Notable Feast Days this Week:

November 25 - Catherine, Alexandria, 313
November 26 - Peter, Bishop of Alexandria, 311 (Roman)
November 27 - James the Persian, c. 421
November 28 - Stephen the Younger
November 29 - Noah (Lutheran)
November 30 - St. Andrew, Apostle
December 1 - The Prophet Nahum
December 1 - First Sunday of Advent (Western)

Revised Common Lectionary

Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:36-44


Daily Readings (RCL)
Liturgical Color - Purple/Blue

----- First Sunday of Advent ----- December 1, 2019 (Year A)
Keep Watch and Walk Towards the Light
"Scripture tells us that we are forgiven! It calls us to walk in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:1-5), to pray for peace (Psalm 122) and to keep watch for Christ's return (Matthew 24:36-44), putting aside our deeds of darkness and living in the light (Romans 13:11-14). In this season of Advent, we celebrate the Child who is the Light. We thank God for the forgiveness of sins and reaffirm our desire to walk with the Lord." - Thomas Oden in Ancient Christian Devotional
Advent 2019
“Coming” or “Arrival”
 
During Advent, the Church turns its gaze toward the first and second comings of Jesus Christ. This season is an opportunity for Christians to prepare themselves for Christmas through longing and a renewed desire for God's rule in the midst of everyday life. Advent practices of prayer and repentance look back to remember the faithfulness of God revealed through the birth of Jesus, and forward to, “...the blessed hope of His glorious appearing." The story of our redemption starts with waiting and expectation.  
 
"The church prepares our devotion before Christmas Day with four Sundays in Advent, which bring Christ nearer and nearer to us and remind us that he is coming to enable us by a further examination of ourselves to depart in peace, because our eyes have seen his salvation." —John Donne, from “The Showing Forth of Christ”
Advent Resources
A New Year

A new year starts this week! Download a free single sheet liturgical calendar for 2019-2020. This resource was created by San Fransisco artist Barbara Lyon. Many thanks for her permission to use this wonderful resource. She has been a wonderful friend to The Liturgy Letter over the years! Read the artist's statement here.
Also, Liturgy Letter highly recommends ordering the Christian Seasons Calendar to aid in guiding you and your family through the Christian Year. This art-filled resource is an excellent catalyst for orienting life around Jesus and the "world's true story." 

Find more information on the Christian Year here.
Colors and Symbolism
  • Purple: Communicates the majesty that heralds the coming of the King of Kings and the waiting that precedes it.  
  • Green: An ancient symbol of immortality, life, and growth in Christ.
  • Circle: Symbolizes the eternal transcendence of God and life in Christ
  • Light: A symbol of God's presence
  • Darkness: A symbol of God's absence. Darkness is overcome by the arrival of Christ the Messiah (Isaiah 9:2, Romans 13:12). It also reminds us that we still wait for his Second Advent.
Thanksgiving Day (November 28)

A Prayer of Thanksgiving (from The Book of Common Prayer)
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
Psalm of the Week
Scripture Readings

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem...



Commentary on Psalm 122
AugustineCalvinSpurgeon,
Benedict XVI


Audio
Psalm 122, Isaiah 2,
Romans 13, Matthew 24

Spotify Playlist
Psalm 122

Isaiah 2:1-5
From war to peace

Romans 13:11-14
Salvation is near, wake from sleep

Matthew 24:36-44
Salvation comes
 
Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

Bible in a Year
Chronological
Lectionary Resources
“To teach us that our ignorance of the date of his return (which his silence has kept hidden from everyone) is not without its usefulness, Christ warns us to keep all his commandments. We should also be occupied with constant prayer in order to guard against the coming of the thief. For the thief is the devil who seeks to invade our bodily homes with the darts of his thoughts and allurements in order to ruin us while we are sleepy and careless. It is good therefore that we be prepared. Our ignorance of the day of Christ’s return should provoke us to be careful as we eagerly await his coming." 
-Hilary of Poitiers
Collect for the First Week of Advent 
 
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 forever. Amen. -from The Book of Common Prayer
Singing Psalms and Hymns
Hymn Suggestions for the First Week of Advent from Hymnary.org 

Singing Scripture: Suggestions for singing the readings for Advent and Christmas 

Hymns related to Psalm 122 from Hymnary.com

CCLI Contemporary Liturgy Song Select 

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus | by Charles Wesley (1744)

Veiled in Darkness Judah Lay | Leadsheets

Advent Hymn (The Lord Has Come to Dwell) | by Sarah Majorins | Leadsheet | Capo 

Savior of the Nations, Come | Leadsheet

Ready the Way | by Curtis Stephan | Leadsheets

Wait for the Lord | Taize Melody | Leadsheet 

Come Light Our Hearts | by Sandra McCraken | Leadsheet

The Day of the Lord (Psalm 37) | by Wendell Kimbrough | Leadsheets


Waiting for You | by The Many

Psalm 122 Refrain | from The Emergent Psalter Leadsheet

Psalm 122 | Metrical Options


Free Psalm 122 Choral Scores
Music for Listening
Thematic Art 
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