BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260727T050257UTC-7626bs3NZ2@https://messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260727T050257Z DESCRIPTION:We are a small church\, but big on Grace. We gather each Sunday at 11:00 am for worship by singing hymns\, hearing readings from the bibl e\, praying together and a celebration of Holy Communion. Communion is the spiritual bread our bodies need to live. All are invited to join us at th e Lord's table to be fed by his heavenly food\, There are no strangers in God’s house\, and if you choose to worship with us\, we would be honored b y your presence.\nIntroduction\nThe new church year begins with a wake-up call: Christ is coming soon! In today’s readings both Paul and Jesus chall enge us to wake from sleep\, for we know neither the day nor hour of the L ord’s coming. Isaiah proclaims the day when God will gather all people on the holy mountain and there will be no more war or suffering. Though we vi gilantly watch for the promised day of salvation\, we wait for what we alr eady have: Christ comes among us this day as the word and meal that streng thens our faith in the promises of God.\n \n \nPrayer of the Day\nStir up your power\, Lord Christ\, and come. By your merciful protection save us f rom the threatening dangers of our sins\, and enlighten our walk in the wa y of your salvation\, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit\, one God\, now and forever.\nAmen.\nFirst Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5\nT he visionary message presented in this reading focuses on a future day whe n God establishes a universal reign of peace. Divine decisions will make w ar obsolete\, and the worshiping community responds: “Let us walk in the l ight of that Lord now!”\n \nPsalm: 122\nI was glad when they said to me\, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” (Ps. 122:1)\n \nSecond Reading:  Rom ans 13:11-14\nPaul compares the advent of Christ to the coming of dawn. We live our lives today in light of Christ’s coming in the future.\n \nGospe l:  Matthew 24:36-44\nJesus describes his second coming as a sudden\, turb ulent event that will bring about deep change to our normal\, day-to-day l ives. Therefore\, he urges people to stay awake\, be aware\, and wait expe ctantly\, because the Son of Man will come unannounced. [Jesus said to the disciples\,]\n36  “About that day and hour no one knows\, neither the ang els of heaven\, nor the Son\, but only the Father.\n37  For as the days of Noah were\, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.\n38  For as in the d ays before the flood they were eating and drinking\, marrying and giving i n marriage\, until the day Noah entered the ark\,\n39  and they knew nothi ng until the flood came and swept them all away\, so\, too\, will be the c oming of the Son of Man.\n40  Then two will be in the field\; one will be taken\, and one will be left.\n41  Two women will be grinding meal togethe r\; one will be taken\, and one will be left.\n42  Keep awake\, therefore\ , for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.\n43  But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the t hief was coming\, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his ho use be broken into.\n44  Therefore you also must be ready\, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”\n*************************** **************\nAfter the Sermon\, Holy Communion will be offered. Come as you are\, the gift of the Table of the Lord has been prepared as Jesus ha s requested and now we are invited to the meal. Come to the table like Pet er\, with m ore enthusiasm than resolve and like James and John\, disappoi nted and the priorities of God’s reign. Come to the table like Martha\, ho sting and leading with confidence like Mary\, full of love and grief. Come to the table like Judas\, disillusioned and rebellious and like Mary Magd alene\, faithful till the end. Come to the table\, because it is God who i nvites us and it’s God’s will that those who want to should meet God here. \nBlessing for the day (Our blessing is an adaptation of a Franciscan Pray er)\nMay God bless us with discomfort at a Easy answers\, half truths and superficial leaderships so that we may live out God’s will deep in our hea rtland in our world.\nMay god bless with anger at injustice\, oppression a nd exploration and the environments that we may work for justice\, freedom and peace.\nMay God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain\, rejection\, hunger and war so that we may reach out with hands and hearts to help them\, walk with them and turn their pain into hope and jo y.\nAnd may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can ma ke a difference in this world\, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all children\, the p oor and all others in any need.\nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\nGo d be your hope and support\;\nGod be your light and your way\; and the ble ssing of God Creator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now an d forever. https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/599-first-sunday -of-advent-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20251130T160000Z DTEND:20251130T170000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:First Sunday of Advent - Year A - Worship Service - 11:00 AM Servi ce -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/599-first-sunday-of-adve nt-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR