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

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.