Happy Advent! This Sunday we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, the first Sunday of a new church liturgical calendar (Year B). This liturgical year we will hear primarily from The Gospel of Mark.

Also, note that this Tuesday, December 1st, we are officially illuminating the Nativity Scene on our front lawn as part of the Light Up The Hills celebrations around Halton Hills. I have prepared a special video Blessing of the Nativity that will be available to view starting Tuesday evening.

Family Ministry

St. George’s families, this week our resources are a Family Page and a number of different activity pages for different ages based on the Gospel reading for this Sunday and the theme of “being ready for God.”  Please sign up for our weekly emails to get the links.  

Opening Music

For those who love to sing, this week suggest this grand version of “Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending.”

The Reading

The reading for the First Sunday of Advent is Mark 13:24-37:

“But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 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 to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”¹

Prayers and Message

And here is the link to the video of this Sunday’s Prayers and Message: 

Closing Music

The hymn I selected for this week is the hymn “People Look East.”

And the contemporary song for this week is a “Draw Me Close”

A blessed Advent to you and thank you so much for your continued support of the ministry and mission of St. George’s.

Be Well and God Bless.

Peace,

The Rev’d Canon Rob Park

P.S. If you are looking for even more church this Sunday be sure to check out our diocesan Facebook page and the diocesan YouTube page for more online worship.

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1. Scripture quotation is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.