First Sunday of Lent

Deuteronomy 10:12-22 OR Nehemiah 9:1-38
Psalm 6
John 7:1-13

Galatians 2:1-14 (15-21) OR Galatians 1:1-24 OR James 1:1-27 OR James 1:17-2:13


   

   

CALL TO WORSHIP [from GREATER ATTENTION: LERW, YEAR D]

You shall fear the LORD your God; him alone you shall worship.

To the LORD you shall hold fast, and by his name you shall swear.  

The LORD is our praise; he is our God, who has done

great and awesome things for us that our own eyes have seen.

Heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to the LORD our God,

the earth with all that is in it!

The LORD, the great God, is God of gods and Lord of lords.

Mighty and awesome, he is not partial and he takes no bribe.

Circumcise your heart, and do not be stubborn any longer,

for what does the LORD your God require of you?

Only to fear the LORD, to walk in all his ways, to love him,

to serve him with all our heart and soul, and to keep

his commandments and decrees for our own well-being.

First Sunday of Advent (Year C)

OPENING PRAYER [from THE JOYFUL FEAST: LERW, YEAR C] 

God of truth and righteousness, we turn to you in anticipation of your coming to bring justice and peace into our world. Strengthen our hearts in holiness, unite us with our neighbors in love, direct our way along your righteous paths and among your righteous people of every time and place, that we may be found blameless at your return.

First Sunday of Advent (Year B)

    

For those opting for Year B this year ...

Isaiah 64:1-9

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Mark 13:24-37

CALL TO WORSHIP

God is faithful!  Come together and wait for the advent of the Lord.

We lack nothing for the vigil.  We keep watch and wait.

Stay awake!  For you do not know when the Lord will return.

With signs in the heavens,

with power and glory, Christ will come.

Take heart!  By the grace of God you have been blessed.

We will endure to the end, that we may be found blameless

when Jesus Christ comes again.

OPENING PRAYER

Eternal God, who comes to us in different forms and at different times,

we await your coming again: Let the heavens be opened!

Let every creature on earth behold your grandeur and your glory!

We anticipate your arrival with worship in our hearts,

with eager, expectant eyes, and with lives ready to be changed

by your holy presence among us.

For the rest of this liturgy, see When Heaven Stands Open.