1st Sunday of Advent (NL313)

Color: Blue
Closest RCL Sunday(s): N/A
Gospel Text: Luke 23:1-5
Sermon Text: Daniel 6:6-27 (Daniel’s Hope in God)
Other Text Suggestions: Psalm 25, Romans 5:1-8
Prayer of the Day (WP): God of deliverance, you rescued Daniel from the mouths of the lions when he was punished for worshiping you. Liberate all who are endangered for the sake of their faith, and rescue us from anything that separates us from worshiping only you, for the sake of the one who made your name known to all people, across land and seas, Jesus Christ, our redeemer. Amen.

Helpful Resources: re:Worship,  revgalblog, TextWeek,  Word&World, BibleHub

Suggested hymns based on the Sermon text:

ELW #337. Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed
ELW #250. Blessed Be the God of Israel
ELW #354. Calvary (Every Time I Think about Jesus)
ELW #662. Christ is the King!
ELW #339. Christ, the Life of All the Living
ELW #245. Creator of the Stars of Night
ELW #347. Go to Dark Gethsemane
ELW #311. Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
ELW #616. Jesus, Remember Me
ELW #343. My Song Is Love Unknown
ELW #322. Oh, Love How Deep
ELW #418. Rejoice in God’s Saints
ELW #623. Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
ELW #667. Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said
ELW #569. The Day You Gave Us, Lord, Has Ended
ELW #320. The Glory of These Forty Days (vv.3-4)
ELW #803. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
ELW #825. You Servants of God
WOV #671. Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks
Various Hymnals Dare to Be a Daniel (1873) by P. P. Bliss
Various Hymnals God, We Pray at This Beginning (1992) by Christopher Redmond
Various Hymnals Las primicias del día (1980) by Brus del Monte
Various Hymnals We Have a Gospel to Proclaim (1968) by Edward Burns
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship;  LBW=Lutheran Book of Worship; WOV=With One Voice)

Other (mostly contemporary) options based on both:

“Better Is One Day” By Matt Redman.
“Let Our Faith Be Not Alone” By Robbie Seay, Ryan Owens, et al.
“More Than Conquerors” As performed by Rend collective.
“You Are Good” By Israel Houghton.
More contemporary suggestions here.

Prayers of Intercession:

(Introduction and Conclusion from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002)

We seek the mighty God in the most unlikely places as a child in a stable, and in an empty tomb. May God hear these prayers, which come from the unlikely corners of our lives.

A brief silence.

God, we pray that you deliver the church from hypocrisy, timidity, and judgmentalism; increase our trust in your Spirit, active in our words and deeds. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God, we pray that you deliver creation from exploitation and destruction; lift up advocates and protectors of the wild places of the world. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God, we pray that you deliver the nations from violence and injustice; grant wisdom and compassion to all leaders of tribes and peoples. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God, we pray that you deliver those battling loneliness and fear; help us to see the hidden needs of our neighbors and to reach out in love and grace. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God, we pray that you deliver those enduring illness and disease; rain down your healing power upon all those who need it. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God, we pray that you deliver us from apathy and lethargy; grant us boldness of speech and action on behalf of the Gospel. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

God, we give you thanks for all those who have gone before us and whose lives have proven your great faithfulness and deliverance. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give us ears to hear, O God, and eyes to watch, that we may know your presence in our midst during this holy season of joy as we anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ. Amen.