Stand

Prepare the Way Worship Series: STAND
First Sunday of Advent — December 2, 2018

Planning for this Series

The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the Christian year. In 2015, Taylor Burton-Edwards wrote this:

“The word Advent comes from the Latin verb advenire, which means "to come toward, to draw near, to approach." During Advent, we remember and celebrate God's drawing near to us in Jesus Christ, but primarily in the promise of his second coming to bring the promise of the kingdom of God and the renewal of all things to culmination.”

For the series “Prepare the Way,” we decided to use two of the lectionary texts for every week except the Sunday after Christmas. We were called to the traditional Luke texts that present Advent and the Christmas story in a familiar way. We were also called to the prophets of the Old Testament and how their words and stories connected with story of the coming of Christ. We hope that in your church, you will use both sets of texts to illuminate your Advent season. This first week, the theme word is “Stand.” We pulled this verb from the end of the Luke text, when we are called to stand up when the Son of Man will come on a cloud.

This year, Advent begins with the roaring of the seas, and ends with words of hope and blessing. Consider having different voices read the two Scripture passages in worship, from different places in the congregation. Perhaps the gospel is read traditionally from the lectern, but the prophets speak from the back. Or the prophet may be pre-recorded. Keep the tension of the words from the gospel and the Old Testament in mind as you choose music, art, and ritual for the season.