You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.
Amen. Thank you all.
Beautiful song with some of the words of our passage this morning.
If you'll turn with me to Luke chapter 19, verse 13.
It's Luke 19, 13.
Thank you. Somebody got that.
Just kidding.
We're not that far into Luke yet.
Some of you are football fans, so I thought I'd just make sure you were awake.
We're actually in Luke chapter 1 still.
That would be a better place to turn and leave the football behind for now.
The rest of you who are quoting scores to me.
We are jumping back into Luke this morning.
Last time we were here, we looked at Mary's song of praise.
The Magnificat.
We saw her overflowing joy in what God is doing here.
And the excitement just continues to build this week.
As we show up for a circumcision and the Father starts to sing and prophesy.
Next Sunday, all the excitement and anticipation culminates in the birth of Jesus.
The classic Christmas story of Luke 2 that you know and love.
So next Sunday, we're going to be celebrating Christmas in September.
That's going to be during our worship service next week.
We've decided to forego the trees.
There will not be trees decorating.
But you can come dressed festively and red and green if you would like.
We will definitely have a time with our children complete with Christmas gifts.
And we'll be singing Joy to the World and various other songs that you will love.
You don't want to miss next Sunday.
It's going to be a great chance to celebrate Christmas right in the middle of the fall.
It'll be a lot of fun.
But as we build towards that peak of joy here early in Luke's Gospel,
listen to Zechariah's joy in his song here.
We'll read beginning at verse 57.
This is God's Word.
Luke 1, verse 57.
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her,
and they rejoiced with her.
And on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child,
and they would have called him Zechariah after his father.
But his mother answered,
No, he shall be called John.
And they said to her,
None of your relatives is called by this name.
And they made signs to his father inquiring what he wanted him to be called.
And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote,
His name is John.
And they all wondered.
And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed,
and he spoke,
Blessing God.
And fear came on all their neighbors.
And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea.
And all who heard them laid them up in their hearts,
saying,
What then will this child be?
For the hand of the Lord was with him.
And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit,
and prophesied,
saying,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people,
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
to show the mercy promised to our fathers,
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham,
to grant us that we,
being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear and holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, child,
will be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people and the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Will you pray with me?
Holy Spirit, we ask that you would come this morning as you came and filled Zechariah.
Would you come and fill my heart and our hearts
that we might see and hear and understand your word?
We come not to hear a man,
but to hear our God,
the one who is all sufficient for us,
who has given us his word.
And so we pray,
speak,
Lord.
Your servants are listening.
Might we hear your word?
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
For decades and decades,
you could yell and scream
and make all sorts of noises in Washington, D.C.
And nobody in Baltimore, Maryland,
would hear anything at all.
But that all changed
on May 24th, 1844,
when Samuel Morse
sat in the U.S. Capitol building,
tapped softly on his new machine,
and sent a message received by his assistant sitting in Baltimore.
Immediately, it got to him.
The silence had been broken
and a new era of communication begun with the telegraph machine.
The content of the message that Morse sent was equally promising.
What hath God wrought?
Morse wrote.
He understood some of the significance of what was happening.
It was only 32 years later,
March 10, 1876,
Alexander Graham Bell made the first phone call
from one room of his Boston lab to another.
In this iconic image,
he's making that call to his assistant
and saying a little less profoundly,
Mr. Watson, come here.
I want to see you.
Previously to the telephone,
his assistant would have been sitting in that other room
in complete silence,
hearing nothing at all
when Graham Bell called to him.
But the telephone broke that silence
and changed everything, right?
Now you can't imagine living without a telephone
or several carried around by people you know and love.
A long, long wait for that silence to be broken.
Many centuries of human history
when that was not possible.
There's a long silence broken in the passage that we just read,
but it's not a neutral silence
like those with Morse and Graham Bell.
And it's not a peaceful silence
like the silence after the kids are asleep
and you sit down.
Oh, relief.
It's not that kind of silence.
But rather an aching silence.
Desperate to hear something.
To get help.
And yet remaining in dark silence.
Never hearing anything.
Day after day.
Silence.
It's more like the situation faced by 33 Chilean miners
just six years ago
when their mine collapsed
and they were trapped 2,300 feet,
almost half a mile underground.
trapped in darkness and silence
that for 17 days was filled
by only increasing discouragement and despair.
