Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Isaiah 40:1-13, brings us to the words of Christ for His people through a conversation between the Father and the Son. In the previous chapter Isaiah makes it clear that the people identified with God really had no heart for God, as their affections were captivated by Bablyon. They are Israel in name only. However, God’s plan is not thwarted. In chapter 49 we see how this is true, through a conversation between the Father and the Son about the rescue of the Gentiles and the restoration of the “preserved ones of Israel.” Thus, He speaks of two categories of people: the Jews and the Gentiles. He will restore and lead His people, “For He who has mercy on them will lead them.”
This week prayer will be held at the Daming home.

Sunday afternoon teaching at around 2;00, on “Child Raising” will be delivered by Mike Davenport

The songs for Sunday are as follows:

Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!
Amen

Psalm 112
Praise ye the Lord. The man is bless’d
Who fears the Lord aright,
The man who finds in His commands
His pleasure and delight.
His children shall be mighty men
Upon the earth renowned;
The generation of the just
In blessing shall abound.

Abundant wealth within his house
Shall ever be in store;
And his unspotted righteousness
Endures forevermore.
Though darkness may surround the just,
To him arises light;
Compassionate and merciful,
He follows what is right.

That man is good who graciously
And freely gives and lends,
Who justly governs his affairs,
Who truth and right extends.
There surely is not anything
That ever shall him move;
The righteous man’s memorial
Shall everlasting prove.

When he shall evil tidings hear,
He shall not be afraid;
His heart is fixed; his confidence
Upon the Lord is stayed.
Established firmly is his heart;
He shall not fearful be,
Until upon his enemies
He his desire shall see.

He has dispersed his wealth abroad
And given to the poor;
His horn with honor shall be raised,
His righteousness endure.
The wicked, seeing him, is vexed;
He grits his teeth, dismayed,
But melts away, and his desire
Will into nothing fade.
Amen

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s Strength and Consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear Desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart

Joy to those who long to see Thee
Dayspring from on high, appear
Come, Thou promised Rod of Jesse
Of Thy birth we long to hear!
O’er the hills the angels singing
News, glad tidings of a birth
“Go to Him, your praises bringing;
Christ the Lord has come to earth”

Born Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a King
Born to reign in us forever
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery
Come behold the wondrous mystery
In the dawning of the King
He the theme of heaven’s praises
Robed in frail humanity
In our longing, in our darkness
Now the light of life has come
Look to Christ, who condescended
Took on flesh to ransom us

Come behold the wondrous mystery
He the perfect Son of Man
In His living, in His suffering
Never trace nor stain of sin
See the true and better Adam
Come to save the hell-bound man
Christ the great and sure fulfillment
Of the law; in Him we stand

Come behold the wondrous mystery
Christ the Lord upon the tree
In the stead of ruined sinners
Hangs the Lamb in victory
See the price of our redemption
See the Father’s plan unfold
Bringing many sons to glory
Grace unmeasured, love untold

Come behold the wondrous mystery
Slain by death the God of life
But no grave could e’er restrain Him
Praise the Lord; He is alive!
What a foretaste of deliverance
How unwavering our hope
Christ in power resurrected
As we will be when He comes

Behold the Lamb
Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away
Slain for us and we remember
The promise made that all who come in faith
Find forgiveness at the cross

So we share in this bread of life
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of peace
Around the table of the King

The body of our Saviour Jesus Christ
Torn for you eat and remember
The wounds that heal the death that brings us life
Paid the price to make us one

So we share in this bread of life
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of love
Around the table of the King

The blood that cleanses ev’ry stain of sin
Shed for you drink and remember
He drained death’s cup that we may enter in
To receive the life of God

So we share in this bread of life
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of grace
Around the table of the King

And so with thankfulness and faith we rise
To respond and to remember
Our call to follow in the steps of Christ
As his body here on earth

As we share in His suffering
We proclaim Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of Heaven
Around the table of the King