First Sunday in Advent

Order of Worship

Download today's bulletin PDF for the entire order of worship and more. 

Let us pray for the whole people of God, in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

Let us pray for the whole people of God, in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

Good and gracious Lord, we give you thanks for the gift of your word and your promise that you will come again. Grant your church patience, endurance, and strength that we would always be ready and awake as we await your return. Send your word and your Holy Spirit to stir hearts and open ears to those who have not heard the gospel that they might hear and believe. Help your church to continue strong and faithful witness in thought, word, and deed until that great and glorious day. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, strengthen this congregation with your word and sacraments. Pour out your Holy Spirit on Caroline Aldridge, Hudson Burnett, and Graham Walker. Grant them all a fervent faith that seeks your kingdom and your table of mercy with reverent and thankful hearts. Help your church encourage and teach these young people so that they may learn your ways and walk in your paths all the days of their lives. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Eternal Father, we pray for all your people who are homebound, hospitalized, or in nursing homes, suffering physically, mentally, or spiritually. Pour out your grace upon them. Grant healing and mercy upon them, and encourage them in their hour of need. Send your Holy Spirit that your peace would fill their hearts, and that they would be reminded of your love. Be with all whom you have called to care for them. Fill them with an enduring patience and strength while they attend to the needs of your most vulnerable servants every day. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Merciful Lord, we lift up to you all whom you have called to protect and serve your communities and your people everywhere. Grant them your wisdom and discernment so that in all their interactions, they would glorify you in service to their neighbor. Be a fortified wall to protect them when they are called to be in harm's way, and grant that they put on the armor of light when they are called to serve in times of great peril. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Teaching

Open or download this week's preview of the lessons. We send this to our homebound with a bulletin each week and thought you might like to have a copy as well. You may read it online or print it out. It includes prayers, brief teaching on each of the four lessons for Sunday, an overview, and an additional Word Search based on the Gospel Lesson. 

Vespers Tonight

Join us for Vespers this evening in the parsonage (across the street from the church) at 6:00. We will be eating and laughing, singing and praying, and reading and discussing the readings for the First Sunday of Advent: Amos 1:1–5, 1:13–2:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 Luke 21:5–19.