FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT SUNDAY FIRST READING

      “The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘ when I will fulfill  the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. 

      ” ‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.

       In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.’

Jeremiah 33:14-16

Holy Land Adult Forum

You are invited to join Pastor Jen and others as they share their experiences from the Holy Land. Cookies and traditional foods from the Holy Land will be shared. Discussion will be in the basement at 11:30 am on December 16th.

CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY GOSPEL READING

     Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

     “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked “or did others talk to you about me?”

     Jesus asked”Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

     Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servantswould fight to preventmy arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

     “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

     Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

John 18:33-37

CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY SECOND READING

John,

     To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

     Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

      To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father — to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

      Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

     “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 1:4-8

CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY PSALM READING

     The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

     Your  throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.

     The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.

     Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea — the Lord on high is mighty.

     Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord.

Psalm 93

CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY FIRST READING

     “As I looked,

      “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.

     “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Daniel 7:9-10,13-14

 

TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST GOSPEL READING

     As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher!” What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Mark 13:1-8

TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST SECOND READING

     Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

      The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the convenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

      Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promisd is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:11-14{15-18},19-25