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Sample Liturgy for the First Sunday in Advent

On the Liturgy

Artwork for Bulletins/Slideshows

The Service of the Word

THE PROCESSIONAL

THE ACCLAMATION

Blessed be God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Good morning brothers and sisters, and grace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today is a very special day, because it marks the beginning of the Church Calendar. The Church Calendar is simply a series of days and seasons that help us to remember and celebrate the wonderful works of God in the gospel. We begin today with the season called “Advent,” which means “coming.” Advent is a time to prepare our hearts to celebrate the coming of Christ at Christmas.

During this season, the Church lights one candle… then two… then three… then four… as a symbol of the dawning of Christ, the Light of the world. At our Christmas Eve service, we will light the final white “Christ candle,” which will stay lit through the Christmas season.

We all know that the next few weeks are going to be busy leading up to Christmas Day, but as the world speeds up, the Church invites us to slow down and embrace a season of deep reflection and intentional waiting.

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to step into the story of the Bible and join ancient Israel in patiently waiting for the coming of the Messiah. And as we wait with David and Isaiah, Zechariah and John the Baptist, Mary and Anna, we remember that we too are a people waiting. We live in a world that’s still groaning under the weight of sin and death, and we long for Christ’s second advent—his second coming to make all things new.

That’s why the Church marks this season with the color purple, the color of royalty: because we’re waiting for the coming of a King who will reign over an eternal kingdom in a new creation.

As a single candle flickering in the darkness can bring hope and comfort, the first purple candle that we light symbolizes the blessed hope of Christ’s coming which anchors our soul in a weary world.

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Almighty God, as we enter into the season of Advent, teach us to worship by waiting. Teach us to acknowledge your worth by choosing to wait patiently for your coming instead of trying to seize control over the circumstances of this fallen world. To you our hearts are open, and from you no secrets can be hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name: through Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

THE KYRIE AND/OR TRISAGION

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Holy God, holy and mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon us.

THE GLORIA PATRI

Then is sung,

Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE

PRAYER BEFORE THE LESSONS

The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Let us pray.

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

THE FIRST LESSON: ISAIAH 2:1–5

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 2, at the first verse:

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. 5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

THE GRADUAL: PSALM 122

The Psalm may be read or sung in metrical form. Sing to the tune Nettleton (Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing), 87.87 D.

I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us to God’s house now go!”
To Je-ru-sa-lem, strong city,
Where the tribes their thanks bestow.
There the thrones of righteous judgment
Were established by the Lord;
There the dynasty of David
Was established by his word.

Pray for peace within Je-ru-s’lem,
“May they prosper who love you.
May there always be within you
Walls and towers safe and true.”
For the sake of my whole fam’ly,
I will say, “Peace be to you,”
For the great and holy temple,
I will seek the best for you.

This verse may also be sung.

We the Church, a pilgrim people,
Look for peace that’s coming soon,
When the heavenly Je-ru-s’lem
Comes to earth and all is new.
Then upon the throne of David,
Christ will reign upon the earth,
All creation be his temple,
And all nations praise his worth.

The Gloria Patri may also be sung.

Glory be to God the Father,
Glory be to the God the Son,
Glory to the Holy Spirit,
Praise and bless the three in one;
As it was in the beginning,
Is right now and e’er shall be,
In a world that endeth never,
We will praise and worship thee.

THE SECOND LESSON: ROMANS 13:11–14

A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Chapter 13, at the 11th verse:

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

HYMN

  • Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending (OGRP 285) — may be sung to the tune Regent Square (Angels from the Realms of Glory) or Picardy (Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence)

THE GOSPEL: MATTHEW 24:36–44

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew, Chapter 24, at the 36th verse:

But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.

THE SERMON

If your church has a screen, the painting The Veteran in a New Field (1865) or another fitting image may be displayed during the sermon.

THE CREED

Let us confess our faith in the Triune God and in Christ’s coming again to judge all people.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried: He descended to the dead: On the third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father: From there he will come to judge the living and the dead: I believe in the Holy Spirit: the holy catholic church: the communion of saints: The forgiveness of sins: The resurrection of the body: And the life everlasting. Amen.

CATECHISM QUESTION

Question 35 of The Whole Counsel of God may be said responsively after the Creed or at another fitting time in the service.

Q. 35. Why will Christ come again to judge the living and the dead?
Christ will return in glory to reward the righteous, punish the wicked, and establish his unending kingdom of peace and justice on the earth. God’s glory will dwell with us in a restored creation, free of sin, death, mourning, crying, and pain.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

The Service of the Lord’s Supper

PREFACE AND INVITATION

Brothers and sisters, we have heard the Word of the Lord: Christ is coming again. Now, the Lord invites us to anticipate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb by sharing in a foretaste of that great day at the Table of the Lord.

If you truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from this point forward in his holy ways; draw near with faith, and take this holy sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty God.

THE CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

A time of silence may be observed before the general confession.

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; we acknowledge and lament our many sins, which we have, from time to time, most grievously committed, by thought, word, and deed, against your divine majesty. We earnestly repent, and are sincerely sorry for our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous to us. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. For the sake of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, in your great mercy you have promised forgiveness to all who turn to you with sincere repentance and true faith. Have mercy upon us; pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE COMFORTING WORDS AND THE PEACE

Our Savior speaks comforting words to all who truly turn to him: Come unto me, all you that are burdened and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Peace be with you.
And also with you.

THE OFFERTORY

THE SURSUM CORDA AND THE SANCTUS

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is fitting and right to do so.

O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God, it is very fitting, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto you, because you sent your beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us heirs in him of everlasting life; that when he shall come again in power and great glory to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing.

Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you, and saying,
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Glory be to you, O Lord most high. Amen.

SONG AFTER THE SANCTUS

  • Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory (OGRP 283)

THE PRAYER OF CONSECRATION

The congregation may be reminded to keep their eyes open for this prayer, which contains the words of institution that must never be omitted.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father; of your tender mercy, you gave your only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption. By once offering himself there, he made a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, offering, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world.

So now, most merciful Father, we humbly ask you to bless and sanctify, with your Word and Spirit, these gifts of bread and wine; and grant that we may receive them according to the holy institution of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, in remembrance of his death and passion, and be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood.

In the same night that he was betrayed, he took* bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake* it; and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this* is my Body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise after Supper he took* the Cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink you all of this; for this* is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins: Do this as often as you shall drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died;
Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Let us pray.

Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come; your will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE MINISTRATION

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
Have mercy on us, and grant us your peace.
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

The Ministers receive the Bread and Cup, and then invite the people to come forward to partake. When delivering the bread to each person, one of the following may be said:

  • The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you.
  • The body of Christ, preserve your body and soul unto everlasting life.
  • The body of Christ; take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you.
  • The body of Christ; feed on him in your heart by faith, with thanksgiving.
  • The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

When delivering the cup to each person, one of the following may be said:

  • The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you.
  • The blood of Christ, preserve your body and soul unto everlasting life.
  • The blood of Christ; drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.
  • The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.

During the distribution, the song “Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers!” may be played or sung by a choir. The Lord’s Supper is a foretaste of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and this hymn anticipates that great feast (“Go forth as He approaches, With alleluias clear; The marriage feast is waiting, The gates wide open stand. Arise, O heirs of glory; The Bridegroom is at hand.”)

CHORUS AFTER THE DISTRIBUTION

  • Soon and Very Soon (46)

THE POST COMMUNION PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

THE DOXOLOGY

“Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow” is sung.

Praise God from whom all blessings flowPraise him all creatures here belowPraise him above, you heavenly hostPraise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE BLESSING AND SENDING

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

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