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First Sunday of Advent - A

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Children's Activity

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Be Prepared -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Preparing -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Materials: Toilet paper rolls Paint Paintbrushes
Ready and waiting -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
When Advent begins, everybody starts talking about Christmas and getting ready.
"Be ready!" -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers or Parents: Advent is a time of preparation. The
The Future in the Star -- Mathew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Parents or Teachers: The lesson today was about always being prepared
When Jesus comes back -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers or Parents: Make an Advent countdown calendar. On
Advent calendar -- Mark 13:24-37 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers: This is the first Sunday of Advent and a new church
Keeping secrets -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Materials per angel:Plastic spoons

Gospel Grams 2

Children's Bulletin (ages 8 - 10) for Advent 1 -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A

Gospel Grams 1

Children's Bulletin (ages 5 - 7) for Advent 1 -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A

Children's sermon

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A Pretty Special Gift! -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022
Object: Three signs, like those you might hold at a rally; a poster on a stick.
Planning For The Surprise -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
There are probably two kinds of kids listening to these verses.
What A Surprise! -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2016
How many of you love birthday parties? Have you ever been to a surprise birthday party?
The Wait Begins -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Anna Shirey -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
First Thoughts
Shoemaker... or Elves? -- Romans 13:11-14 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
"The night is far gone, the day is near.
Be prepared -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
"And they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of
The right time -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. (v.
Preparing -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. (v.
Put on your Sunday best -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Have you ever heard the expression that you should wear your "Sunday best"?
Ready and Waiting -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Today is the first Sunday in the season of Advent. What happens at the end of Advent?
Wake up! -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Good morning! Sometimes it is very important that we wake up
Be ready! -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Good morning! Have any of you ever traveled on a big ship?
Happy new year! -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Happy New Year! It's not the end of December, but it is the beginning of
Seeing the future -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Good morning, boys and girls. Do you like my special hat? (Let them
Wake up! -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Most of us sleep with a pillow under our heads. When we are
When Jesus comes back -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Good morning! We just had Thanksgiving ten days ago. They say
Keep alert -- Mark 13:24-37 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Good morning, boys and girls. I have a question for the

The Immediate Word

Abandon Your Calendars -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022
For November 27, 2022:
Swords Into Highchairs, Spears Into Serving Platters -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, Psalm 122 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
For December 1, 2019:
Something's Coming -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:11-14, Psalm 122 -- Christopher Keating, Beth Herrinton-Hodge, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2016
As we turn to Advent and the first Sunday of the church year and a new lectionary cycle, the foremos
The Biggest Christmas Gift -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:11-14, Psalm 122 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
The First Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new church year -- but since this Sunday is s
Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! -- Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:11-14, Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, George Reed -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
This week we enter the season of Advent, and while the world around us is ratcheting up into full-b
Which Armor Will We Wear? -- Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:11-14, Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122 -- Paul Bresnahan, Thom M. Shuman -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
In Romans, Paul admonishes us to "lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light" (Ro

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Swords Into Highchairs, Spears Into Serving Platters -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, Psalm 122 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
For December 1, 2019:
Planning For The Surprise -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
There are probably two kinds of kids listening to these verses.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 20 | OT 25 | Pentecost 15
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pentecost 16
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 17
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For September 21, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Well, it’s autumn, and by now the seeds we planted in the spring either took root and produced or else the weather, pests, rabbits, or our own laziness conspired to make this year’s garden less than a success. But at one point we had to get started and actually plant seeds for the future.

Jeremiah is looking back from the perspective of our spiritual well-being and laments than our spiritual harvest has all been for naught. He wonders if it is now too late for a recovery. Is there no healing, no balm in Gilead, to apply to our wounds?
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9
In the spring as farmers and gardeners prepare to plant we are looking at a summer of possibilities. Hard work, to be sure, but also potential. What will happen? What will this season be like? At summer’s end there will be no more questions. We’ll know. Maybe it was a great season, and we have canned or frozen many vegetables. Maybe the farmers have brought in a bumper crop and they got a good price besides.

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John Jamison
Object: This message will be based on a game you will play. See the note below.

NOTE: Ask three or more adults to come up and play the role of Simon for your group. Tell them to all speak at once, asking the children to do different things. The goal is to create a nice bit of confusion for the children to experience.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great!

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Hey!” Annie waved at the woman standing next to the open doorway. “Can you come here?”

The woman made her way past the other nursing home residents and stood next to Annie’s wheelchair.

“What can I do for you?”

“You look familiar.” Annie squinted at her. “Do I know your name?”

“I’m Brenda.” The woman pointed at her name tag. “I work in the kitchen and sometimes help serve the meals when they are ready.”

“That’s right. I think we’ve met before.” Annie tapped her lips with her finger. “You have the nice smile.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” In our worship today let us remember the little things in our lives and ask God to help us to be utterly faithful in them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we pretend that little sins don't matter.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we imagine that you don't notice little sins.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
This poignant prayer of lament and community grief gives expression to what it feels like to suffer as a person of faith. If we believe we are truly part of God's community, then the destruction of that community -- as was the case with Israel in 587 B.C. -- becomes a time for doubt, anger, and confusion. Furthermore, if we believe we are individual members of that community, our personal suffering also creates an opportunity for a crisis of faith: "Why didn't God protect me?" Of course, it does not take a national catastrophe to raise those sorts of questions.
Kirk R. Webster
If feedback is the breakfast of champions, perhaps we would do well to examine some of our prayer habits. If you have ever heard someone use The Just Really Prayer, you know exactly what problem we are talking about.

That prayer goes something like this, "Lord, we just really thank you for this day. We come before you and just really pray for mercy. We offer ourselves to you and just really ask that your will be done in our lives. Amen." I'm thankful this particular Just Really prayer was mercifully short, unlike the next example, The Good Guilt-Based Prayer.
John W. Wurster
Another season has come and gone. Promises that were made have not been fulfilled. Good intentions haven't yielded any tangible results. Dreams have not come true. High hopes have proven to be only wishful thinking. Nothing has really changed; nothing has really improved. The time keeps moving along, but we seem stuck in the same ruts. Old routines remain, prejudices persist, dullness and anxiety continue to be constant companions. Lingering in the air is that nagging sense that things aren't quite right, not as they could be, not as they should be.
R. Robert Cueni
In the scripture lesson for today Jesus tells a perplexing parable about a thoroughly dishonest employee who was praised for his dishonesty. In this story Jesus not only seems comfortable suggesting that it is acceptable to compromise with moral failings, but our Lord appears to commend his disciples to "go and do likewise." For centuries, preachers, commentators, and scholars have struggled to make sense of this outrageous tale.

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