And then one day a drill bit
breaks into that silence
and you've heard the story,
you've watched the news,
the drill bit comes in,
they're able to send a message back up.
69 total days trapped
before international efforts
were able to bring all 33 of them back
safely above ground
to the light of day
for the first time in 10 weeks.
Can you imagine?
Stuck down there together.
You may remember the sign
that said it all when they came out.
Mission accomplished Chile.
It said.
What a difference, right?
When light finally breaks into darkness.
When sound finally breaks into silence.
Changes everything, doesn't it?
There's an obvious silence
in this passage with Zechariah.
Zechariah has been silent for nine months
because of his unbelief
at the angel's promise of a son.
And it's highlighted by the awkwardness
and the tension surrounding
the naming of the child
in the first part of the passage.
Zechariah has been awaiting in silence
the fulfillment of God's promise.
And when he obediently writes
that the child's name is John,
God opens his mouth
and he begins to praise and prophesy.
Immediately his mouth was open,
his tongue loosed,
he spoke blessing God.
A beautiful picture of those
who believe God's word
getting to declare his glory
to others, right?
Many people witness
this amazing scene unfold.
Word begins to spread all around
that something unique is happening
in the hills of Judea.
Zechariah has been awaiting in silence
the fulfillment of God's promise.
And that highlights in this passage
the deeper silence
being broken here.
God's people have been awaiting
in silence the fulfillment
of God's promises,
haven't they?
Israel is used to hearing from God
with great regularity, aren't they?
One prophet after another
just flip through the Old Testament.
Book after book
is prophet after prophet
to God's people.
Speaking God's message to them.
Offering the hope
that God's promises
will be fulfilled.
He's coming to rescue
his people.
But for 400 years now
there's been silence.
No recorded prophecy.
Longer than the United States
has been a nation.
Generation after generation.
Ache and longing.
Walking in darkness,
the prophet Isaiah says.
Cries of desperation,
but still silence.
No new message from God.
And this is the message
that bursts out of Zechariah
when his lips are loosed.
The message that
that silence is being broken.
His words in this glorious song
often called the Benedictus
reveal that God is finally
and definitively
breaking into the silence
and fulfilling
all his promises.
An amazing,
life-changing,
world-altering message
beyond what hath God wrought.
The content of what
Zechariah is saying.
He's so overcome with joy
he can't contain his praise.
It's overflowing.
Verse 68,
Blessed be the Lord,
God of Israel,
for he's visited
and redeemed his people.
Try to put yourself
in his shoes
for just a moment
this morning.
Just one Israelite priest
who's experienced
the silence of waiting
on God to fulfill
his promises.
Not just for nine months.
For his whole life.
Imagine yourself
as a priest like Zechariah.
Day after day.
Your whole life
laboring before God.
You've read the promises
going back over
2,000 years
to your ancestors.
You know the great stories
of deliverance
from Egypt
and others
but you're not seeing it.
Or hearing it.
You're back in the promised land,
yes,
but under Roman rule.
You're performing sacrifices
hour by hour,
day after day,
trying to have faith
and wondering
if you'll ever hear
from God.
If there will ever be
the promised fulfillment
of all the blood
you've shed.
The restoration
of your people
you've been hoping for
and thought would come.
You've got the really old
scrolls.
You read them
but
God seems to have
gone silent
as far as you can tell.
And then God speaks.
And at first of course
you hardly know
what to think,
what to do with it.
But as His Spirit
unfolds before you
over months
of your own silence,
the meaning of the angel's
amazing promise.
You begin to see
that there's a grander story
unfolding than just you
and your wife
having a son.
It's the hope of Israel
coming to fruition.
This is the culmination.
This is going to be
mission accomplished.
God has broken
the silence.
He is rescuing us
and He's fulfilling
all His promises.
That's what's happening.
This is it.
The big moment
we've all been waiting for
in silence.
Let's think back
for a few minutes
as Zechariah does
into the story
of God's people
in the Old Testament.
The good news
is that God is
finally and
definitively
breaking into
the silence
and fulfilling
His promises.
But what promises?
What's happening?
What's about to be
fulfilled through
Zechariah's son
and the one
for whom He
prepares the way?
You hear as you
read through
His song
explicit Old Testament
references.
You'll recognize
the names, right?
