Advent

The season of Advent, which comes comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming” or “visit," begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year for Christians. [Liturgical -- from liturgy, which means the forms and functions of public worship.] During Advent, we prepare for, and anticipate, the coming of Christ. We remember the longing of Jews for a Messiah and our own longing for, and need of, forgiveness, salvation and a new beginning. Even as we look back and celebrate the birth of Jesus in a humble stable in Bethlehem, we also look forward anticipating the second coming of Christ as the fulfillment of all that was promised by his first coming.

Psalms for Advent – 1st Sunday

Sermon scripture: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

1
Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth
2
before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us.
3
Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
4
How long, Lord God Almighty,
will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?
5
You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
6
You have made us an object of derision[b] to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.
7
Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
17
Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
18
Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.
19
Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.