Advent
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. Isaiah 40:5
Confession of Sin Most merciful God,
I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry and I humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen
The Lessons
The Lessons
Psalm 18
(1) I will love You, O LORD, my strength. (2) The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (3) I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. (4) The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
(5) The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. (6) In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. (7) Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry. (8) Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it.
(9) He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His feet. (10) And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind. (11) He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters And thick clouds of the skies. (12) From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.
(13) The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. (14) He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. (15) Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered At Your rebuke, O LORD, At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. (16) He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.
(17) He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me. (18) They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. (19) He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. (20) The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
(5) The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. (6) In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. (7) Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry. (8) Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it.
(9) He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His feet. (10) And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind. (11) He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters And thick clouds of the skies. (12) From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.
(13) The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. (14) He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. (15) Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered At Your rebuke, O LORD, At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. (16) He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.
(17) He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me. (18) They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. (19) He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. (20) The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Isaiah 2
(12) For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up -- And it shall be brought low -- (13) Upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, And upon all the oaks of Bashan; (14) Upon all the high mountains, And upon all the hills that are lifted up; (15) Upon every high tower, And upon every fortified wall;
(16) Upon all the ships of Tarshish, And upon all the beautiful sloops. (17) The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The LORD alone will be exalted in that day, (18) But the idols He shall utterly abolish. (19) They shall go into the holes of the rocks, And into the caves of the earth, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily.
(20) In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver And his idols of gold, Which they made, each for himself to worship, To the moles and bats, (21) To go into the clefts of the rocks, And into the crags of the rugged rocks, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily. (22) Sever yourselves from such a man, Whose breath is in his nostrils; For of what account is he?
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
(16) Upon all the ships of Tarshish, And upon all the beautiful sloops. (17) The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The LORD alone will be exalted in that day, (18) But the idols He shall utterly abolish. (19) They shall go into the holes of the rocks, And into the caves of the earth, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily.
(20) In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver And his idols of gold, Which they made, each for himself to worship, To the moles and bats, (21) To go into the clefts of the rocks, And into the crags of the rugged rocks, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily. (22) Sever yourselves from such a man, Whose breath is in his nostrils; For of what account is he?
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
1 Thessalonians 3
(1) Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, (2) and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, (3) that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. (4) For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.
(5) For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. (6) But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you -- (7) therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. (8) For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
(9) For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, (10) night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? (11) Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. (12) And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,
(13) so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
(5) For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. (6) But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you -- (7) therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. (8) For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
(9) For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, (10) night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? (11) Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. (12) And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,
(13) so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Luke 20
(27) Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, (28) saying: 'Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. (29) Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. (30) And the second took her as wife, and he died childless.
(31) Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. (32) Last of all the woman died also. (33) Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.' (34) And Jesus answered and said to them, 'The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
(35) But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; (36) nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (37) But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' (38) For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.'
(39) Then some of the scribes answered and said, 'Teacher, You have spoken well.' (40) But after that they dared not question Him anymore.
(31) Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. (32) Last of all the woman died also. (33) Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.' (34) And Jesus answered and said to them, 'The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
(35) But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; (36) nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (37) But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' (38) For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.'
(39) Then some of the scribes answered and said, 'Teacher, You have spoken well.' (40) But after that they dared not question Him anymore.
Seasonal Collect: 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
forever. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Personal Prayers and Reflection
Closing Prayers
The General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
Conclude with following
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.This concludes the Daily Prayer
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord