01. Year C - First Sunday in Advent

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VERSION: 9 April 2002

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR C

In 2003: 30 Nov

In 2006: 3 Dec

In 2009: 29 Nov

In 2012: 2 Dec

In 2015: 29 Nov

- - -

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Advent season' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

SENTENCE

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

The days are surely coming, says the Lord,

when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel

and the house of Judah. (Jer 33:14 NRSV)

OR

Stand up and raise your heads,

because your salvation is near. (Luke 21:28b TEV)

OR, use the standard Advent Sentence in the document 'Advent season', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come,

that by your protection

we may be rescued

from the threatening dangers of our sins,

and saved by your mighty deliverance;

for you live and reign

with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, modernised traditional

Stir up your power, Lord, and come.

Protect us,

so that we may be rescued

from the threatening dangers of our sins,

and saved by your deliverance.

For you live and reign

with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, alternative

(Let us pray for the presence of Christ. [silence])

Cleanse our consciences, Lord,

and enlighten our hearts,

through the daily presence of your Son Jesus Christ.

Make us ready

when he comes again in glory

to be our judge.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, new

(Let us pray that we remain alert for the coming of the Lord. [silence])

Jesus, Son of God,

you have promised to return

at a time that no one knows.

Keep us watchful in prayer

and strong in faith

as we wait for you to come.

For you live and reign

with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 33:14-16 A righteous descendant of David as king

PSALM

Psalm 25:1-10

Antiphon:

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. (Ps 25:1 NRSV)

SECOND READING

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 May God continue to bless you

ALLELUIA VERSE (Luke 21:33)

Alleluia, alleluia.

(Jesus said:) Heaven and earth will pass away,

but my words will not pass away.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Luke 21:25-36 Signs of the end of the age

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank you for promising to return

and bring your salvation.

Help us to be watchful and to trust in you.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Great God, keep us faithful

as we wait for the return of your Son as king.

Help us not to get so caught up in the concerns of this life

that we forget about the things that really matter.

Keep us trusting in you,

watching and praying,

and loving one another and all people.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Our Lord Jesus Christ commands us to keep alert and pray. Let us come to our Father in heaven in prayer, confident that he will hear the prayers we offer in Jesus' name.

The regular response, OR:

Amen.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Lord God, since we do not know the day or the hour that your Son will come with great power and glory, keep us always awake and alert, awaiting our Saviour with joyful expectation. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

SEASONAL PREFACE

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You fulfilled your promise to comfort your people

by sending Jesus the Redeemer,

and to make all things new through him

when he comes to judge the world

and set it right.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION

Blessed are those who have been invited

to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

For an Advent post-communion prayer, see the document 'Advent season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as given above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Cleanse our consciences, Lord,

and enlighten our hearts,

through the gift of the body and blood

of your Son Jesus Christ.

Make us ready

when he comes again in glory

to be our judge.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

SEASONAL BLESSING

This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.

Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, shine on you and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory . . .

OR, the following words from the second reading may be used this Sunday:

May the Lord make you increase and abound

in love for one another and for all.

And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness

that you may be blameless before our God and Father

at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints . . .

(1 Thess 3:12a,13 NRSV)

DISMISSAL

Go in peace, strengthened by the Lord.

Thanks be to God. OR In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS

Please note:        * =        Modernised version available

      G3, G4 . . . =        Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .

      GS =        Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Luke 21:25-36

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 25:1-10

For musical settings of Psalm 25:1-10, see Music Packages 5, 7, and 9. See also TIS 14 O Lord, make me know your ways.

Below is a metrical paraphrase by David Sch¸tz of Psalm 25:1-10, which may be sung to the tune Die Sach ist dein, LH 228. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

My God, in you I trust.

Do not let me be put to shame;

don't let my foes rejoice.

Do not let those who wait for you

be disappointed in their hope.

Let them be disappointed who

have openly rejected you.

Show me your ways,

O Lord, teach me your paths.

Teach me and lead me in your truth,

my Saviour and my God;

I wait for you the whole day long,

do not forget me, Lord.

Be mindful of your mercy, Lord,

and of your steadfast love of old.

Forget and wipe away my sins

according to your steadfast love.

Remember me,

Lord, for your goodness' sake.

The Lord my God is good and just;

therefore he shows the way

to sinners who return to him

and those with humble hearts.

He shows the humble what is right,

and teaches them to know his will.

The paths of God are steadfast love

and faithfulness for those who keep

his covenant

and listen to his word.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

JEREMIAH 33:14-16: Weak and vacillating leadership by the current king of Judah was leading the nation into disobeying the will of the Lord, and consequently they were heading towards his judgment. Jeremiah stood up against the popular political swell of support for this movement of the court towards national disaster. This brought down on him universal anger and hatred. Yet he could see ahead to a time when, despite what judgments God would bring, there would arise a Messianic King, a shoot from the present  fallen stump of the house of David. This King would rule in perfect righteousness. His kingdom would therefore also carry that name of 'righteousness'. Jesus the Christ is the true fulfilment of this prophecy.

1 THESSALONIANS 3:9-13: We receive here an insight into Paul's love and concern for his converts. It led him to be overjoyed when he heard reports of living which was worthy of the gospel. His desire to return personally to affirm and confirm the Thessalonians in their faith was prominent in his prayers. He also offers the prayer here that the love of which he had heard might increase yet again and that the hope of the Lord's glorious return might encourage and spur them on to even greater strengths in holiness.

LUKE 21:25-36: These awesome happenings, as the disintegrating universe announces the coming of the Lord, strike terror upon the people of the earth. However, they bring joy and eager expectation to Christ's believing people. The signs of the times need to be observed and read with due care, then, so that those who love their Lord are prepared. It is possible for both the pleasures and worries of life to divert even believers from their spiritual readiness. Therefore sharp watchfulness and earnest prayer are called for. This is indeed the word of the Lord.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, a picture of a fig tree could accompany the reading of the gospel (from v 29).

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'

See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

DRAMATISING THE READINGS

The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer.

CHILDREN

CHILDREN AND THE READINGS

The children could colour and/or display a picture of a fig tree. See 'Visuals for the readings' above (in connection with the gospel).

TALKING WITH THE CHILDREN

The experience of waiting with longing could be talked about with the children.

'COME AND SEE JESUS'

The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is 'God's wonderful promise'. Material for this story may be found in

Original Edition, 1 Advent, year C (in 3rd Series B book)

OR

Revised RCL Edition, same

OTHER MATERIAL

See the documents 'Advent readings and carols service' and 'Advent proclamation' in the 'Rites and services' folder.