Happy New Church Year!
The Christian church follows a calendar based on the orbit of the Christian life around the Son of God, rather than following the calendar based on the orbit of planet Earth around the sun. The first big event of the church calendar is Christmas and we use the four Sundays preceding that to get ready. Thus the Christian church year begins this Sunday, December 3, with the First Sunday of Advent.
The word ‘Advent’ is Latin for ‘arrival’ or ‘coming,’ so these next four weeks of the church year proclaim the various arrivals or comings of Jesus.
We are both looking back to Christ’s first coming as a baby born in Bethlehem, as well as looking forward to his second coming at the end of time, when he will return to renew and redeem every part of fallen creation. Since his second coming is a time of judgment, we are also looking today for him to come to us first in grace through his word and sacraments. Therefore we speak of Christ’s “three-fold coming” during the season of Advent.
The Advent season is a time to reflect upon the promises of God and to long for the fulfillment of those promises. It is a time for repentance, rejoicing, and anticipation.
The Prayers for the Day on each Sunday in Advent are 1,000 year old prayers said by many believers even during the week. Children would take turns reciting them as they lit the candles on the Advent wreath.
- Prayer of the Day for the First Sunday in Advent: “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. Amen.”
- Prayer of the Day for the Second Sunday in Advent: “Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son. By his coming give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”
- Prayer of the Day for the Third Sunday in Advent: “Hear our prayers, Lord Jesus Christ, and come with the good news of your mighty deliverance. Drive the darkness from our hearts and fill us with your light; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”
- Prayer of the Day for the Fourth Sunday in Advent: “Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Take away the burden of our sins and make us ready for the celebration of your birth, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”