Love

A service of readings and carols

 


 
Open a Bible





Light a candle






Light the 4th Advent Candle





The 4th Advent candle is the candle of Love.




The First Noel
Mormon Tabernacle  Choir



 

 

 

Luke 2 (New International Version, ©2010)

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus
 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.


Oh Come, O Come, Emmanuel
 




Because from his essence, God burned with the love of uniting himself to man, it was necessary that he should cover himself around with a body.  He was to be born, and then to grow in wisdom and in love, and so was to approach to union with his Divine origin.  TCR 838

The coming of the Lord is not according to the letter, that he would again appear in the world, but it is his presence in each one, which takes place as often as the gospel is reached, and its holiness is thought about. AD 3900:9


How can you prepare your heart for the birth of Love?



What Child Is This?







8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.



For Unto Us A Child Is Born; Handle Messiah;
Mormon Taburnacle choir

 

 

Arcana Coelestia (Potts) n. 4594

4594. This is Bethlehem. That this signifies in place thereof the resurrection of a new spiritual of the celestial...

[2] The reason why the Lord was born there and not elsewhere, is that He alone was born a spiritual celestial man, but all others natural, with the capacity or ability to become either celestial or spiritual by regeneration from the Lord. The reason why the Lord was born a spiritual celestial man was that He might make His Human Divine, and this according to order from the lowest degree to the highest, and might thus dispose into order all things in the heavens and in the hells. ...


Allow this meditation to help you open your heart to the birth of Love.


A Christmas Meditation
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Extinguish your candles.

[including Advent candles]

 





Close the Bible

 



Go in peace, opening your heart to the birth of Love in your heart.