But really every verse
is full of these references.
Almost every word
is pointing back
to something.
I'm going to walk
through just a few
chronologically.
But here's the point
of all of it up front.
All of these Old Testament
threads.
All these things
that seem separate
and from a long time ago.
All of the promises
and the workings
of God with His people
are coming together
now.
He's saying.
This is where
it's all happening.
This is what it's all
been pointing to.
Let's go back to
Abraham.
Verse 72.
To show the mercy
promised to our fathers
to remember His holy
covenant, the oath
He swore to our
father Abraham.
Go back there
for a minute.
God establishes
His covenant
of grace with Abraham.
His relationship
with His people.
He does it with
Abraham all the way
back to Genesis 12.
The Lord says
to Abraham,
go from your country
and your kindred
and your father's house
to the land
I will show you
and I will make
of you a great nation
and I will bless you
and make your name
great so that you
will be a blessing.
I will bless those
who bless you
and him who dishonors
you I will curse
and in you
all the families
of the earth
shall be blessed.
God ratifies
this covenant
with Abraham
in Genesis 15
as he passes
through the animals
while Abraham
sleeps.
and then in
Genesis 17
he comes to him
again and says
I'm going to establish
my covenant
between me and you
and your offspring
after you
throughout their generations
for an everlasting covenant
to be God to you
and to your offspring
after you.
What has God
promised Abraham
in this great
gracious covenant
that he's entered
into with him?
perhaps most obviously
a land
right?
A place to call home
which indicates rest
and provision
for his people.
Secondly
a people
a great nation
as numerous
as the stars
in the sky
and the sand
on the shore
right?
Finally
let's call it
relationship.
God promises
to be their
God
generation
after generation
to have this
gracious
and unique
relationship
with his
special people
and the outcome
of all of this
of course
the result
of God's
unique relationship
with Abraham
and his descendants
is that all
the nations
of the earth
will be blessed.
That's God's promise
it's going to be
for everyone
everywhere
it's big stuff
right?
Well as those
promises develop
through the Old Testament
there are ups and downs
with how they seem
to be turning out.
Abraham's descendants
the nation of Israel
gets taken into
captivity in Egypt
not the promised land
Abraham has been
shown
but while they're
struggling there
for generations
in slavery
interestingly
we see that it's
there
that Israel
begins to grow
into a
great nation
right?
so numerous
that the Egyptians
are afraid
of them
just note
in that
that God often
works to fulfill
his promises
in the midst
of pain
and darkness
where he may
otherwise seem
distant
and silent
he's working
and he's fulfilling
his promises
the exodus
deliverance
of God's
people out of
Egypt
is yet another
thread referenced
by Zechariah
multiple times
verse 68
blessed be the
Lord the God
of Israel
he's visited
and redeemed
his people
a reference
to the exodus
what is he doing?
he's delivered us
that we should be
saved from our
enemies
and from the
hand of all
who hate us
verse 74
that we being
delivered from
the hand of our
enemies
might serve him
without fear
in holiness
and righteousness
before him
all our days
do you hear
the echoes
of let
my people
go
that they
may
worship
me
that's the
deliverance
Zechariah
is talking
about
God's
famed
action
on his
people's
behalf
bringing
them away
from their
enemies
in Egypt
but there have
been other
enemies
for God's
people
since Egypt
haven't there
Zechariah
says
God is
showing up
again
to redeem
that's what's
happening
it's like
Egypt
all over
again
he's delivering
his
people
well they
leave Egypt
and God's
people arrive
in the
promised land
after a
long trip
but they
struggle to
thrive there
without a
leader
time and
again
they wander
after other
gods
and they
suffer defeat
at the hands
of other
nations
in Yahweh
himself
fighting
against
them
at that
time
judges
says
repeatedly
in that
book
there's a
refrain
over and
over
at that
time
there was
no king
in Israel
everyone
did what
was right
