November 29, 2020 - Advent Devotion - First Sunday in Advent
This Sunday, November 29, 2020 – The First Sunday in Advent
Join us for worship this Sunday, 9:30 a.m., “A Sign Promised”
With new information in the past weeks, numbers and cases on the rise, and new recommendations regarding gatherings, please join us in doing everything possible for the health of one and all! Please stay home, if you do not feel well, if you or someone close to you has been exposed, if you or someone close to you has been tested. We will keep you informed with further updates!
Thanks be to God for those who have given their time and leadership as we worship in our sanctuary, and as we together do everything possible to honor, serve, & care for one and all!
You will find more details below, including signing up for worship, signing up to volunteer, what to expect, and children's activity sheets. You can also access these details on our website and on our Facebook page!
Worship each Sunday will be a 30-minute service including live music by our worship leaders, a children's message and a message from Pastor Jamie. Holy Communion will be offered as the service ends. If you prefer, if your timing is better, from 10:15-10:30 a.m., you are invited to drive up to the curb of the sidewalk in front of the building, and receive Holy Communion in your vehicle.
Each Sunday we will make every attempt to live stream the service for you at 9:30 a.m.
We hope you join us for worship this Sunday! We look forward to seeing you soon!
You can access our mobile-friendly bulletin for this Sunday, November 22, here.
You can access a printable version of the bulletin for this Sunday, November 22, here.
You can access children's activity sheets for this Sunday here.
You can sign up to attend worship this Sunday here.
You can access details and what to expect as we share indoor worship here.
You can access the signupgenius and ways to assist our indoor service here.
“Oh, come, oh, come,
Emmanuel,
And ransom captive
Israel,
That mourns in lonely
Exile here,
Until the Son of God
Appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel,
Shall come to you,
O Israel.”
“Jesus taught the disciples saying:
”And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” ”
Here we go! Are you ready! Thanksgiving has come and gone. Most of 2020 has come and gone. Advent is here! The season of trusting Jesus' promised return one day, the season of preparing for Jesus’ presence every day in our lives, and the season of Christmas preparation is upon us. Advent and Christmas will come, and then sadly, quickly, too, will go and be gone, ... or will they?
The season of Advent is God's gift to us to stay awake, to watch for every sign, to not miss what feels like it so quickly comes and then so quickly goes. Jesus taught his disciples and God's Word continues to teach us, as we pray and sing for "Emmanuel to come, for the Son of God to appear," we are blessed while we wait for Jesus' triumphant return with sign upon sign every day of God's grace!
"And this will be a sign for you," is our simple theme of hope and promise this Advent and Christmas season at Lord of Life. As we begin our Advent journey this year, let us stay awake for every sign, for God's grace is coming to us every day! Let us stay awake for every sign, for God's grace is in our midst already, fulfilling promise after promise, making us ready! Let us stay awake for every sign, for we have, and we will witness anew The Son of God has indeed appeared. Let us stay awake for every sign and announce to one and all, now is the time to believe anew in each of God’s promises, now is the time to have hope and rejoice!
Let us pray: Gracious God, today we thank you for every sign of your grace every day. Fill us with hope and faith to stay awake as we begin a new beginning this Advent season. This year, may we trust anew, the seasons of Advent and Christmas, the very gift of Emmanuel, does not come to quickly go. All that is a sign for us, is here to break forth with promise upon promise in your grace, here to stay! In Jesus' name, and by Your grace, we stay awake for every sign, and we pray. Amen.