November 30, 2025

THE SERVICE

FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT—IMMINENT ARRIVAL OF THE KING

Do you remember the feeling when someone important is about to arrive at your place? It’s a mixture of anticipation and excitement and nervousness. Did you make all the correct preparations? Will the person be happy to see you? When and how will the person arrive? Will there be any surprises?

During these weeks before Christmas, we anticipate the imminent arrival of Jesus. He’s an important person! We are about to celebrate his birth. He could return on judgment day at any time. But in worship we realize that he impacts our lives when the Bible is read and when the sacraments are administered. Suddenly we feel the excitement of an imminent arrival.

The king is an important person. His arrival at our place can mean something quite different to us depending on our relationship with him. We might fear his arrival if we expect him to punish us. We might welcome his arrival if we expect him to validate us. Either way, we expect his arrival to be a big deal. How would it make us feel if we heard that his arrival would be informal and familiar?

Advent marks the start of a new Church Year. We begin at the end, watching King Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, knowing full well that he will be killed before the end of the week. The events of Palm Sunday serve as a microcosm for all Jesus’ work, proving the King of the universe was willing to humble himself and endure anything for our salvation. That is precisely why Christ came. That is why we anticipate his imminent arrival not with worry but with joy.

OPENING HYMN 921 Come, Thou Almighty King

1 Come, thou almighty King,
help us thy name to sing;
help us to praise.
Father all-glorious,
o’er all victorious,
come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.

2 Come, thou incarnate Word,
gird on thy mighty sword;
our prayer attend.
Come and thy people bless,
and give thy Word success,
and let thy righteousness
on us descend.

3        Come, holy Comforter,
thy sacred witness bear
    in this glad hour!
Thou, who almighty art,
now rule in ev’ry heart,
and ne’er from us depart,
    Spirit of pow’r.

4       To thee, great One in Three,
eternal praises be
    hence evermore!
Thy sov’reign majesty
may we in glory see,
and to eternity
    love and adore.

Text: English, c. 1757, abr., alt.
Text: Public domain

Please Stand

INVOCATION 154 Setting One

In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

CONFESSION

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Let us confess our sins to the Lord.
Holy God, gracious Father,
    I am sinful by nature
        and have sinned against you in my thoughts, words, and actions.
    I have not loved you with my whole heart;
    I have not loved others as I should.
        I deserve your punishment both now and forever.
    But Jesus, my Savior, paid for my sins
        with his innocent suffering and death.
    Trusting in him, I pray: God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Silence for meditation and reflection

ABSOLUTION 154

Our gracious Father in heaven has been merciful to us. He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

KYRIE 156 Lord, Have Mercy

In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES

We light one Advent candle, remembering Jesus, who is coming again. He will come to gather his people from everywhere, both the living and the dead.

We remember Jesus, who will come at the end of time. None of us know what day that will be.

We hear his call to watch.

We light one Advent candle as a sign of our watchfulness and waiting.

Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.

Through your Word and Spirit may our souls be blessed.

One Advent candle is lit.

THE WORD

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray.

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.

Be seated

FIRST READING Isaiah 2:1–5

In the future, when our King arrives again, he will transform this world.

1This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2In the last days

the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.

3Many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.

5Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING Philippians 4:4–7

Our present life is transformed from nervousness to excitement and joy because of the arrival of the King.

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Please Stand

GOSPEL (in English and Karen) Matthew 21:1–11

The King of all creation arrives in total humility, willing to do everything necessary to save us from the consequences of our sin.

1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5“Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise be to you, O Christ!

Be seated

CHILDREN'S MESSAGE

HYMN OF THE DAY All Glory, Laud, and Honor

1 All glory, laud, and honor
    to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
    made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the King of Israel
    and David’s royal Son,
now in the Lord’s name coming,
    our King and Blessèd One.

2 “Hosanna in the highest
    That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer,
    the Lord of heav’n our King.
Oh, may we ever praise him
    with heart and life and voice
And in his royal presence
    eternally rejoice

3        Redeemed, restored, forgiven
    through Jesus’ precious blood,
Heirs of his home in heaven—
    oh, praise our pard’ning God!
Praise him in tuneful measures
    who gave his Son to die;
Praise him whose sev’n-fold treasures
    enrich and sanctify.

4 In our fair home shall never
    be silent music’s voice;
With heart and lips forever
    we shall in God rejoice,
The company of angels
    is praising you on high,
and we with all creation
    in chorus make reply.

5       Then let us praise the Father
    and worship God the Son
And sing to God the Spirit,
    eternal Three in One
Till all the ransomed number
    who stand before the throne
Ascribe all pow’r and glory
    and praise to God alone.

Text: Johann Walter, 1496-1570; (sts. 1, 4): Theodulph of Orleans, c. 762-821; (st. 2): Jeannette Threlfall, 1821-80; (st. 3): Henry W. Baker, 1821-77; (st. 5): Horatio B. Nelson, 1823-1913
Text: Public domain

SERMON

Please Stand

CONFESSION OF FAITH Nicene Creed 325 & 381 AD

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Be seated

OFFERING PRESENTED BEFORE THE ALTAR

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

O Lord, establish your kingdom in this world by the proclamation of your Word that the nations may stream to you. Teach us your ways so that we may walk in your paths.