First Service
FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Prepare the Way of the Lord
November 30, 2025
AS WE GATHER
Today is not only the First Sunday in Advent but also the commemoration of St. Andrew, whose day governs the start of Advent. In this way, Andrew continues to point to Christ as we begin a new Church Year. How odd it is, then, that the Gospel for the First Sunday in Advent is the same as the Gospel for Palm Sunday! This reminds us that Jesus came for the cross and empty tomb, and this is the only Gospel that can save us from sin and death. The cry of Advent is “prepare the way of the Lord.” We will echo the words of John the Baptist, heralding Christ’s coming. We will join in the chant of the crowd: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:9). We will hear Him speak to us through the voice of His Word. We will feast upon His flesh for the life of the world and His blood that cleanses us from all sin. In all our preparations, we acclaim Him as Lord and receive Him and all His benefits.
+ PREPARATION +
(One candle on the Advent wreath is lit after the altar candles are lit as the hymn is sung)
HYMN Lift Up Your Heads Ye Mighty Gates LSB 340
Lift up your heads ye mighty gates Behold the King of glory waits
The King of kings is drawing near The Savior of the world is here
Life and salvation He doth bring Therefore rejoice and gladly sing
To God the Father raise Your joyful songs of praise
A righteous Helper comes to thee His chariot is humility
His kingly crown is holiness His scepter pity in distress
The end of all our woe He brings Therefore the earth is glad and sings
To Christ the Savior raise Your grateful hymns of praise
How blest the land the city blest Where Christ the ruler is confessed
O peaceful hearts and happy homes To whom this King in triumph comes
The cloudless sun of joy is He Who comes to set His people free
To God the Spirit raise Your happy shouts of praise
Fling wide the portals of your heart Make it a temple set apart
From earthly use for heav’ns employ Adorned with prayer and love and joy
So shall your Sov’reign enter in And new and nobler life begin
To God alone be praise For word and deed and grace
Redeemer come and open wide My heart to Thee here Lord abide
O enter with Thy grace divine Thy face of mercy on me shine
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on Until our glorious goal is won
Eternal praise and fame We offer to Thy name
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Pastor: The night is far gone; the day is at hand.
People: So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Silence for self-examination.
Pastor: Holy and gracious God,
People: I confess that I have sinned against You this day. Some of my sin I know—the thoughts and words and deeds of which I am ashamed—but some is known only to You. In the name of Jesus Christ I ask forgiveness. Deliver and restore me that I may rest in peace.
Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
People: Amen.
+ WORD +
SONG OF PRAISE Arise O Christian People LSB 354
Arise O Christian people Prepare yourselves today
Prepare to greet the Savior Who takes Your sins away
To us by grace alone The truth and light were given
The promised Lord from heaven To all the world is shown
Prepare the way before Him Prepare for Him the best
Cast out what would offend Him This great this heav’nly guest
Make straight make plain the way The lowly valleys raising
The heights of pride abasing His path all even lay
Prepare my heart Lord Jesus Turn not from me aside
And help me to receive You This blessed Advent tide
From stall and manger low Come now to dwell within me
I’ll sing Your praises gladly And forth Your glory show
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 2:1–5 (“Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.”)
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. 5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
EPISTLE Romans 13: 11–14 (“Put on the armor of light.”)
11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 24:36–44 (The Son of Man is coming when you least expect Him.)
36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
HYMN Savior of the Nations Come LSB 332
Savior of the nations come Virgin’s Son make here Your home
Marvel now O heaven and earth That the Lord chose such a birth
Not by human flesh and blood By the Spirit of our God
Was the Word of God made flesh Woman’s offspring pure and fresh
For You are the Father’s Son Who in flesh the vict’ry won
By Your mighty pow’r make whole All our ills of flesh and soul
Glory to the Father sing Glory to the Son our king
Glory to the Spirit be Now and through eternity
SERMON
NICENE CREED
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made: who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And he will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Pastor: Let us pray on behalf of the world, those with special need, and for all the faithful.
That we may depart from the ways of the wicked and manifest in word and deed our faith in His Word and our delight in His will, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: That we may resist the temptation to despair in time of trouble and manifest a joyful heart and hope in all circumstances of this mortal life, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: That we may enjoy the gift of good government, wise and faithful leaders, and peace among the nations, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: That those who suffer in any want or need—the sick, grieving, and those troubled in mind or soul—may be granted healing and comfort, [especially . . .], and that all may be preserved in faith and holiness to the day of Christ, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: That we may be united in doctrine and life and that in the unity of this Table all who here receive the Sacrament may be granted discernment of Christ’s body and blood and faith to receive this communion to their benefit, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.