FIRST Sunday OF advent, year C

2018 - 02 December
2021 - 28 November
2024 - 01 December
2027 - 28 November
2030 - 01 December
2033 - 27 November
2036 - 30 November

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Advent season' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

Sentence
See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

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, use the standard Advent Sentence in the document 'Advent season', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
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.

FIRST Reading
Jeremiah 33:14-16 A righteous descendant of David as king

PSALM
Psalm 25:1-10
Antiphon: 
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. (Ps 25:1 NRSV)

SECOND READING
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 May God continue to bless you

ALLELUIA VERSE  (Luke 21:33)
Alleluia, alleluia.
(Jesus said:) Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Luke 21:25-36 Signs of the end of the age

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
Call to prayer
Our Lord Jesus Christ commands us to keep alert and pray. Let us come to our Father in heaven in prayer, confident that he will hear the prayers we offer in Jesus' name.

The regular response, OR:
Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus.

Suggested intercessions
*	that the church would always remain ready and watchful for the coming of Christ
*	that those who are caught up in the worries of this life may be set free by the hope of the coming kingdom of God
*	that the leaders of our nation's governments would have the wisdom to look beyond the here and now and plan for future generations
*	that we would see our lives from God's perspective
*	that the coming season of summer may be one of rest and recreation for our land and its people

Concluding prayer
Lord God, since we do not know the day or the hour that your Son will come with great power and glory, keep us always awake and alert, awaiting our Saviour with joyful expectation. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

SEASONAL 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
For an Advent post-communion prayer, see the document 'Advent season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as given above) 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.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS
Please note:	* =	Modernised version available
	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 
17	Come, Thou long-expected Jesus G6
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
811	Praise and thanksgiving GS
813	For strength to work till close of day 
814	For the fruits of his creation  G6
870	Lord of all hopefulness G6
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
4	Once He came in blessing * G4
11	The advent of our King G4 
15	Jesus came - the heavens adoring* G6
47	Songs of thankfulness and praise (v 4)* G4
338	Rise, my soul, to watch and pray (vv 1,5,6) G4
735	Jesus comes with clouds descending G7
AT 
309	When the Lord returns
434	Sing out with joy, he is coming
TIS 
197	God's Son came to bless us
264	Hark! a herald voice is calling
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

Psalm 25:1-10 
For musical settings of Psalm 25:1-10, see Music Packages 5, 7, and 9. See also TIS 14 O Lord, make me know your ways.

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.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

JEREMIAH 33:14-16: Weak and vacillating leadership by the current king of Judah was leading the nation into disobeying the will of the Lord, and consequently they were heading towards his judgment. Jeremiah stood up against the popular political swell of support for this movement of the court towards national disaster. This brought down on him universal anger and hatred. Yet he could see ahead to a time when, despite what judgments God would bring, there would arise a Messianic King, a shoot from the present  fallen stump of the house of David. This King would rule in perfect righteousness. His kingdom would therefore also carry that name of 'righteousness'. Jesus the Christ is the true fulfilment of this prophecy. 

1 THESSALONIANS 3:9-13: We receive here an insight into Paul's love and concern for his converts. It led him to be overjoyed when he heard reports of living which was worthy of the gospel. His desire to return personally to affirm and confirm the Thessalonians in their faith was prominent in his prayers. He also offers the prayer here that the love of which he had heard might increase yet again and that the hope of the Lord's glorious return might encourage and spur them on to even greater strengths in holiness.

LUKE 21:25-36: These awesome happenings, as the disintegrating universe announces the coming of the Lord, strike terror upon the people of the earth. However, they bring joy and eager expectation to Christ's believing people. The signs of the times need to be observed and read with due care, then, so that those who love their Lord are prepared. It is possible for both the pleasures and worries of life to divert even believers from their spiritual readiness. Therefore sharp watchfulness and earnest prayer are called for. This is indeed the word of the Lord.

VISUAL

visuals for the READINGS
Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, a picture of a fig tree could accompany the reading of the gospel (from v 29).

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'
See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

dramatising the READINGS
The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. 

CHILDREN

children and the readings
The children could colour and/or display a picture of a fig tree. See 'Visuals for the readings' above (in connection with the gospel).

TALKING WITH THE CHILDREN
The experience of waiting with longing could be talked about with the children.

'COME AND SEE JESUS'
The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is 'God's wonderful promise'. Material for this story may be found in 
Original Edition, 1 Advent, year C (in 3rd Series B book)
OR
Revised RCL Edition, same

other material

See the documents 'Advent readings and carols service' and 'Advent proclamation' in the 'Rites and services' folder.