The Third Sunday in Advent (12/17/06)
Sir, we would see JESUS! 
Emmanuel, Asheville, NC 

Psalm 33: 1-3
IN THE NAME OF JESUS!

?¨Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.
Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings!
Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully on the strings with shouts of joy.?Æ
- Psalm 33: 1-3 - 

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Into our hearts so mired in sin,
Our Savior comes our souls to win,
For we were helpless, bound for hell
As Scripture does so plainly tell.

In darkness we were doomed to roam
Far from God??s glor??ous heav??nly home,
Caught in the jaws of Satan??s grasp;
Into His evil ways we??d lapsed.

For God so plainly to us said,
?¨Upon My paths you shall be led
In righteousness and peace and love,
Obeying me your God above.?Æ

Instead our love so oft has waned.
Thus by our sin our God is pained.
Words that so hurt spewed from our lips
That cut so deep like deadly whips.

The good we??ve often left undone
Instead of hon??ring God??s dear Son.
The poor we??ve oft neglected, too.
For we have shut them from our view.

Each day our failings ?´fore our Lord
Do grow, increase, condemn us more.
Left all alone we??d perish ?± sure! ?±
Apart from God, deserving more.

Yet Christ was born to be our King
That we might of His love e??er sing.
He reigns in mercy, love and peace
That our own praise might never cease.

Christ??s pardon washes us so clean
That by God??s Son sins are not seen.
He draws us with His hands of love
Close to His heart and throne above.

Heav??n is our home where saints glad songs
Do e??er unto our God belong,
And death can??t rob us of Christ??s grace,
For Jesus Christ made us a place ?± 

Where at His throne we??ll see His face
And sin no more can us disgrace.
For God??s own Son did take our place ?±
He on His cross did us embrace.

Sing then, you choirs; exalt our Lord!
Praise Him, dear folk, with one accord.
O harp and lute and trumpet??s ring,
Sound forth your tune; make us to sing.

For Jesus Christ the vict??ry??s won. 
We??re treasured people of God??s Son.
The proof lies yon in manger bed
As to our Savior now we??re led. Amen.

TO GOD ALONE BE GLORY!

© The Reverend Frederick A. Stiemke
Vacancy Pastor