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Advent @ NEC
1st Sunday:
A message for the confused
2nd Sunday:
A message for the oppressed
READINGS:
• Isaiah 9:2-7 &
Matthew 1:18-25
• Isaiah 61:1-3 &
Luke 1:67-79
3rd Sunday:
A message for the refugee
• Hosea 11:1-4, 9-11 &
Matthew 2:13-23
4th Sunday:
A message for the seeker
• Jeremiah 29:4-7, 10-14
& Matthew 2:1-12
Dec. 30th:
A message for the hungry
• Luke 1:46-55
‘Just’ = that which is honourable, fair
and morally right
1904 in Russia
Why did Jesus come?
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has
anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim
freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the
prisoners [or the blind], to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour
and the day of God’s anger against their oppressors, to comfort
all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
To bestow on them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart
instead of a crushed spirit.
They will be called mighty oaks, a planting of the Lord, for the
display of his splendour. (Isaiah 61:1-3)
• Zechariah’s prayer
A cry of redemption for the oppressed!
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he
has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the
house of his servant David (as he said through his
holy prophets of long ago).” Luke 1:68-70
“Redemption” = deliverance, liberation,
rescue, recovery, freedom.
= God stands with the oppressed
• God remembers his covenant
“He has been merciful to our ancestors by
remembering his sacred covenant — the
covenant he swore with an oath to our
ancestor Abraham.
We have been rescued from our enemies so
we can serve God without fear, in holiness
and righteousness for as long as we live.”
= God stands with the oppressed
• God keeps his promise
“He has sent us a mighty deliverer from the
royal line of his servant David, just as he
promised through his holy prophets long ago.
Now we will be saved from our enemies and
from all who hate us.”
= God stands with the oppressed
• God reveals his plan
“And you, my little son, will be called the
prophet of the Most High, because you will
prepare the way for the Lord.
You will tell his people how to find freedom
through the forgiveness of sins.
Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning
light from heaven is about to break upon
us, to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death, and to guide us
to the path of peace.”
Christmas - a message for the
oppressed!
• Give thanks that God “moved into
our neighbourhood”.
• Stand with those living in fear, and
give them a glimpse of freedom.
• Share some good news!
Help us reach our goal
and make it more
than just Christmas.
Visit www.justchristmas.om.org to donate today,
or save your pennies & pounds this month!