in his
own eyes
over and
over again
God's people
wandering
away from
him with
no one to
lead them
back to
him
well eventually
God gives
them a king
and another
promise
verse 69
references
one of
these kings
he's raised
up a horn
of salvation
for us
in the house
of his
servant
David
as he
spoke
by the
mouth
of his
holy
prophets
from of
old
David
a king
to lead
God's
people
after their
God
right
who follows
after his
heart
and a promise
given to
David
that his
descendants
would reign
over Israel
forever
remember
2 Samuel 7
what does
God say
to David
I will
raise up
your offspring
after you
who shall
come from
your body
I'll establish
his kingdom
he shall
build a house
for my name
and I will
establish the
throne of
his kingdom
forever
and your
house and
your kingdom
shall be
made sure
forever
before me
your throne
shall be
established
forever
another
promise
to God's
people
through
King
David
a king
offered the
promise of
protection
power and
influence as a
great nation
and through the
prophets who
keep talking
of David's
line over
and over
it's the
hope of
Israel
and a
king in
the line
of David
who will
reign
forever
but when
Zachariah is
here that's
that's yet
another
promise
that seems
to have
faded
the line
has been
lost in
the shuffle
over the
years
hasn't it
as the
people have
wandered
from God
time and
again
not just
the people
but even
the Davidic
monarch
has been
taken into
captivity
away from
the promised
land
he doesn't
seem to be
ruling at
all
maybe we're
not such a
great nation
after all
and where is
the God
of gods
who promised
a special
relationship
with us
we don't
feel so
special
in Babylon
under the
thumb
of a cruel
king
for those
Israelites
who've
listened to
the prophets
over the
years
the promise
is that
God will
indeed work
despite the
failures
of his
people
despite their
wandering
God will
be faithful
to his
promises
he will
bring a
remnant
back from
exile
the prophets
say
to rebuild
the nation
in the
promised
land
with a
unique
relationship
with
Yahweh
and featuring
a Davidic
king
reigning
eternally
over God's
people
and all
of it
happening
for the
sake of
the good
and the
blessing
of all
the nations
the Messiah
is coming
the Messiah
is coming
the Messiah
is coming
the prophets
keep holding
out that
hope
this is how
all the
promises
will
finally
and
definitively
be fulfilled
for generations
now
that's
that's what
prophets
have been
saying
there's one
to come
the promised
king
will come
he will
redeem
he will
rule
justly
he will
deliver
God's
people
and there
will be
one to
prepare the
way for
him
the prophets
say
they've been
saying this
for generations
then 400
years of
silence
and now
at long
last
Zachariah
says
that one
to prepare
the way
that's my
boy
that's my
son
verse 76
you
child
will be
called
the prophet
of the
most high
for you
will go
before the
Lord
to prepare
his ways
pretty
weighty
words
for an
eight day
old
child
listen to
what
Zachariah
is
prophesying
God
is breaking
into the
silence
he has
remembered
he has
acted
he is
keeping
his promises
to Abraham
and redeeming
his people
like he did
in Exodus
sending the
king in
David's line
it's happening
right now
and why
how
because
of the
unassailable
character
of Yahweh
he remembers
his covenant
verse 72
and remembering
for God
is not merely
an intellectual
activity
is it
he takes
action
remembering
means he
acts
on their
behalf
all of
this
because of
his tender
mercy
verse 78
his faithful
covenant
keeping
love
don't you love
that phrase
his tender
mercy
he is a God
who brings
salvation
forgiveness
of sins
why
because he is
full
of tender
mercy
because he
sees the
broken
and the
hurting
and those in
darkness
and he
gently
and
compassionately
stoops
to rescue
a weak
and needy
people
verse 78
continues
the Messiah
will dawn
that's what it
means
will come
to us
as light
into our
darkness
as a voice
of hope
into the
silence
of our
despair
the fulfillment
of all
the promises
of this
merciful
faithful
God
who's
entered
into covenant
with us
and is now
keeping
all his
promises
do you see
why the
excitement
and joy
are building
here just
in the first
chapter of
Luke
the king
is coming
now
to those
of us
waiting
in silence
walking
in darkness
