
Prayer
Bless the Lord, whose name is to be praised,
Our Father who art in heaven,
who has given us his laws,
to show us the error of our ways,
Blessed is his son, Christ the Messiah,
who redeemed us from having broken them.
Blessed are you, O Holy Spirit,
who assists us in sinning no more,
and sustains us in the way of the Lord,
grant us wisdom and understanding this day.
Amen.
Old Testament Reading - A young woman shall conceive

10Not long after this, the Lord sent this further message to King Ahaz:
11“Ask me for a sign, Ahaz, to prove that I will indeed crush your enemies as I have said. Ask anything you like, in heaven or on earth.”a
12But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I’ll not bother the Lord with anything like that.”
13Then Isaiah said: O House of David, you aren’t satisfied to exhaust my patience; you exhaust the Lord’s as well! 14All right then, the Lord himself will choose the sign — a child shall be born to a virgin!b And she shall call him Immanuel (meaning, “God is with us”).
. . . . . Isaiah 7:10-14- Literally, “Let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”
- The controversial Hebrew word used here sometimes means “virgin” and sometimes “young woman.” Its immediate use here refers to Isaiah’s young wife and her newborn son (8:1-4). This, of course, was not a virgin birth. God’s sign was that before this child was old enough to talk (v. 4), the two invading kings would be destroyed. However, the Gospel of Matthew (1:23) tells us that there was a further fulfillment of this prophecy, in that a virgin (Mary) conceived and bore a son, Immanuel, the Christ. We have therefore properly used this higher meaning, “virgin,” in v. 14, as otherwise the Matthew account loses its significance.
Special Prayer for Peace
Jesus Saviour in the Storm
Like the disciples in a floundering, water-logged boat,
our eyes are so often glued to the turbulent waves rather than to you.
Help those of your children with your Hope in their hearts,
to reach out to their friends and neighbours
And even to strangers who have also suffered
Help them to share your hope
Bringing light and peace when it is needed most.
Help those suffering after trauma,
Help them repeatedly hand all their anxiety and fear to You.
As they learn to place their trust in You,
guard their hearts in Your peace.
Amen.