Today Is: First Sunday of Advent
Sun, 27 Nov 2022 -- The Lectionary Cycle is: A

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Collect for: First Sunday of Advent Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen." Old Testament Isaiah 2:1-5 1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore. 5 O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of the LORD. Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Psalm Psalm 122 1 I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the LORD.' 2 Our feet have been standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem! I desire to dwell in Your house; and live in the light of Your love. 3 Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together, 4 Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the LORD, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the LORD. I desire to dwell in Your house; and live in the light of Your love. 5 For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you. I desire to dwell in Your house; and live in the light of Your love. 7 Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.' 8 For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, 'Peace be within you.' I desire to dwell in Your house; and live in the light of Your love. 9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good. I desire to dwell in Your house; and live in the light of Your love. *At the end of the Psalms this is sung or said Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. New Testament Romans 13:10-14 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Gospel Matthew 24:37-44 Introduction to the Gospel: Deacon:The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Or And with your spirit Deacon: May the Lord be on our minds, on our lips, and on our hearts as we hear His Holy Gospel. The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew. People: Glory to You, Lord Christ. Deacon: We are reading from Matthew's Gospel chapter 24, beginning at verse 37. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. After the Gospel reading, the deacon elevates the book and says: Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to You, Lord Christ. Prayers of the People Prayers of the People for: First Sunday of Advent Brothers and sisters, as this special season of Advent focuses our minds on the Lord's first coming and His imminent return, let us present to Him our needs and the needs of the whole world, That the Church will effectively prepare God's people for the return of the Son of Man. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That government leaders will govern according to the Word of God and work tirelessly for justice, which is the foundation of peace. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That Christians will prepare for the Lord's coming by fostering consistent respect for all human life. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That we will remain alert and clothe ourselves in faith and in the deeds of Christ to be prepared for His promised coming. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That the poor and the sick will be comforted and assisted by God's people. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That we will put away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. For our own special intentions. (Pause) Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. Faithful Father, hear our prayer, rouse us from our sleep and give us the grace to prepare ourselves for Christ's return. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN