For Sunday, November
29th, 2015, 1st Sunday of Advent* Yr C, Readings: Jeremiah
33:14-16, Ps 25: 1-9, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Luke 21-25-36
In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. [Jeremiah 33:15]
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. [1 Thessalonians 3:11]
There will be signs in the sun, the moon and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations...Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory.
[Luke 21:25a, 27]
Advent begins again. A time of expectant waiting and preparation for the Nativity of Jesus that will lead to the eventual Second Coming of Christ, our Messiah, for our redemption from sin with the gift of life everlasting. It is the beginning of the Church Year in western Christian observance though not in eastern Christianity where other traditions of Advent are kept. It is a time for us to begin, again, to unburden our hearts from the weight of worldly worries and take on, again, a pattern of prayer and sincere Christian action, to fill our lives with the expectation of eternal life. Too often we are caught up in the tinsel and trappings, the busy and bustling, as if THAT DAY, the one in which we are each called on account, will never really happen. And yet, it will, really and truly. How many days a week am I living as if THAT DAY will pass me by? Time for me to begin, again, and to "Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. [Luke 21:36] Time to watch for those Son signs...again.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. [1 Thessalonians 3:11]
There will be signs in the sun, the moon and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations...Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory.
[Luke 21:25a, 27]
Advent begins again. A time of expectant waiting and preparation for the Nativity of Jesus that will lead to the eventual Second Coming of Christ, our Messiah, for our redemption from sin with the gift of life everlasting. It is the beginning of the Church Year in western Christian observance though not in eastern Christianity where other traditions of Advent are kept. It is a time for us to begin, again, to unburden our hearts from the weight of worldly worries and take on, again, a pattern of prayer and sincere Christian action, to fill our lives with the expectation of eternal life. Too often we are caught up in the tinsel and trappings, the busy and bustling, as if THAT DAY, the one in which we are each called on account, will never really happen. And yet, it will, really and truly. How many days a week am I living as if THAT DAY will pass me by? Time for me to begin, again, and to "Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. [Luke 21:36] Time to watch for those Son signs...again.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O Lord of Steadfast Love, lift up our
souls, our hearts, and our minds from the lowest valley of earthly worries to
the highest vault of heaven. Grant us the patience and trust to stay alert,
unafraid, and ready for our salvation.
Jesus, Our Strength and Our
Redeemer
RESPONSE: Open our lives to Your Presence and
Coming
~
O Lord of Steadfast Love, help us to speak clearly to all who lead the nations
of this world, our own country, and our own community, to decry all actions
creating our earthly distress, to be active in and supportive of all efforts towards
peace and reconciliation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Jesus, Our Strength and Our Redeemer
Jesus, Our Strength and Our Redeemer
Open
our lives to Your Presence and Coming
~ O Lord of Steadfast Love, be merciful to all who
are burdened by chronic health issues, emotional pain, or desperate life
circumstance, and re-invigorate all who give of themselves to help. We now join
our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions
Jesus, Our Strength and Our Redeemer
Open our lives to Your Presence and Coming
~
O Lord of Steadfast Love, ease the hearts of those who mourn with the knowing
that those who shared this life for a time, are now sharing in the glory everlasting
life with You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Jesus, Our Strength and Our Redeemer
Open our lives to Your Presence and Coming
~
O Lord of Steadfast Love, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or
silently… add your own petitions
Jesus, Our Strength and Our Redeemer
Open our lives to Your Presence and Coming
~
O Lord of Steadfast Love, sustain the faith and spirits of those who work to keep
our faith strong, as we journey together on this temporal path toward You. We
pray especially for: add your own petitions
Jesus, Our Strength and Our Redeemer
Open our lives to Your Presence and Coming
The Celebrant adds: God of Righteousness and Truth,
as we enter this season of expectant waiting and preparation, direct us to see beyond mere human distractions, and to be
eager for our redemption through the birth and Second Coming of the Son of Man.
We ask through Jesus, our Christ, and the Holy Spirit, seat of Wisdom, who together
with You are One God, now and forever. Amen.
*click here for more on the Season of Advent
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