BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20261111T050517UTC-6555NnUauM@https://messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20261111T050517Z DESCRIPTION: \nWe gather each Sunday at 11:00 am for worship by singing hym ns\, hearing readings from the bible\, praying together and a celebration of Holy Communion. Communion is the spiritual bread our bodies need to liv e. All are invited to join us at the Lord's table to be fed by his heavenl y food\, There are no strangers in God’s house\, and if you choose to wors hip with us\, we would be honored by your presence.\n \nIntroduction to to days service.\nStir up your power\, and come! The psalmist’s plea in Psalm 80:2 has become familiar to us in the Advent prayers. Isaiah wants God to rip the heavens open. Both cry out for an apparently distant\, angry God to show up\, to save\, to restore. When we hear Jesus describing the comin g of the Son of Man with stars falling from heaven\, it can sound dire and horrible\, not like anything we would ever hope for. But when we really l ook at the suffering of people God loves\, we can share the hope that God would tear open the heavens and come.\n \nPrayer of the Day\nStir up your power\, Lord Christ\, and come. By your merciful protection awaken us to t he threatening dangers of our sins\, and keep us blameless until the comin g of your new day\, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Sp irit\, one God\, now and forever.\nAmen.\nFirst Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9\nTh is lament comes from a people who have had their hopes shattered. The visi ons of a rebuilt Jerusalem and a renewed people of God\, spoken of in Isai ah 40–55\, have not been realized. Instead\, the people experience ruin\, conflict\, and famine. This lament calls God to account—to be the God who has brought deliverance in the past.\nPsalm: 80:1-7\, 17-19\nLet your face shine upon us\, and we shall be saved. (Ps. 80:7)\n \nSecond Reading:  1 Corinthians 1:3-9\nAs the Christians in Corinth await the advent of Jesus\ , Paul reminds them how the Lord has already enriched them through spiritu al gifts and will continue to strengthen them until the coming day of the Lord.\nGospel:  Mark 13:24-37\nJesus encourages his followers to look forw ard to the day when he returns in power and glory to end all suffering. [J esus said:]\n24 “In those days\, after that suffering\,  the sun will be d arkened\,   and the moon will not give its light\,  \n25 and the stars wil l be falling from heaven\,   and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. \n26 “Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great powe r and glory.\n27  Then he will send out the angels and gather the elect fr om the four winds\, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.  \n2 8  “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tend er and puts forth its leaves\, you know that summer is near.\n29  So also\ , when you see these things taking place\, you know that he is near\, at t he very gates.\n30  Truly I tell you\, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.\n31  Heaven and earth will pass a way\, but my words will not pass away.  \n32  “But about that day or hour no one knows\, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son\, but only the Fat her.\n33  Beware\, keep alert\, for you do not know when the time will com e.\n34  It is like a man going on a journey\, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge\, each with his work\, and commands the doorkeeper t o be on the watch.\n35  Therefore\, keep awake\, for you do not know when the master of the house will come\, in the evening or at midnight or at co ckcrow or at dawn\,\n36  or else he may find you asleep when he comes sudd enly.\n37  And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”\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 has requested and now we are invited to the meal. Come to the table like Peter\, with more enthusiasm than resolve and like James and John\, disappointed and the priorities of God’s reign. Come to the table like Martha\, hosting and leading with conf idence like Mary\, full of love and grief. Come to the table like Judas\, disillusioned and rebellious and like Mary Magdalene\, faithful till the e nd. Come to the table\, because it is God who invites us and it’s God’s wi ll that those who want to should meet God here.\nBlessing for the day (Our blessing is an adaptation of a Franciscan Prayer)\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 heartland in our world.\nMay g od bless with anger at injustice\, oppression and exploration and the envi ronments 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 joy.\nAnd may God bless us wi th enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this wor ld\, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. To bring justice\ , peace\, hope and love to all children\, the poor and all others in any n eed.\nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\nGod be your hope and support\ ;\nGod be your light and your way\; and the blessing of God Creator\, Rede emer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. https://messiaho fthemountains.org/events/event/714-first-sunday-of-advent-year-b-worship-s ervice-11-00-am-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20261129T160000Z DTEND:20261129T170000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:First Sunday of Advent -- Year B - Worship Service 11:00 am - 12:0 0 PM Service -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/714-first-sunday-of-adve nt-year-b-worship-service-11-00-am-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR