Greetings in the name of Jesus. This Sunday December 1 we will begin the season of Advent. Advent is a time of anticipation leading up to Christmas. For many people, the next several weeks will a time for decorating, parties, and bargain shopping for the perfect gifts. We Christians put a different emphasis on Advent. We too enjoy parties and decorations and gifts. But we are anticipating something greater, the arrival of our Savior Jesus. At Christmas we worship His birth, and that is something to celebrate. But we also anticipate His promised second appearance—not as a baby who will grow up to bear our sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him (Hebrews 9:28). The traditional collects (gathering prayers) for Advent urge our Lord to stir up His power and return to deliver us from sin, and to stir up our hearts that we would be ready to joyfully greet Him. Until that day, let us join in serving Him by serving one another in love.
I remind you of some upcoming events. I encourage you to make plans to attend.
-Plan now to attend the mid-week services scheduled for December 4th, 11th, and 18th, each beginning at 6:30 pm.
Members of the Houston Lutheran Chorale will have several performances– Friday December 6 @Memorial in Katy 7:30 pm 5810 3rd Street; Saturday December 7 @ St. Andrew in Houston 7:30 pm 1353 Witte Road; and Friday December 8 @Trinity downtown Houston 4 pm 800 Houston Ave.
We will make some changes to the worship during the season of Advent. We will switch to the liturgy of Divine Service Setting Four beginning on page 203 of the LSB hymnal. We will chant the psalm using “tone G” found on page xxvi in the front of the hymnal. Hymn #338 Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus will be sung in place of the Kyrie and Gloria in Excelsis after the psalm. Our gospel readings will shift from Mark’s account to Luke’s account.
Hymns chosen for the day are #334 O Lord How Shall I Meet You; #354 Arise O Christian People; #563 Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness; and #351 Creator of the Stars at Night.
Scriptures being read Sunday are Psalm 25:1-10; Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; and Luke 19:28-40.
Psalm 25 is a psalm of King David. In the verses we will be chanting, David asked God for protection, for insights into God’s truth, and a request for forgiveness. These petitions are quite fitting as we begin Advent. We are reminded to continually repent, to walk the narrow path of forgiveness and faith in Jesus, and to remember God is faithful and loving to receive us sinners.
God sent Jeremiah to prophesy to the citizens of Jerusalem and Judah as their nation was about to be overrun by the Babylonian army. Many of them would be witnesses to the turmoil and destruction before being exiled in Babylon. It would be a bleak time. But God sent Jermiah with a message of renewal and hope. A descendant of David will come to bring justice and security, that God’s people would be saved. He would known by the name “The Lord is our righteousness.” This promise is fulfilled in Jesus, the One who brings us renewal and hope as well.
The epistle lesson is a portion of St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians in northern Greece. Paul expresses his desire to revisit the Thessalonians. Until that might happen, Paul tells of his prayers for them, that they would increase in their love for one another, and remain steadfast believing in Jesus so they would be ready for His return. Two thousand years later this remains good advice to all of us as we too await Jesus’ return.
As we consider Jesus’ life, there are several key moments when He arrived among His people. Among these arrival events are His birth in Bethlehem, and His arrival at the Jordan River where He begins His public ministry. Sunday’s Gospel reading is St. Luke’s account of Jesus arrival in Jerusalem on “Palm Sunday” just days before His crucifixion and resurrection. The citizens gathered and rejoiced at Jesus’ approach to the city. We have opportunity to gather at the church to encourage one another and rejoice as Jesus is drawing nearer and nearer each day in His return to us. Similar to making plans for His entry into Jerusalem, Jesus is now making plans to meet you.
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.
Please let me know if you have any prayer requests or questions about the schedule or Sunday’s readings. God bless you. Pastor Boster
