This Week’s Bulletin
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Sunday, November 30, 2025 | First Sunday of Advent
+ THE LITURGY OF THE GATHERING +
8:55AM The Ringing of the Valley of Hope Spire Bells
WORDS OF WELCOME
THE VOLUNTARY
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Please stand as you are able and face the cross as it processes down the aisle, leading us into worship.
P In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we will perfectly love
you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P Most Merciful God,
C we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in
thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not
loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of
your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we will
delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
P In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us
all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I
therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ☩
Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
THE GATHERING HYMN | ELW 244 | Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers
THE APOSTOLIC GREETING
P The grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C And also with you.
THE KYRIE |
THE COLLECT | PRAYER OF THE DAY
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P 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.
C Amen.
Please be seated.
MUSIC OFFERING | MICHAEL KASTNER BELL SOLO | Good Christian Friends Rejoice -IN DULCI JUBILO, arr. Brian Childers
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH | CANDLE OF HOPE
DISMISSAL TO BLAST
+ THE LITURGY OF THE WORD +
We hear readings from Holy Scriptures. A lesson from the Old Testament (or Hebrew Bible), a Psalm, a lesson from the New Testament, and a reading from one of the four Gospels are read.
THE FIRST READING | Isaiah 2:1-5
The visionary message presented in this reading focuses on a future day when God establishes a
universal reign of peace. Divine decisions will make war obsolete, and the worshiping community
responds: “Let us walk in the light of that Lord now!”
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!
After the reading: Word of God. Word of Life.
All respond: Thanks be to God.
THE PSALMODY | Psalm 122
Cantor/Congregation sing the Refrain together. REFRAIN BELOW VERSES.
Verse 1: I rejoiced when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord. And now our feet are
standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Refrain
Verse 2: Jerusalem is built as a city bonded as one together. It is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of
the Lord. Refrain
Verse 3: For Israel’s witness it is to praise the name of the Lord. There were set the thrones for
judgement, the thrones of the house of David. Refrain
THE SECOND READING | Romans 13:11-14
Paul compares the advent of Christ to the coming of dawn. We live our lives today in light of Christ’s
coming in the future.
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.
After the reading: Word of God. Word of Life.
All respond: Thanks be to God.
THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
We stand to welcome the good news from the Gospel: Stanzas 1-2
THE READING OF THE GOSPEL | Matthew 24:36-44
The Holy Gospel for this day is according to St. Matthew, the 24th chapter.
C Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus describes his second coming as a sudden, turbulent event that will bring about deep change to our
normal, day-to-day lives. Therefore, he urges people to stay awake, be aware, and wait expectantly,
because the Son of Man will come unannounced.
[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.”
After the Gospel is read,
P The Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to you, O Christ.
THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION | STANZAS 3-4
Please be seated.
THE HOMILY PScott+
A time for reflection.
THE HYMN OF THE DAY | ELW 266 | All Earth is Hopeful
Please stand as you are able.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
C 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.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
A In our waiting and watching, we come to you in prayer, O God, trusting in your promise to renew the
church, the nations, and the whole creation.
After each petition…
A God of Grace,
C hear our prayer.
P Be near to us, O God, as we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy through
Jesus Christ, the light shining in the darkness.
C Amen.
THE SHARING OF THE PEACE
As forgiven people, we share the peace of Christ with one another.
P The peace of Christ be with you always.
C And also with you.
The ministers and congregation may greet one another with a gesture of peace, using these or similar
words: Peace be with you.
Please be seated.
WELCOME BACK FROM BLAST!
GREETINGS FOR THE DAY
+ THE LITURGY OF THE MEAL +
THE GIVING OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS TO GOD
We bring our offerings at the front of the altar.
The basket on the left (closest to the piano) is for BLAST! offerings.
The basket on the right (closest to the pulpit) is for adult offerings.
Today we light candles for those saints who we dearly miss in our lives during the offering. Simply go to
the cross, take a small candle, light it and place it in the cross.
OFFERTORY MUSIC
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Please stand as you are able.
A Nourishing God, you are the water in the wilderness and streams in the desert. Through this meal,
satisfy our parched places, that we will rejoice and be for the world signs of your kingdom come.
C Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Lift up your hearts.
C We lift them to the Lord.
P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C It is right to give our thanks and praise.
THE PREFACE
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times…we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
SANCTUS
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE LORD'S PRAYER
We pray together the prayer Our Lord taught to his disciples:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Please be seated.
INVITATION & DISTRIBUTION OF THE HOLY & BLESSED SACRAMENT
All are welcome to Christ’s table. Whatever happens, you cannot do it incorrectly. Gluten-free, rice-free, and non-alcoholic options are available. Prayer Ministers will be available during Holy Communion on either side of the front part of our worship space.
THE AGNUS DEI
COMMUNION HYMN | ELW 715 | Christ, Be Our Light
THE POST COMMUNION BLESSING AND PRAYER
Please stand as you are able.
P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen and keep you in His grace.
C Amen
A 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.
C Amen.
+ THE LITURGY OF THE SENDING +
THE BENEDICTION
A The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine upon you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor, and + give you peace.
C Amen.
THE SENDING HYMN | ELW 248 | People, Look East
THE SENDING PRAYER
Almighty and Eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations,
so control our wills, that we will by wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we
pray, as you will, always to your glory and the welfare of your people, through our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE DISMISSAL
P Go in Peace, Follow the Light of Christ
C Thanks be to God!
THE VOLUNTARY
Liturgy reprinted by permission of Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2025 Augsburg Fortress license #23630. All rights reserved. Hymns reprinted by permission Sundays and Seasons #23630, OneLicense #A-705758, and CCLI#2530682. Other hymns printed by permission as noted. New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.Permission to Podcast the music in this service obtained from OneLicense.net, Augsburg Fortress, and CCLI.
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