Call to Worship First Sunday in Advent

Would you now please stand if you are able and join us in our call to worship.

Responsive Reading

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

For to us a child is born,

To us a son is given

And the government shall be upon his shoulder,

His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

But to the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,

On the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

Praise our King forever!

Amen and Amen!

Commentary

This first Sunday of Advent we are remembering the Prophets. In the Old Testament the role of prophet was someone who was a spokesman for God. They had the charge and responsibility to deliver God’s word to the people. Even in the midst of judgement the prophets brought a message of hope. This hope was not for the Israelites alone but for the whole world over. As we read in the words of Isaiah that hope would become known as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Immanuel. A babe born of a virgin that we would come to know as Jesus the Christ.

Prayer

Father, we thank you for this day and we thank you for this season when we take the time to focus in on the coming of Your Son Jesus in to the world. Lord, we are thankful for the message of hope that the prophets of long ago spoke on Your behalf, and how we can now look and see how those prophecies were fulfilled by the life and death of Jesus. As we enter into this coming Christmas season and New Year, Father let us become like those men and women of old who spread a message of hope, the hope found in Your Son Jesus the Christ.

In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.