The Lessons Appointed for Use on the
First Sunday of Advent
Year C BCP

Zechariah 14:4-9
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-31
Psalm 50 or 50:1-6

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Zechariah 14:4-9

On the day of the LORD his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives, which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one half of the Mount shall withdraw northward, and the other half southward. And you shall flee by the valley of the LORD's mountain, for the valley between the mountains shall reach to Azal; and you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

On that day there shall not be either cold or frost. And there shall be continuous day (it is known to the LORD), not day and not night, for at evening time there shall be light.

On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea; it shall continue in summer as in winter.

And the LORD will become king over all the earth; on that day the LORD will be one and his name one.

Psalm 50 or 50:1-6 Page 654, BCP

Deus deorum

1

The LORD, the God of gods, has spoken; *
he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

2

Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, *
God reveals himself in glory.

3

Our God will come and will not keep silence; *
before him there is a consuming flame,
and round about him a raging storm.

4

He calls the heavens and the earth from above *
to witness the judgment of his people.

5

"Gather before me my loyal followers, *
those who have made a covenant with me
and sealed it with sacrifice."

6

Let the heavens declare the rightness of his cause; *
for God himself is judge.

7

Hear, O my people, and I will speak:
"O Israel, I will bear witness against you; *
for I am God, your God.

8

I do not accuse you because of your sacrifices; *
your offerings are always before me.

9

I will take no bull-calf from your stalls, *
nor he-goats out of your pens;

10

For all the beasts of the forest are mine, *
the herds in their thousands upon the hills.

11

I know every bird in the sky, *
and the creatures of the fields are in my sight.

12

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, *
for the whole world is mine and all that is in it.

13

Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls, *
or drink the blood of goats?

14

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and make good your vows to the Most High.

15

Call upon me in the day of trouble; *
I will deliver you, and you shall honor me."

16

But to the wicked God says: *
"Why do you recite my statutes,
and take my covenant upon your lips;

17

Since you refuse discipline, *
and toss my words behind your back?

18

When you see a thief, you make him your friend, *
and you cast in your lot with adulterers.

19

You have loosed your lips for evil, *
and harnessed your tongue to a lie.

20

You are always speaking evil of your brother *
and slandering your own mother's son.

21

These things you have done, and I kept still, *
and you thought that I am like you."

22

"I have made my accusation; *
I have put my case in order before your eyes.

23

Consider this well, you who forget God, *
lest I rend you and there be none to deliver you.

24

Whoever offers me the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me; *
but to those who keep in my way will I show the salvation of God."

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Luke 21:25-31

Jesus said, "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

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