First Sunday in Advent
Gathering and Praise
Focus your minds on worshiping God.
With the words of this Psalm, God calls you to worship him:
Psalm 33:1, 20-22 (NIV)
Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
Pray this prayer:
God of Israel,
with expectant hearts
we your people await Christ’s coming.
As once he came in humility,
so now may he come in glory,
that he may make all things perfect
in your everlasting kingdom.
For he is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.
Praise God with the words of this Advent song:
Confession and Assurance
Pray this prayer of confession:
Lord, we have not kept watch for you.
We have occupied ourselves with our own concerns.
We have not waited to find your will for us.
We have not noticed the needs of the people around us.
We have not acknowledged the love that has been shown to us.
Forgive us for our lack of watchfulness.
Help us to wait to know your will.
Help us to look out for the needs of others.
Help us to work and watch for your coming. Amen.
God gives you hope with these words:
1 Corinthians 15:22-26
For as in Adam all die,
so in Christ all will be made alive.
But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;
then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
Then the end will come,
when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father
after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.
For he must reign
until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
SerMon
Give thanks to God with this song, and then listen as God teaches you from Matthew 24:36-51:
Sending
Tell each other what your hopes are.
- What hopes do you have for your own heart?
- What hopes do you have for the church?
- What hopes do you have for your community?
- What hopes do you have for the world?
Bring these hopes to God in prayer, remembering that one day, Jesus will suddenly return to fulfill all our true hopes.
Offering:
You can contribute to the ministry of the church and this month's special offering
- online: Give Now
- or by mailing a check to PO Box 9339, Fresno, CA, 93791.
Praise God with these words. "My Soul Cries Out" is based on Mary's song in Luke 1: