Advent at St. Matt's

Resources and materials for Advent devotions [here]
St. Matt's Advent Worship schedule [here]
Flyer with full Christmas schedule [here]

 

Photo gallery: Christmas Decorating 2010 [here]

 

The Season of Advent

Advent is Latin and means : "to come"
The season of Advent marks the beginning of the church year and comprises the four weeks before Christmas. The church has observed a season of preparation before Christmas since the appearance of regulations on fasting issued by Bishop Perpetuus of Tours in 490 C.E.

Principal Themes of Advent

• hope
• darkness / light
• repentance
• watchfulness
• preparation
• expectation of the incarnation of Christ on Christmas
• anticipation of the fullness of time at Christ's second coming

The Liturgical color for Advent is Blue, suggesting hope

 

Advent moves us to Christmas: We wait with joy and expectation
Advent is a penitent time of the church year as we prepare for the gift that promises the world, His Word made Flesh in Jesus Christ, the manger child. Our liturgy will reflect this time of waiting, preparing, the coming of Christ with readings from the Gospel of Luke, some familiar like John the Baptist and the annunciation to Mary. In our Advent Worship the readings, prayers, hymns, sermons will all reflect our hopeful expectations of the One who comes healing and renewing us.

 

Thought-provoking video to view
"The Advent Conspiracy" is available for viewing online [here]

 

Consider "good gifts" this Christmas
ELCA Good Gifts, the giving catalog of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, lifts up more than 65 gift ideas filled with meaning and love. ELCA Good Gifts are a special way you can help make a significant impact on the mission and ministries of our church while giving a gift to a friend, pastor, teacher, neighbor or other loved one [more information].

 

Each Sunday, the Advent wreath will be lit and an Advent litany is led by members of the
congregation.

First Sunday of Advent - November 27, 2011

Sunday Worship: 7:30, 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Holy Communion will celebrated at the 8:30 a.m. Service

Readings:
Isaiah 64:1-9
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37

Prayer of the Day
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection waken us to the threantening dangers of our sins, and keep us blameless until the coming of your new day, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Second Sunday of Advent - Dec. 4, 2011

Holy Communion will celebrated at all Services:
7:30, 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.

Readings:
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8

 

Prayer of the Day
Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming strengthen us to serve you with purified lives; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Third Sunday of Advent - Dec. 11, 2011

Sunday Worship: 7:30, 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Holy Communion will celebrated at the 7:30 a.m. Service

Readings:
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126 (3) or Luke 1:46b-55
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

 

Prayer of the Day
Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the words of your prophets, that, anointed by your Spirit, we may testify to your light; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Fourth Sunday of Advent - Dec. 18, 2011

Sunday Worship: 7:30, 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Holy Communion will celebrated at the 11:00 a.m. Service

Sunday School Christmas Program, Sunday afternoon, Dec. 18 more>>

Readings:
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Luke 1:46b-55
or Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38

Prayer of the Day
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that would obstruct your mercy, that willingly we may bear your redeeming love to all the world, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Advent Resources
Resources and materiels for Advent devotions are [here].

 

Links: Christmas Schedule

 

© 2010 St. Matthew's Ev. Lutheran Church 1615 Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53213 Phone: (414) 774-0441     Fax: (414) 774-0989 Email: office@stmattslutheran.org	Designed by St. Matthew's Communications Committee based on a design by Andreas Viklund JavaScript slideshow by BarelyFitz Designs DHTML scripts by Dynamic Drive