Lessons for November 27, 2005 – First Sunday in Advent The first lesson Isaiah 64:1-9 Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down! How the mountains would quake in your presence! 2As fire causes wood to burn and water to boil, your coming would make the nations tremble. Then your enemies would learn the reason for your fame! 3When you came down long ago, you did awesome things beyond our highest expectations. And oh, how the mountains quaked! 4For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! 5You welcome those who cheerfully do good, who follow godly ways. But we are not godly. We are constant sinners, so your anger is heavy on us. How can people like us be saved? 6We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away. 7Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins. 8And yet, Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand. 9Oh, don't be so angry with us, Lord. Please don't remember our sins forever. Look at us, we pray, and see that we are all your people. (NLT) Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 L. Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Israel like a flock. C. O God, enthroned above the cherubim, display your radiant glory L. to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. C. Show us your mighty power. L. Come to rescue us! C. Turn us again to yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. L. Only then will we be saved. C. O Lord God Almighty, how long will you be angry and reject our prayers? L. You have fed us with sorrow and made us drink tears by the bucketful. C. You have made us the scorn of neighboring nations. L. Our enemies treat us as a joke. C. Turn us again to yourself, O God Almighty. L. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved. C. For we are chopped up and burned by our enemies. L. May they perish at the sight of your frown. C. Strengthen the man you love, the son of your choice. L. Then we will never forsake you again. C. Revive us so we can call on your name once more. (NLT) The second lesson 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you his grace and peace. 4I can never stop thanking God for all the generous gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5He has enriched your church with the gifts of eloquence and every kind of knowledge. 6This shows that what I told you about Christ is true. 7Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8He will keep you strong right up to the end, and he will keep you free from all blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (NLT) The Gospel Lesson Mark 13:24-37 24"But in those days, following that distress, "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' 26 "At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. 28 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 32 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back-- whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'" (NIV)