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The season of Advent, which begins the Church Year, can be said to focus on Jesus’s comings more than any other season of the Church Year. We can think of Jesus’s past coming in the flesh of the Virgin Mary to die for our sins, of His coming to us now in Word and Sacrament (especially with His Body and Blood in the Sacrament of the Altar), and of His coming a final time in glory on the Last Day to judge the living and the dead. With expectant faith and certain hope (reflected in the season’s blue paraments) the Church cries, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). And, our coming Lord hears those cries. As He came once in time, He comes to us now, and He will come again.

The Sundays of Advent 2015 are as follows (with their Gospel Readings according to Lutheran Service Book’s Three-year Lectionary: Series C, which largely uses the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke):

  • First Sunday (11/29): Jesus affirms the witness of stone-like people crying (Luke 19:28-40)
  • Second Sunday (12/06): Jesus’s Way is prepared by John the Baptizer (Luke 3:1-14)
  • Third Sunday (12/13): Jesus speaks of who is great in His Kingdom (Luke 7:18-28)
  • Fourth Sunday (12/20): Jesus causes joy even before His birth (Luke 1:39-45)

During Advent, we also have four Midweek Advent Vespers services at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday nights (12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23). In those services, in addition to hearing somewhat traditional readings for the services, we will reflect on and use the historic Collects for the season of Advent, with their special petitions connected to the coming of our Lord Jesus.

Everyone is always welcome in person at Pilgrim Lutheran Church to hear God’s Word and so let Him prepare us for the comings of our King! If you cannot make it in person, you can listen to recordings of the sermons here. For more information about Advent, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, and the like, please use the Contact Information at right.

The image of the candle in the banner graphic on the top of this page and the slider graphic on the main page is from the pulpit parament in use at Pilgrim Lutheran Church. The quotation is from Revelation 22:20 (ESV). The graphics were composed by Carla Adsit, to whom we here express our appreciation.