THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
December 1 , 2024
GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY BE FOREVER!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
GETTING READY FOR SUNDAY: PREVIEW OF THE READINGS.
‘He came to us in great humility, and He will come again in majesty to judge the living and the dead.’ Our conviction concerning the person of Jesus Christ as expressed in the Advent Collect is presented to us in figural terms in today’s Gospel lesson where Jesus rides into Jerusalem in a donkey ( humility) and proceeds to clear the temple of the money changers. ( judgement). The Epistle lesson unpacks for us the meaning of Christ’s coming for spiritual life: love is the fulfilling of the commandments, which necessitates a disciplining of our sinful desires.
THE LESSON : Romans 13:8-14
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
THE GOSPEL : Matthew 21:1-13
And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Beth′phage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If any one says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass. ”The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee.” And Jesus entered the temple of God and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you make it a den of robbers.
PARISH LIFE NOTES
OPERATION ANDREW. On Saturday, November 30th at 5:00 p.m. there will be a service of Evening Prayer for St. Andrew’s Day. Following the example of St. Andrew, who became a disciple of Jesus, and went immediately told his brother Simon Peter about Jesus, this Advent you are invited to write down on the prayer cards available at St. Mary’s the names of people you would like God to draw to Christ in the fellowship of the Church. These will also be prayed for throughout the services at St. Mary’s this Advent.
STEWARDSHIP UPDATE. Last Sunday a total of 21 pledges for a total of $56,740 were offered up in prayer and thanksgiving to God. If you have not returned your pledge form yet, please do so as soon possible.
Almighty God, giver of every good and perfect gift, as we offer to you our pledges for the coming year, teach us to render to you all that we have and all that we are, that we may praise you, not with our lips only, but with our whole lives, turning the duties, the sorrows, and the joys of all our days into a living sacrifice to you;through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
VESTRY MEETING follows the service today in the Lower hall.
2025 DONATIONS PLANS. Please let Blair know if you would like to change how you donate next year. Envelopes are available for weekly and monthly donations. Monthly Automatic withdrawals can be set up for your bank account. Or you can donate any time via e-transfer. Thanks.
BIRTHDAY PARTY INVITATION to celebrate the birthdays of Katherine and Lyndon at Malty National Brewpub at 1130 15th Avenue on December 14th, 2024 from 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.. Join us for drinks, snacks and games. There are alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available. You are also free to bring a favorite takeout treat or meal for yourself. Families with children are welcome as there are plenty of games available.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
- Morning Prayer at 8.30 a.m.
Wednesday
- Morning Prayer at 9.10 a.m. (shortened)
- Holy Communion at 9.30 a.m.
- Evening Prayer at 5.30 p.m.