First Sunday of Advent	November 29, 2026
Prayer of the Day
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come, that by your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by your mighty deliverance; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9
1Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence — 2as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil — to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! 3When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 4From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. 5You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? 6We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. 8But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.
Psalm 80:1-7
1Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph | like a flock;*
	shine forth, you that are enthroned up- | on the cherubim.
2In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, | and Manasseh,*
	stir up your strength and | come to help us.
3Restore us, O | God of hosts;*
	show the light of your countenance, and we | shall be saved.
4O Lord | God of hosts,*
	how long will you be angered despite the prayers | of your people?
5You have fed them with the | bread of tears;*
	you have given them bowls of | tears to drink.
6You have made us the derision | of our neighbors,*
	and our enemies laugh | us to scorn.
7Restore us, O | God of hosts;*
	show the light of your countenance, and we | shall be saved.
Psalm 80:1-7 (ESV)
1Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us!
3Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!
4O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
5You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves.
7Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!
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 was given you in Christ Jesus, 5that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge — 6even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you — 7so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gospel: Mark 13:24-37
24{Jesus said,} “In those days, after that tribulation, 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. 26And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27And 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. 28From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out 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 say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard, keep awake. 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 servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35Therefore stay awake — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning — 36lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Next Week’s Readings:
Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8

Second Sunday of Advent	December 6, 2026
Prayer of the Day
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of your only-begotten Son, that by his coming we may be enabled to serve you with pure minds; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11
1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 3A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 9Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” 10Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
Psalm 85
1You have been gracious to your | land, O Lord,*
	you have restored the good for- | tune of Jacob.
2You have forgiven the iniquity | of your people*
	and blotted out | all their sins.
3You have withdrawn | all your fury*
	and turned yourself from your wrathful | indignation.
4Restore us then, O | God our Savior;*
	let your anger de- | part from us.
5Will you be displeased with | us forever?*
	will you prolong your anger from | age to age?
6Will you not give us | life again,*
	that your people may re- | joice in you?
7Show us your mer- | cy, O Lord,*
	and grant us | your salvation.
8I will listen to what the Lord | God is saying,*
	for he is speaking peace to his faithful people and to those who turn their | hearts to him.
9Truly, his salvation is very near to | those who fear him,*
	that his glory may dwell | in our land.
10Mercy and truth have | met together;*
	righteousness and peace have | kissed each other.
11Truth shall spring up | from the earth,*
	and righteousness shall look | down from heaven.
12The Lord will indeed | grant prosperity,*
	and our land will | yield its increase.
13Righteousness shall | go before him,*
	and peace shall be a pathway | for his feet.
Psalm 85 (ESV)
1 Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. 
3You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.
4Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!
5Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
7Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
8Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.
9Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
10Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
13Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.
Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-14
8Do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
Gospel: Mark 1:1-8
1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” 4John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Next Week’s Readings:
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Third Sunday of Advent	December 13, 2026
Prayer of the Day
Lord Jesus Christ, give ear to our prayers, and lighten the darkness of our hearts by your gracious visitation; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
1“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3to grant to those who mourn in Zion — to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. 4They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. 
8“For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed. 10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.”
Psalm 126*
1When the Lord restored the for- | tunes of Zion,*
	then were we like | those who dream.
2Then was our mouth | filled with laughter,*
	and our tongue with | shouts of joy.
3Then they said a- | mong the nations,*
	“The Lord has done great | things for them.”
4The Lord has done great | things for us,*
	and we are | glad indeed.
5Restore our for- | tunes, O Lord,*
	like the watercourses | of the Negev.
6Those who | sowed with tears*
	will reap with | songs of joy.
7Those who go out weeping, carry- | ing the seed,*
	will come again with joy, shoulder- | ing their sheaves.
Psalm 126 (ESV)
1When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
2Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
3The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.
4Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb!
5Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
6He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil. 23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 
19And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Next Week’s Readings:
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Psalm 89:1-5 [19-29]; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38
* The Book of Common Prayer verse numbers for this psalm are different from the numbering in the ESV. 

Fourth Sunday of Advent	December 20, 2026
Prayer of the Day
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. With your great might, give us your help, that whatever is hindered by our sins may be speedily accomplished by your grace; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
1When the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 3And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” 4But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” 8Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.
16‘“And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”
Psalm 89:1-5 [19-29] 
1Your love, O Lord, forever | will I sing;*
	from age to age my mouth will pro- | claim your faithfulness.
2For I am persuaded that your love is estab- | lished forever;*
	you have set your faithfulness firmly | in the heavens.
3“I have made a covenant with my | chosen one;*
	I have sworn an oath to Da- | vid my servant:
4‘I will establish your | line forever,*
	and preserve your throne for all | generations.’”
5The heavens bear witness to your won- | ders, O Lord,*
	and to your faithfulness in the assembly of the | holy ones;
19[You spoke once in a vision and said to your | faithful people:*
	“I have set the crown upon a warrior and have exalted one chosen out | of the people.
20I have found Da- | vid my servant;*
	with my holy oil have I a- | nointed him.
21My hand will | hold him fast*
	and my arm will | make him strong.
22No enemy | shall deceive him,*
	nor any wicked man | bring him down.
23I will crush his | foes before him*
	and strike down | those who hate him.”
24My faithfulness and love shall | be with him,*
	and he shall be victorious | through my name.
25I shall make his domin- | ion extend*
	from the Great Sea | to the River.
26He will say to me, ‘You | are my Father,*
	my God, and the rock of | my salvation.’
27I will make | him my firstborn*
	and higher than the kings | of the earth.
28I will keep my love for | him forever,*
	and my covenant will stand | firm for him.
29I will establish his | line forever*
	and his throne as the | days of heaven.”]
Psalm 89:1-5 [19-29] (ESV)
1I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
3You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant:
4‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” 
5Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
[19Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said: “I have granted help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him,
21so that my hand shall be established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.
22The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him.
23I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
24My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
26He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
27And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
28My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him.
29I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.]
Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27
25Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — 27to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy — the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Next Week’s Readings:
Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 111; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40