a light
has dawned
all the
threads are
coming together
here
and now
our God
is confirming
his special
relationship
he will give
us the rest
and provision
and protection
and blessing
will flow
once more
to many
wonderful news
that Zechariah
proclaims
so what about
us
have you ever
been in a place
where God
seemed silent
where you were
longing
waiting
to hear
him speak
where you
were waiting
and waiting
for him
to show up
and fulfill
his promises
Francis Schaeffer
famously wrote
of God
he is there
and he is
not silent
that's true
in a great book
but sometimes
it feels
like he is
silent
doesn't it
you can
feel the
darkness
and silence
in your own
heart
and life
and you don't
hear the voice
of God
or see
his light
I remember
feeling
that way
myself
after we
miscarried
our first
pregnancy
the grief
of the
loss
the
disappointment
of
joyous
expectations
dashed
the
darkness
and the
pain
that we
felt
acutely
then
I remember
longing
for God
to speak
for
him to
speak
something
that would
give me
hope
something
I could
hold on
to
for him
to speak
something
that would
allow me
to give
comfort
to my
heartbroken
wife
that
that wasn't
trite
that didn't
belittle
our pain
but
but that
helped
we cried
a lot
we slept
a lot
and we
cried
some more
maybe you
can recall
a time
like that
in your
own
life
maybe
God
seems
silent
because
your
adult
child
has
wandered
away
after
years
of
prayer
and
instruction
from
you
and
you're
longing
for God
to remember
his promises
and act
on your
behalf
maybe it's
the dark
silence
of
depression
that you
can't
even
explain
but it
feels like
you live
in a
soundproof
box
that no
light can
penetrate
and no
hope can
ever come
in
you're just
stuck
there
maybe you're
indulging in
sin right
now
and something
you know
is running
away from
God
but there
seems to be
no hope
of turning
around
you feel
you've left
him so
far behind
and he
doesn't seem
to be
calling
you back
anyway
you don't
hear that
maybe life
has become
so busy
that you
haven't heard
from God
in a long
while
the constant
noise
around you
makes you
feel you
you've had
silence
from him
since
shortly
after you
met him
years ago
maybe all
the way
back in
college
and then
life
happened
and you
never hear
from him
anymore
maybe for
you it's
that you've
never heard
God speak
at all
as far
as you're
concerned
he's never
broken
his silence
you've been
in and around
church for
for years
maybe you've
sat in these
pews many
times and
you've you've
prayed prayers
in the middle
of a worship
service and
they've they've
sounded like
God if
you're even
there I
want to
believe you're
there but I
I just
don't know
what would
it even
sound like
if God
spoke
into your
life
perhaps he
is speaking
to your
heart
right now
maybe you're
hearing his
voice telling
you that
in Jesus
he has
spoken
into this
world and
into your
life
the writer
to the
Hebrews
starts his
letter this
way listen
to these
words
Hebrews
chapter 1
at verse
1
long ago
at many
times and
in many
ways
God spoke
to our
fathers
by the
prophets
but in
these last
days he
has spoken
to us
by his
son
his son
whom he
appointed
the heir
of all
things
through whom
also he
created the
world
the son
is the
radiance
of the
glory
of God
and the
exact
imprint
of his
nature
and he
upholds
the universe
by the
word of
his power
after making
purification
for sins
he sat
down at
the right
hand of
the majesty
on high
having
become as
much
superior
to angels
as the
name he
has
inherited
is more
excellent
than theirs
he has
spoken to
us
by
his
son
and the
rest of
the passage
says there
is no
other
no better
no greater
message
that he
could send
for us
to hear
even if he
sent an
angel to
us
this morning
the message
would not
be better
than the
one he
has sent
the light
into our
darkness
the voice
of hope
into our
silence
is Jesus
himself
who entered
our world
who endured
our pain
and came
to speak
life
and hope
and joy
to us
he's the
radiance
of the glory
of God
the exact
imprint
of his
nature
he made
purification
for all
of our
sins
mission
accomplished
that's what
God's speaking
to us
in him
I've done
it
it's
finished
I often
sit around
hoping to
hear a new
message
from God
you may
do the
same
thing
hoping that
he'll
