Fourth Sunday in Advent
 
Matins Lessons: Isaiah 40:1-11 /  St. Luke 3:1-17
 
Collect of the Day:
O Lord, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us: and with great might succour us; that whereas through our sins we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us: Who livest and reignest with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God world without end. Amen.
 
The Epistle Philippians 4:4-7
BRETHREN: Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
 
The Holy Gospel  St John 1:19-28
At that time: the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.