advent - hope

Advent – Week One 

Hope

Today is the first day of Advent for 2017. I have been so looking forward to this season of preparing the way to remember Jesus' arrival. I want to be intentional with these next 22 days until Christmas, and perhaps you do as well. Each week I'll post a sheet that I put together for the prayer ministry here on campus in the hopes that it will help you focus on the beauty of Advent. The commercialism and materialism doesn't have to dominate this season for us; we can be culture-shifters who actually need less things and more Jesus. 






What is Advent?

Advent is the holy season that precedes Christmas. From the Latin adventus, meaning “arrival,” it is a time of hope and expectancy, when Christians prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ. Each of the four weeks of advent encompass a theme; this week’s theme is Hope, Salvation, Prophecy, and Judgment. Use these prayers and Scriptures to prepare your heart for the celebration of Christ’s birth.





Advent Collect (Book of Common Prayer)
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.





Select Prayer (Revised Common Lectionary)
Unexpected God, your advent alarms us. Wake us from drowsy worship, from the sleep that neglects love, and the sedative of misdirected frenzy. Awaken us now to your coming, and bend our angers into your peace. Amen.





Scripture
Hebrew Bible            Psalm                   New Testament                    Gospel
Isaiah 2:1-5        Psalm 122       Romans 13:11-14        Matthew 24:36-44

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices 

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn