Worship Bulletin for First Sunday of Advent (First Sunday of the Church Year) 11-30-2025
First Sunday of Advent (First Sunday of the Church Year)
11-30-2025 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ Gathering +
INTRODUCTORY WORDS TO TODAY’S WORSHIP:
Brothers and sisters, welcome in the mighty name of God, the saving name of (+) Jesus, and the strong name of the Spirit. 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… and tomorrow in power – CHRIST IS COMING!
OPENING SONG: “Soon and Very Soon” Brown #38
OPENING VERSES, LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH, AND PRAYER:
L Waiting without hope is torture.
C Waiting without help produces fear.
L But our hope is in the God who does come.
C 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.
C For we know that the Liberator is on the way!
L People, get ready! People, wake up! You know what time it is.
C Salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
[The first candle is lit on the Advent wreath.]
L The first Advent candle. It is sometimes called the Candle of Hope.
God’s hope shines on hopelessness, and brightens the path toward peace.
C O Lord our God, 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!
+ Holy Word +
FIRST READING: Isaiah 2:1-5
[God’s great tomorrow – “Ain’t gonna study war no more!”]
SONG SELECTION ALL SAINTS CHOIR
SECOND READING: Romans 13:11-14
[Christ’s second coming – “Wake up now!”]
GOSPEL VERSE: “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 READING: Matthew 24:36-44
[The Lord’s unexpected arrival – “You must be ready!”]
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “My Lord, What a Morning” Brown #40
THE PRAYERS… May the world to be redeemed, the Church reformed, and all people restored!
(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.”
+ Holy Meal +
OFFERING OF TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS… We bring our gifts each week, we offer our lives each day!
Those in the Sanctuary can put their offering in the offering plate to share their gratitude and their generosity in response to Christ’s love. Those who are farther away might: mail a check or money
order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138… contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a
recurring weekly gift to selected categories… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions to register and record your contribution. God has blessed us to be a blessing!
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
OFFERTORY: “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 by the Communion Assistant:
O Lord, we open our hearts and our lives to your presence and your promises! Give us the spirit and the patience, we pray, to bear your light to all who sit in the shadows of despair and darkness. Amen.
THE PREFACE:
L Sisters and brothers, the Lord be with you! C AND ALSO WITH YOU!
L Lift up your hearts! C WE LIFT THEM UP IN LOVE FOR GOD!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God! C IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE GOD OUR THANKS AND PRAISE!
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (spoken)
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! The wine may be received from the pouring chalice; we also have grape juice on the tray. CHRIST COMES TO US IN BREAD AND WINE AND BLESSING, BRINGING US PEACE, UNITY, STRENGTH, AND HOPE!
[During the Advent Season we will not have any Communion Songs. Instead, we invite you to spend the time
in quiet reflection and prayer. Without God our lives are empty and barren, without hope! Sometimes troubles
surround us and turmoil makes our hearts shudder and grow weary. And sometimes temptation leads us
astray. Can we recognize our deep need and look for those signs of God’s saving grace?]
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ Sending +
BENEDICTION by the Pastor… God sends us TO SHINE with the Light of Jesus Christ in a shadowy world!
CLOSING SONG: “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory” Brown #297
Even in the midst of trouble and turmoil, God allows us glimpses of the kingdom to come.
What signs of promise do you see that bolster your hope in a new heaven and a new earth?
What would need to be done in your own life to get ready for the advent of Jesus?