speak
something
that will
change
me
looking
for a
new
message
a new
direction
but
but he
often
speaks
that
very
old
message
in a
fresh
way
when we
are grieving
that
miscarriage
over time
he spoke
to us
through
friends
who came
and spoke
words of
comfort
from the
pain
that they
had
experienced
that was
similar
to ours
they loved
us
cried
with us
and offered
us
that
hope
I wanted
to hear
God
speak
why
to tell
me
why
it
happened
I wanted
a promise
from God
of when
things were
going to
change
when we
would have
another
child
how things
were going
to happen
that's
what I
wanted
him
to speak
but he
didn't
then
he
reminded
me
from
his
word
in the
mouths
of
his
people
that
he
loved
me
that
in
Jesus
he
did
exactly
what
Ron
celebrated
with us
earlier
in the
service
that
he
entered
our
pain
and
bore
our
sorrows
that
he
had
done
that
and
the
pain
didn't
just
all
of a
sudden
go
away
in
that
moment
but
I
heard
that
old
message
break
into
my
silence
in a
fresh
way
because
all
God's
promises
all
of them
are
yes
in
Jesus
2nd
Corinthians
1
remember
he's
not just
one
message
that
God's
sending
out
there
he is
God's
definitive
message
and
God
still
speaks
perhaps
that
same
message
in a
fresh
way
to
you
God
still
speaks
maybe
this
morning
in
Zachariah's
song
God
is
speaking
to
you
maybe
for the
first
time
this
morning
you
can
hear
him
saying
that
he
loves
you
so
much
that
he
sent
his
son
to
die
for
you
the
word
made
flesh
speaking
to
you
and
now
his
written
word
speaking
clearly
to
you
this
morning
don't
ignore
his
voice
don't
miss
his
call
to
you
there's
no
greater
message
he
could
give
you
than
Jesus
himself
he
has
sent
his
son
for
you
his
promise
is
that
in
doing
that
he's
announcing
blessing
to
many
who
don't
deserve
it
who
could
never
earn
it
to
all
kinds
of
people
that
he
will
welcome
into
his
family
because
of
his
beloved
son
maybe
you've
heard
God
before
but
you're
so
stuck
in
your
sin
that
you
need
to
hear
again
in
Jesus
that
there
is
forgiveness
of
sins
and
a
relationship
with
a
God
who
promises
to
fix
the
mess
you're
dealing
with
himself
so
that
he
can
be
your
God
and
the
God
of
your
children
after
you
too
that
is
the
kind
of
relationship
he
wants
he
promises
your
sin
is
not
too
big
even
though
it
feels
that
way
to
you
he
crossed
heaven
and
earth
in
Jesus
to
reach
you
to
cleanse
you
even
now
he
stands
at
the
door
and
knocks
do
you
hear
him
calling
you
back
won't
you
turn
back
to
him
there's
life
there
and
sin
leads
to
death
he
says
come
back
child
come
home
to
your
father
busy
one
hear
God
in
Jesus
speaking
his
promise
of
rest
to
your
weary
soul
you
and
I
must
slow
down
regularly
to
hear
it
it's
the
only
way
I've
been
able
to
figure
it
out
because
I'm
one
of
those
busy
ones
where
my
life
moves
quickly
and
I
love
to
function
on
that
I
have
to
slow
down
slow
down
open
his
word
listen
to
him
speak
depressed
soul
Jesus
comes
to give
light
to
those
who
sit
in
darkness
and
in
the
shadow
of
death
a
promise
to
be
your
loving
king
who
with
the
tender
mercy
of
God
guides
you
into
peace
you
thought
was
impossible
to
feel
ever
again
is his
spirit
speaking
softly
into
your
turmoil
this
morning
there's
hope
remember
Jesus
you
can
trust
me
once
and
for
all
in
Jesus
God
speaks
rest
a
family
welcome
to
many
love
you
can
count
on
protection
provided
by the
one
who
knows
what's
best
for
you
joy
of
being
used
to
bring
his
blessing
to
others
may
our
hearts
that
are
waiting
and
waiting
hear
him
and
trust
him
let's
pray
holy
spirit
we
ask
you
not
for
a
new
message
this
morning
we
don't
need
a
new
message
but
we
do
need
new
ears
this
morning
we
need
to
hear
you
speak
might
you
work
through
your
word
as
you
so
delight
to
do
might
you
speak
clearly
and
may
we
hear
may
we
hear
a
message
of
comfort
of
grace
of
hope
and
may
it
give
us
joy
beyond
any
joy
that
we
have
known
in
this
day
in
all
of
our
lives
may
for
the
first
time
perhaps
we
hear
and
know
a
God
who
is
for
us
a
God
who
would
have
relationship
with
us
holy
spirit
bring
light
into
our
darkness
speak
into
what
feels
like
a
silence
that
will
never
go
away
change
us
forever
we
ask
speak
through
Jesus
we
pray
in
his
name
amen
for
more
information
visit
us
online
at
southwood.org
thank you