Brothers and sisters, I do hope you were able to think of many things to thank God for. Now many people will be shopping as their sights are set on Christmas.
As you do so, please be aware of two upcoming events involving the congregation.
We are planning midweek Advent services Wednesdays 11/30, 12/7, and 12/14. Each service is expected to begin at 6:30.
On Friday December 9 a pre-Christmas party is being planned to begin at 6:30 at the home of JD Yanchak, west of Pattison off of Garrett Road. Attendees are asked to bring some food to share. There will also be a gift exchange if you want to participate. Please RSVP to Jackie Craver, Susie Hopkins, or JD this coming week. They can give you more details.
On Sunday December 11 a brief Voters meeting is scheduled to follow the service. The agenda includes electing officers and approving the budget for 2023, and submitting nominations for Synod President.
Sunday November 27th is the first Sunday in Advent this year. The word ‘advent’ is related to the Greek word parousia, meaning arrival or approaching, that is, some person, thing or event is coming into our presence. Jesus the Son of God came into our world, conceived and born in human flesh to be our substitute. Our crucified, resurrected, and ascended Lord has also promised to come again. As we say it in the creed, He is coming to judge the living and the dead. That threat of judgment may cause some people to dread His arrival. But as those who believe in Jesus, we also trust He is bringing with Him His kingdom and all of its benefits. So, those who long for the peace and the final restoration Jesus will accomplish, are eagerly anticipating His coming. The Scriptures read and the hymns sung during the Advent season are intended to comfort us and prepare us as we await His arrival.
Scripture readings for November 27, the first Sunday in Advent, are Psalm 122; Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 21:1-11.
Hymns from the LSB hymnal chosen for the day are #331 The Advent of Our King; #332 Savior of the Nations, Come; and #350 Come Thou Precious Ransom, Come. For those present for communion, we will sing #546 O Jesus So Sweet during the distribution.
Psalm 122 is included among those identified as a song of ascents. The meaning of this title is not certain, but it could mean they were sung by pilgrims as they climbed the hills up to Jerusalem that they could worship there (the house of the Lord. The psalms might have a narrower or more liturgical meaning, to be sung as one ascended the final steps onto the temple courtyard. Psalm 122 is further identified as a psalm of King David. Since the temple was not yet built at the time of David’s reign, the reference to the house of the Lord must be to the tent/tabernacle where worship and sacrifices took place, and the ark of the covenant was kept. The psalm could be considered a meditation upon the city of God. Its walls and gates are a metaphor for God’s protection of His people. Worshippers are anticipating assurance of security. As the psalm urges, we should pray for God’s peace upon those who gather to worship Him.
Isaiah 2 includes the description of a vision received by the prophet. Mountains and high places are significant places in Old Testament worship. Jerusalem, also called Mount Zion, is the place God establishes for Israel to worship Him. Similar to the reference in psalm 122, people are gathering to worship God in “His house” there. The house of God is closely connected to light and peace. God grants peace to us as He reconciles us to Himself in Jesus. And as a result He will also bring an end to hostility among the nations. Weapons of war are turned into farm equipment (metaphor for permanence and tranquility). The prophecy foretells the swarms of people from every nation streaming to God’s mountain to worship Him in peace. To those weary of conflict, division, and violence, this is a most welcome sight.
In Romans 13, Paul writes about the coming of Jesus, returning to complete His work of salvation, gathering Christian believers together. As God counts time, the day of His coming is very near to us. So that we would be prepared, Paul urges people to live as those walking in the light of Jesus, being alert and putting aside all vices.
The gospel account from Matthew 21 is a report of Jesus coming into Jerusalem on what is often called Palm Sunday. The citizens praised and worshipped Him as royalty, a descendant of King David. The crowd rush to meet Him, shouting Hosanna. The word means help us! or save us! but was used in a way that also includes praise. People had been longing for His arrival. He is the fulfillment of prophecy and God’s promise of a Messiah, though the people did not yet know what that would mean. Jesus would be crucified less than a week later. His sacrifice would save the world from God’s judgment against sin. The welcome Jesus received on Palm Sunday points to the celebration He deserves when He returns on the last day. As Jesus comes to us in His Word and the Sacraments, we have reason to begin the celebration now!
COLLECT: Stir up Your power, O Lord Jesus, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils 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.
I invite you to join us for Bible study on Sunday at 9. Worship begins at 10:30. If you cannot attend, the service can be viewed on Facebook Live. Let me know if you have any prayer requests or questions about the lessons. The Lord be with you. Pastor Boster
