So, what have you been waiting for? What have you been on the lookout for, anticipating, expecting, waiting, preparing for? And what have you observed that has led you to think the time is just around the corner such that you’d best be getting ready? (Thanksgiving? Black Friday? Cyber Monday, Beethoven’s birthday? Christmas?...)
Advent is the season of the church year that encompasses the four Sundays before Christmas. It is a time of anticipation, of waiting, of preparing. Through this season, the Church joyfully remembers that Christ has come in person, continues to be present with us in the Word and the sacraments, and that he will come again in power and great glory. By what has happened and what we are now experiencing, we look ahead in joy anticipation of what God yet has in store.
So it is in worship this Advent season we will be addressing The Right Ending (this Sunday), The Right Light (December 8th), The Right Song (December 15th), and The Right News (December 22nd).
If you’d like a preview of our scripture readings for this Sunday, you may look at Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; and Luke 21:508 and 25-36. Hope to see you then!
Through the window of our souls we search for you, Oh Lord. Our hearts ache with longing for your divine presence. We incline our eyes to the horizon of hope and savor knowledge too wonderful: the King is coming! he will pierce our doubts; like a sun ray he will illuminate the dark. Like water He will stream through the desert of our parched lives. Listen: His voice comes on the wind: Emmanuel! Emmanuel! Light a pathway with candles bright: Emmanuel! Emmanuel! Sing, rejoice: Emmanuel! Emmanuel-God with us!
This we pray in Jesus' Name, even as now we pray in Jesus' words, saying:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins. as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation. but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours. now and for ever. Amen!