First Sunday of Advent Worship Bulletin
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT – Coronavirus
(First Sunday of the Church Year)
11-28-2021 10:00AM Worship
(Welcome / Greeting by the Pastors)
INTRODUCTORY WORDS TO TODAY’S WORSHIP: Cecil Webb
Welcome, sisters and brothers, in the mighty name of God, in the saving name of (+) Jesus, and in the strong name of the Spirit – Hallelujah! Advent is a season of humble reflection and hopeful preparation when we recognize the barrenness in our lives and yearn for God’s help. God often acts when it seems too late – past time and beyond belief. As we wait, let’s get ready! Long ago in poverty… today in hope… tomorrow in power… CHRIST IS COMING!
OPENING SONG: “Soon and Very Soon” Trudi Wright
LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH AND PRAYER: Cecil Webb and Timyk Hillsman
L Waiting without hope is torture.
Waiting without help produces fear.
C But our hope is in the God who does come.
And our help is in the God who is here.
L So we wait, expectantly, for the God who will come again into our lives, into our church, into our world.
For we know that the Liberator is on the way!
C People, get ready! People, wake up!
Salvation is nearer now than when we first believed!
L The first Advent candle is sometimes called the Candle of Hope.
God’s hope shines on hopelessness, and brightens the path toward peace. This morning we pray:
C O Lord, bless us as we light the first candle of this Advent wreath.
Shake us and wake us, shock us and surprise us, so that we may be ready for Christ’s coming.
We renounce evil; we claim your love; we choose to be set free and made whole.
Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly! Hallelujah!
[One candle is lit on the Advent wreath.]
FIRST READING: Jeremiah 33:14-16 [The days are coming when “a branch” will fulfill God’s promise. Believe it!] Queen Sutton
33:14 The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
33:15 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.
33:16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.”
SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 [Live lovingly in God’s present as you await God’s glorious someday.] Donna Jones
3:9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?
3:10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.
3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.
3:12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.
3:13 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.
GOSPEL VERSE: Juanita Williams
“We need to hear from You, we need a word from You.
If we don’t hear from You, what will we do?
Wanting You more each day, show us Your perfect way.
There is no other way that we can live.”
GOSPEL: Luke 21:25-36 [Be ready for “heaven” before “hell” breaks loose!] Micah Gillum
21:25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
21:26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
21:27 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory.
21:28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
21:29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees;
21:30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near.
21:31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
21:32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.
21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
21:34 “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly,
21:35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth.
21:36 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.”
THE SERMON: Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen
SONG RESPONSE Paul Samuel
OFFERING… Paul asked the Thessalonian Christians, “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel because of you?” Followers of Jesus, we are difference makers in this world when we seek to love and to give and to shine with Christ’s light.
OFFERING SONG: Carol Lee
(1) “Come by here, my Lord, come by here; come by here, my Lord, come by here;
Come by here, my Lord, come by here. O LORD, COME BY HERE!
(2) Someone needs You, Lord, come by here…
(3) Send a blessing, Lord, come by here… “
OFFERING PRAYER: Iyanna
O Lord Jesus, we open our hearts and our lives to your presence, your power, and your promises!
We want to be part of what you are doing in the world even now.
Give us the spirit to do what is right with our offerings, time, and talents.
May we bear your light to all who sit in the shadows of darkness and despair. AMEN
THE PRAYERS… We pray for the world to be redeemed, the Church reformed, all people restored! Tami Hillsman?
(sung at beginning and end) “Oh… hear us. Oh, hear us. Oh… hear us, Lord. Hear us, Lord… hear us.”
(sung after each intercession) “Hear us, Lord… hear us.”
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SONG SELECTION Kemar Harrison
THE BENEDICTION by one of the Pastors.
SEASON OF ADVENT –
We begin a new Church Year with hope grounded in the presence and promise of our Savior! Stay awake… get ready… believe.