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1st Sunday in Advent

Kurt Christenson

Sunday, November 30, 2025

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First Sunday in Advent November 30, 2025

Prelude O come, O come, Emmanuel! arr. Stephen Cleobury

Welcome & Announcements

*Advent Wreath Kaaren Nyberg

Come to Be Our Hope, O Jesus vs. 1

We praise you, O God, for this evergreen crown that marks our days of preparation for Christ’s advent. As we light the first candle on this wreath, rouse us from sleep, that we may be ready to greet our Lord when he comes with all the saints and angels. Enlighten us with your grace, and prepare our hearts to welcome him with joy. Grant this through Christ our Lord, whose coming is certain and whose day draws near. Amen.

Come to Be Our Hope, O Jesus vs. 2

Confession & Forgiveness at the Cradle of Hope

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, whose home is heaven and earth, whose salvation is sure. Amen. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Long-expected God, we confess that we look to ourselves for the peace and security only you can provide. We reach for swords and spears, reluctant to release our grip on the ways of war. We become impatient while waiting and weary of keeping awake. Free us from self-reliance, and teach us to live in harmony with our neighbors. Increase our trust in God’s timing, and awaken us to your advent among us, that we may abound in the hope you have promised. Amen.

God judges us not as we deserve, but according to God’s own righteousness. You are freed and forgiven, saved by grace,

and ready to welcome the Savior. Amen.

* Gathering Hymn Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers

*Prayer of the Day

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection save us from the threatening dangers of our sins, and enlighten our walk in the way of your salvation, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 2:1-5

1 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house

shall be established as the highest of the mountains

and shall be raised above the hills;

all the nations shall stream to it.

3 Many peoples shall come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

to the house of the God of Jacob,

that he may teach us his ways

and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction

and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4 He shall judge between the nations

and shall arbitrate for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation;

neither shall they learn war any more.

5 O house of Jacob,

come, let us walk

in the light of the Lord!

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 122

1 I was glad when they | said to me,

“Let us go to the house | of the Lord.”

2 Now our | feet are standing

within your gates, | O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is built | as a city

that is at unity | with itself;

4 to which the tribes go up, the tribes | of the Lord,

the assembly of Israel, to praise the name | of the Lord. / R

5 For there are the | thrones of judgment,

the thrones of the | house of David.

6 Pray for the peace | of Jerusalem:

“May they pros- | per who love you.

7 Peace be with- | in your walls

and quietness with- | in your towers.

8 For the sake of my kindred | and companions,

I pray for | your prosperity.

9 Because of the house of the | Lord our God,

I will seek to | do you good.” / R

The Epistle Lesson Romans 13:11-14

11 Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; 12 the night is far gone; the day is near. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 13 let us walk decently as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in illicit sex and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

*Gospel Acclamation Taizé

congregation repeats alleluia after the cantor’s lead then repeats after the cantor’s verse

Show us your steadfast | love, O Lord,* and grant us | your salvation. Ps. 85:7

*Gospel Matthew 26:36-44 Glory to you O Lord

Jesus said to the disciples, 36 “About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will

be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will be left. 42 Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon Pastor Kurt Christenson

*Hymn of the Day God, Be With Your Weary People

*Prayers of Intercession

Response to each petition: God of grace, hear our prayer.

*Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven

and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our

Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the

virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,

died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the

third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is

seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to

judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Offering

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Offering Music

Isaiah, Mighty Seer, in Days of Old setting Jan Bender

Jesaia, dem Progheten, Martin Luther, 1526

Offering Prayer

Nourishing God,

you are water in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

Through this meal, satisfy our parched places, that we may rejoice and be for the world signs of your kingdom come. Amen.

* The Sharing of Peace

*The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

*Preface

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, … all the choirs of angels,

with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

*Sanctus Schubert

*Eucharistic Prayer

On the night our Lord Jesus was betrayed, …

Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, we take this bread and cup…

…through your Son Jesus Christ; through whom all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever.

Amen.

*The Lord’s Prayer

Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Agnus Dei

Communion Hymn Comfort, Comfort

*Communion Blessing and Prayer

God our host,

at this table you have fed us with joy and gladness. Send us forth, eager to share the feast, welcome the stranger, and bear good fruit in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

Sending Hymn Fling Wide the Door