. . . or the First  Sunday of the Seven-week Advent

Collect: Proper 27

O God, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might  destroy the works of the devil and make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life:  Grant us , we beseech thee, that having this hope, we may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that, when he shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth ever, one God, world without end.  Amen

-Or-

Collect: Prayer for the First Sunday of the Seven-week Advent

Eternal God, your Word of wisdom goes forth and does not return empty: Grant us such knowledge and love of you that we may percieve your presence and all creation and every creature; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, now and forever. Amen.

Haggai 1:15-2:9 . . . Haggai summons Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and Joshua, the high priest, to attend to the reconstruction of the temple in Jerusalem, laid to waste some fifty years earlier.

Psalm 145:1-15, 17-21 . . . Praise to the Lord, who is mighty in deeds yet tender and compassionate

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 . . . a correction to a misunderstanding about the day of the Lord,” which some in the early Christian community feared had already arrived

Luke 20:27-38 . . . the Sadducees ask a question about the resurrection.  Jesus replies that resurrection means a different existence from earthly life, and that it depends on a God who has a personal and living relationship with all people

Sermon

Ryan Ahlgrim, Pastor of First Mennonite Church in Richmond, Virginia,  asks, “Is it either you trust in life after death or you’re committed to living out God’s reign now on Earth?” In his sermon, Ahlgrim shows us that “these two things that we trust in and do are intimately connected with each other.” Listen as he explains the relationship between these two priorities and how it affects our lives as believers.