November 30, 2025 - First Sunday in Advent

WELCOME It is a joy to worship with all of you! May God bless our time together. OPENING HYMN: 220 — O’er the Distant Mountains Breaking THE ORDER OF WORSHIP: page 38 — Service of the Word THE PRAYER OF THE DAY Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Protect us by your strength and save us from the threatening dangers of our sins; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: (sung) Amen. OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Isaiah 2:1-5 1 This is the message that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 This will take place in the latter days: The mountain of the Lord’s house will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it like a river. 3Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. Then he will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For from Zion the law will go out, and the Lord’s word will go out from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations, and he will mediate for many peoples. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into blades for trimming vines. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they learn war anymore. 5O house of Jacob, come, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. RESPONSIVE PSALM OF THE DAY: Psalm 18 P: The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. C: He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he rescued me from my powerful enemy. P: He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. C: You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. P: You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. C: You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me. All: The mighty Lord is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Romans 13:11-14 11 And do this since you understand the present time. It is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost over, and the day is drawing near. So let us put away the deeds of darkness and put on the weapons of light. 13 Let us walk decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual sin and wild living, not in strife and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not give any thought to satisfying the desires of your sinful flesh. VERSE OF THE DAY: Revelation 22:20 Alleluia. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Alleluia. GOSPEL: Matthew 24:36-44 36 “No one knows when that day and hour will be, not the angels of heaven, not even the Son, but only the Father. 37 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be when the Son of Man returns. 38 In fact, in the days before the flood people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the very day that Noah entered the ark. 39 And they did not realize what was coming until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man returns. 40 “At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 So be alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: If the master of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 You also need to be ready for this reason: The Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect him. HYMN OF THE DAY: 2 vs. 1-3 — Savior of the Nations, Come CHILDREN'S MESSAGE HYMN OF THE DAY: 2 vs. 4, 5 — Savior of the Nations, Come SERMON: Romans 13:11-14 The Keys Are in the Lock APOSTLES’ CREED OFFERING THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH AND THE LORD’S PRAYER HYMN: 26 — Jesus Came, the Heavens Adoring CLOSING PRAYER AND BLESSING CLOSING HYMN: 22 — O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide Used with permission through our CCLI Copyright License #21115061 and Streaming License #21115078. Streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-700000.