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 16
(1) Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. (2) I said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.' (3) As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. (4) The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.
(5) LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. (6) The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. (7) I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. (8) I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
(9) Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, (10) because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. (11) You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
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) LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. (6) The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. (7) I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. (8) I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
(9) Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, (10) because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. (11) You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
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.
Psalm 17
(1) Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer-- it does not rise from deceitful lips. (2) May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. (3) Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin. (4) As for the deeds of men-- by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
(5) My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped. (6) I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. (7) Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. (8) Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
(9) from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. (10) They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. (11) They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. (12) They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover.
(13) Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword. (14) O LORD, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. (15) And I-- in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
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) My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped. (6) I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. (7) Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. (8) Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
(9) from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. (10) They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. (11) They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. (12) They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover.
(13) Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword. (14) O LORD, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. (15) And I-- in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
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 3
(8) Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence. (9) The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves. (10) Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. (11) Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.
(12) Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path. (13) The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. (14) The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: 'It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. (15) What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?' declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
(12) Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path. (13) The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. (14) The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: 'It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. (15) What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?' declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
1 Thessalonians 4
(1) Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. (2) For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. (3) It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; (4) that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
(5) not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; (6) and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. (7) For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. (8) Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
(9) Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. (10) And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. (11) Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, (12) so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
(5) not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; (6) and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. (7) For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. (8) Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
(9) Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. (10) And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. (11) Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, (12) so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Luke 20
(41) Then Jesus said to them, 'How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David? (42) David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: ''The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand (43) until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'' (44) David calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?'
(45) While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, (46) Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. (47) They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.' (1) As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. (2) He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. (3) I tell you the truth,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. (4) All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'
(45) While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, (46) Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. (47) They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.' (1) As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. (2) He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. (3) I tell you the truth,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. (4) All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'
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
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.This concludes the Daily Prayer
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord