Sunday 29 November, 2015 – First Sunday of Advent, Year C

By Admin, on November 17th, 2015

Happy New Church Year (and Happy 5th Birthday to the LCA Worship Planning Page)!

Here are the resources you need for this Sunday. Please feel free to choose what is suitable for your congregation’s needs. You will notice that the orders of service are available in different formats: choose the “pdf” format if you want something that is ready to print and photocopy, the “doc” or “rtf” format if you wish to change the formatting yourself or the “ppt” format if you use PowerPoint.

For more Advent ideas click here.

Altar colour: Blue or Violet
Bible readings:
FIRST READING Jeremiah 33:14-16 A righteous descendant of David as king.
PSALM Psalm 25:1-10 *For musical settings of this Psalm, please see the song suggestions below*
SECOND READING 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 May God continue to bless you
GOSPEL Luke 21:25-36 Signs of the end of the age
Sermons:
Lay-readers please note: the linked sermons have not been edited for general use. As part of your preparations, keep in mind that they have been written for specific people in a specific context, and for this reason the issues they address or the examples they use may not be entirely suitable for people in your congregation. If you feel this is the case, you may need to make minor adjustments or find another sermon
Based on gospel reading: Pr Tim Stringer ; edited for lay reading sermon – luke 21 25-36 – year c – advent 1 ; NEW Pr Heath Pukallus ; NEW Pr Peter Ghalayini ; NEW edited for lay reading sermon – luke 21 25-36 – year c – advent 1new
Based on second reading: Pr David Christian
Opening Sentences:
The days are surely coming, says the Lord,
when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel
and the house of Judah. (Jer 33:14 NRSV)

OR
Stand up and raise your heads,
because your salvation is near. (Luke 21:28b TEV)

OR
Here is your God.
He will come to save you.
Orders of service:
Advent readings and carols (for an evening service any time during Advent)
Advent 1C Sunday Word & Prayer ( pdf / doc / ppt )
Service of the Word (pdf / rtf / ppt)
Morning Praise (pdf / rtf / ppt)
Service without communion (pdf / doc / ppt)
Service orders with holy communion
Service with communion (page 6) (pdf / doc / ppt)
Alternative form A (page 58) (pdf / doc/ ppt)
Sing the Feast (Chataway) (pdf / doc/ ppt)
Simplified Spoken (pdf / doc/ ppt)
Service with Five Songs of Faith (pdf / rtf/ ppt)
Prayer of the Day (Collect): Choose one of the following
Traditional
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come,
that by your protection
we may be rescued
from the threatening dangers of our sins,
and saved by your mighty deliverance;
for you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

OR, modernised traditional
Stir up your power, Lord, and come.
Protect us,
so that we may be rescued
from the threatening dangers of our sins,
and saved by your deliverance.
For you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

OR, alternative
(Let us pray for the presence of Christ. [silence])
Cleanse our consciences, Lord,
and enlighten our hearts,
through the daily presence of your Son Jesus Christ.
Make us ready
when he comes again in glory
to be our judge.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

OR, new
(Let us pray that we remain alert for the coming of the Lord. [silence])
Jesus, Son of God,
you have promised to return
at a time that no one knows.
Keep us watchful in prayer
and strong in faith
as we wait for you to come.
For you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Prayer after the gospel:
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank you for promising to return
and bring your salvation.
Help us to be watchful and to trust in you.
Amen.
Offering Prayer:
Great God, keep us faithful
as we wait for the return of your Son as king.
Help us not to get so caught up in the concerns of this life
that we forget about the things that really matter.
Keep us trusting in you,
watching and praying,
and loving one another and all people.
Amen.
Prayer of the Church (General Prayer): Prayer of the Church – Advent 1C
Resources for services with Holy Communion
PREFACE
It is indeed right and good,
Lord God, holy Father,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You fulfilled your promise to comfort your people
by sending Jesus the Redeemer,
and to make all things new through him
when he comes to judge the world
and set it right.
And so, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION
Blessed are those who have been invited
to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

We give you thanks, almighty God,
that you have fed us with this promise of salvation.
We pray that through it
you would graciously strengthen us
in faith toward you and in love toward one another,
so that we may be prepared
for the coming of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
For he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Or the third prayer of the day (as listed above) may be used at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Cleanse our consciences, Lord,
and enlighten our hearts,
through the gift of the body and blood
of your Son Jesus Christ.
Make us ready
when he comes again in glory
to be our judge.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

SEASONAL BLESSING
This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.

Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, shine on you and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory . . .

