WORSHIP This Week

On Sundays, we gather for worship at 8:30 and 10:00 am. The 10:00 am service is livestreamed; the video is also recorded so you may watch at any time. We also worship on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm.
Bible Readings and Prayers of the People for December 3

FIRST READING: Isaiah 64:1-9
    1O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
  so that the mountains would quake at your presence--
 2as when fire kindles brushwood
  and the fire causes water to boil--
 to make your name known to your adversaries,
  so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
 3When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
  you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
 4From ages past no one has heard,
  no ear has perceived,
 no eye has seen any God besides you,
  who works for those who wait for him.
 5You meet those who gladly do right,
  those who remember you in your ways.
 But you were angry, and we sinned;
  because you hid yourself we transgressed.
 6We have all become like one who is unclean,
  and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
 We all fade like a leaf,
  and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
 7There is no one who calls on your name,
  or attempts to take hold of you;
 for you have hidden your face from us,
  and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
 8Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
  we are the clay, and you are our potter;
  we are all the work of your hand.
 9Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord,
  and do not remember iniquity forever.
  Now consider, we are all your people.

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 
     3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 4I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind--6just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you--7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

GOSPEL READING: Mark 13:24-37
   Jesus said: 24“In those days, after that suffering,
 the sun will be darkened,
  and the moon will not give its light,
 25and the stars will be falling from heaven,
  and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27Then 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.
 28“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. 29So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
 32“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34It 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. 35Therefore, 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, 36or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
Prayers of the People
With hope and expectation, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all who await God’s day of restoration.
 
Come, Emmanuel, forge your church into holy fellowship as we await the restoration of all things. Reenergize your faithful people to live with hope and compassion and center us on your promise to come among us and make all things new. We pray especially for the Episcopal Church USA and Lutheran Services of Iowa. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
 
Come, Emmanuel, and reveal your love in the wonder of creation, the vastness of the cosmos, the turn of the seasons, and living things that both rest and flourish. Rekindle our commitment to care for the earth. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
 
Come, Emmanuel, and let the nations tremble at your holy presence, that justice and liberation prevail in all corners of the earth. Restore peace to nations in conflict, teach righteousness to corrupt leaders and systems, and bring stability to areas facing uncertain futures. We pray for Malawi and Mozambique, for Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
 
Come, Emmanuel, and enrich the spirits of all who feel hopeless, fearful, or despairing. Stay close to those who await healing or relief. Deliver all in any need. Embrace the homebound, especially Elverna Buttz. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
 
Come, Emmanuel, and bless the newborn, especially Billie Lynn Nash and her parents, Jonathan and Haleigh; guide the newly baptized, especially Cameron Angrick and Ellis Peterson. Give us generous hearts as we make commitments to support the mission of our congregation. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
 
Come, Emmanuel. You have gathered your faithful people from every time and place, calling them into one fellowship of saints. Bless the witness of those who dwell in your eternal presence, especially Francis Xavier, missionary, Nicholas of Smyrna, and Ambrose of Milan, bishops. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
 
Listen to these and all our prayers, O God of hosts, and restore us with your great and everlasting mercy.
Amen.
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