Lectionary resources Advent 1 Year A

Lectionary -- Advent 1 Year A

Isaiah 2:1-5 Swords into ploughshares
Psalm 122 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go the house of the Lord."
Romans 13:11-14 Salvation is nearer to us now then when we first believed
Matthew 24:36-44 Warnings to be ready for the kingdom

Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)

lesson	Hymns for Advent 1, Yr.A	TIS	AHB	SA
E	Awake, awake, fling off the night		412
O	Behold the mountain of the Lord	441	366
	Brother, sister, let me serve you	650		14
O	Christ is the world's true light	238	179
wreath	Christmas is coming, the church is glad to sing	289
G	Come O Fount of every blessing		152
s	Come O Jesus, come O Lord		211
E/G	Come thou long expected Jesus	272	200
O	Comfort comfort all my people	647		25
s	Creator of the earth and skies		556
O	Crown him with many crowns	228	163
O	Go now in peace	782
E	God has spoken to his people, hallelujah	636		39
Ps/E/G	Hail to the Lord's anointed	275	203
E	Hark a herald voice is calling	264	192
G	Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes	269	197
Ps	How glad I was to hear men say		351
s	I want to walk as a child of the light	643
Ps	I was overjoyed, alleluia	78	394
Ps	Jerusalem our home, alleluia!	78	394
	Jesus calls us! O'er the tumult	589	505
O	Jesus priceless treasure		463
G	Let all mortal flesh keep silence	497	418
s	Lift up your heads, you mighty gates	267
wreath	Light one candle for hope	286
G	Lo he comes with clouds descending	273	201
	Lord of our life and God of our salvation		345
	Lord the light of your love is shining	675
	Love divine all loves excelling	217	148
	Mine eyes have seen the glory	315	205
E	Now let us from this table rise	530	450
G	O come O come, Emmanuel	265	193
O	O day of God draw near	616	547
	O God of earth and altar		542
O	O God of every nation	621
Ps	O little town of Bethlehem	316	240
s	Prepare the royal highway	346
E	Saviour of the nations, come	295
E	Stand up, stand up for Jesus	592	509
s	The advent of our God	271	198
E	The Lord will come and not be slow		194
s	There's a light upon the mountains	276	207
E/G	Wake awake, for night is flying	266	195
	We are marching in the light of God	666
G	When he comes back, when he comes back	280		92
s	Your coming Lord, to earth in Bethlehem	285		98

Other Possible Hymns

Salvation belongs to our God [song]

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Sermon summary (Click here for complete sermon)

What time is it?

What time is it? Its late! Its time to wake up! Paul said to the Romans ... you know what time it is [Romans 13:11]. Well, do we know `the time'; do we really know what time it is? Now is a special time for us to wake up. How is it special?

Special times are God's times
This present time is a special time because it is a time of opportunities, an occasion when we should expect things to happen. I am hoping that a sense of urgency will develop, but there is something more important than our getting up the energy to do what needs to be done. First, everything depends on what God has already done and what he has promised that he will do. It does not all depend on us. Paul did not simply exhort people to action. He pointed to how their situation was different and special because of the acts of God.

Clock time and dramatic time
The Bible deals with different ideas of time, particularly in regard to the way we can take part in the coming of the Kingdom. [Compare Luke 23:43 with 1 Thess 4:13-14, 1 Corinthians 15, Matthew 24:42-44.] There is time that can be measured by clocks 'chronos' and time of a different kind, 'kairos'. It is more like a dramatic sense of time when things reach a crisis, or when the point of the story is revealed, and that is the kind of time that Paul asked the Romans about. It is a time of opportunity, when we should expect great things because great things have happened in what God has done for the world through Christ [Galatians 1:4, A new age is to come. Christ has made a dramatic difference: Colossians 1:13]

Living as children of light
There are implications for us in everyday living as well as evangelism. Things are different now that Christ has come and done his work of salvation, saving us. If we are in tune with it and with him we will grasp the opportunity and begin to share now in the age of light [Rom 13:11-12]. How much more satisfying it is take part in God's drama -- how much better than to strive anxiously to fulfil our own plans! It is time to wake up, time for action, because God has already acted to make things different for us. Glory to him.

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Order of Service - Advent 1 Year A

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP
O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD! -- Isaiah 2:5
I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!" -- Psalms 122:1

COLLECT FOR PURITY
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: clease the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN I was overjoyed, Alleluia! [Ps 122] AHB 394 TIS 78

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE: First Sunday.
[A family group or individual comes to the table and one reads:]
The true light, that enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. [John 1:9]
[One coloured candle is lit, and reading continues.]
On this first Sunday in Advent we remember how the ancient prophets proclaimed that God is one who comes to his people, and that he would come in the future as Lord and Saviour. Jesus, when he came, said that he would come again come in love and power. Glory to you Jesus Christ our Lord.

PRAYER OF ADORATION
CONFESSION [In three parts, concluding ...]
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. -- 1 Timothy 1:15
Hear then Christ's word of grace to us: Your sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

DOXOLOGY: Salvation belongs to our God
1 Salvation belongs to our God
Who sits upon the throne
And unto the Lamb
Praise and glory
Wisdom and thanks
Honour and power and strength
Be to our God for ever and ever
Be to our God for ever and ever
Be to our God for ever and ever. Amen.

2 And we the redeemed shall be strong
In purpose and unity
Declaring aloud
Praise and glory
Wisdom and thanks
Honour and power and strength
Be to our God for ever and ever
Be to our God for ever and ever
Be to our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION OF THEME: A word to the children.
FIRST READING Isaiah 2:1-5 Swords into ploughshares
PSALM 122 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go the house of the Lord."
Choir: Born in the night
EPISTLE Romans 13:11-14 Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed
GOSPEL Matthew 24:36-44 Warnings to be ready for the kingdom

HYMN Your coming Lord to earth in Bethlehem TIS 285 SA 98

SERMON
CREED

OFFERING [I love you more]
SHARING TIME [Notices, Celebrations and requests for intercessions]

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
A SHORT LITANY FOR ADVENT
O Morning Star, splendour of light eternal and bright Sun of righteousness:
come and enlighten all who dwell in darkness and in the shadow.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O King of the nations, you alone can fulfil their desires:
Cornerstone, you make opposing nations one:
come and save the creature you fashioned from clay.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Emmanuel, hope of the nations and their Saviour:
come and save us, Lord oru God.
Lord Jesus, come soon!

THE COLLECT FOR THE DAY
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord's Supper

THE PEACE

HYMN Love divine, all loves excelling AHB148 TIS 217

GREAT PRAYER OF 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.
Thanks and praise ..... in the eternal hymn: [SA 100c and 100d]
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
We thank you ....

[The great prayer of thanksgiving continues, recalling God's goodness in caring for his people, the life and saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ, how he commanded his disciples to remember him with the bread and the wine, and we pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit on us and what we do.]

THE LORD'S PRAYER [Front of hymn book]
BREAKING THE BREAD
THE LAMB OF GOD [Choir: Sing Alleluia 100e]
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
grant us peace.

COMMUNION [ Holy Spirit, Come!]

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord TIS 315 AHB 205
WORD OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.

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