OR, the following words from the second reading may be used this Sunday:

May the Lord make you increase and abound
in love for one another and for all.
And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness
that you may be blameless before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints . . .
(1 Thess 3:12a,13 NRSV)

DISMISSAL
Go in peace, strengthened by the Lord.
Thanks be to God. OR In the name of Christ. Amen.
Visual images for the day: His Word in Pictures
Song/Hymn suggestions: * = Modernised version available (please click here to go to the Modernised hymns page) ;G3, G4 . . . = Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .; GS = Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH First reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16
LHS
2    O come, O come, Immanuel G7 (also TIS 265)
17    Come, Thou long-expected Jesus G6 (also TIS 272)
390    Wait, my soul, with patience* G3
AT
221    They were waiting
TIS
265    O come, O come Emmanuel
272    Come, thou long-expected Jesus

Second reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
LHS
346    Forth in Thy name, O Lord, I go G5 (modernised TIS 571)
811    Praise and thanksgiving GS (also TIS 627)
813    For strength to work till close of day
814    For the fruits of his creation G6 (also TIS 168)
870    Lord of all hopefulness G6 (also TIS 613)
AT
230    Christ the worker
405    Lord of all hopefulness
TIS
168    For the fruits of all creation
571    Forth in your name, O Lord, I go
613    Lord of all hopefulness
627    Praise and thanksgiving
634    All who love and serve your city

Gospel: Luke 21:25-36
LHS
1    Hark, a herald voice is calling* G7 (also TIS 264)
4    Once He came in blessing * G4 (modernised TIS 197)
11    The advent of our King G4 (also TIS 271)
15    Jesus came – the heavens adoring* G6
18    Lift up your heads (modernised TIS 267)
47    Songs of thankfulness and praise (v 4)* G4
338    Rise, my soul, to watch and pray (vv 1,5,6) G4
487   Wake, awake for night is flying (modernised TIS 266)
735    Jesus comes with clouds descending G7 (also TIS 273)
AT
309    When the Lord returns
420    Get ready
434    Sing out with joy, he is coming
TIS
197    God’s Son came to bless us
264    Hark! a herald voice is calling
266   Wake, awake for night is flying
267   Lift up your heads
271    The advent of our God (omit v 3)
273    Lo! he comes with clouds descending
315    Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord

OTHER ADVENT SONGS (AT)
17    Emmanuel: God is with us
20    Come, Lord Jesus, come
25    Comfort, comfort
36    Vine and fig tree
55    His name is Wonderful
142    O Mary, don’t you weep
187    Help us, Lord
220    There’ll be peace
221    They were waiting
229    Christ is a-comin’
260    My soul is praising the Lord
302    Soon and very soon
309    When the Lord returns
313    Christ, be our light
314    Come to us
315    Drawn to the light
355    Freedom is coming
389    Light of the nations
402    God has chosen me
420    Get ready
425    God moving
434    Sing out with joy, he is coming
450    When Jesus Christ worked here on earth
453    The world is waiting
454    Your God will come
468    Sing a New Song
499    It was me
502    Patiently waiting for you
510    Advent news
519    New beginning
542    Word of the Father
619   Life Overflowing
648   Advent Lamb of God
677   Lord, now let your servant depart

PSALM 25
Below is a metrical paraphrase by David Schütz of Psalm 25:1-10, which may be sung to the tune Die Sach ist dein, LH 228. If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
My God, in you I trust.
Do not let me be put to shame;
don’t let my foes rejoice.
Do not let those who wait for you
be disappointed in their hope.
Let them be disappointed who
have openly rejected you.
Show me your ways,
O Lord, teach me your paths.

Teach me and lead me in your truth,
my Saviour and my God;
I wait for you the whole day long,
do not forget me, Lord.
Be mindful of your mercy, Lord,
and of your steadfast love of old.
Forget and wipe away my sins
according to your steadfast love.
Remember me,
Lord, for your goodness’ sake.

The Lord my God is good and just;
therefore he shows the way
to sinners who return to him
and those with humble hearts.
He shows the humble what is right,
and teaches them to know his will.
The paths of God are steadfast love
and faithfulness for those who keep
his covenant
and listen to his word.

Music Resources Vol. 3- Psalm settings : Psalm 25 p41 , Psalm 25 p42 , Psalm 25 p43
OTHER HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR CHURCH MUSIC
While the LCA does not necessarily endorse the content of these websites, you may find them helpful in your worship planning.
Small Church Music: You can download mp3 and midi files of popular hymn tunes from this site.
Together to Celebrate: lectionary based song and hymn suggestions from a variety of sources.
Singing from the Lectionary: has song and hymn suggestions based on the RCL from other hymnals.
Song Select: you can search for more contemporary songs by theme. If your congregation has a paid subscription you can also download sheet music.
Hymns Without Words: mp3 downloads of hymn tunes.
Song and Hymn Index. Contains all the indexes of the LHS and AT books in one Excel file. Download the file (zip file) here.
NEW! Metrical Psalms by Dale Schoening : Psalms set to well known hymn tunes.