30-Nov-25 (Matthew 24:36-44)

The theme for the first Sunday in Advent is "Hope." There is, of course, the hope that comes from knowing that "God so loved the world that God sent his son." but there is also hope that God will be actively working in our world to bring justice and peace and setting relationships right.
A lot of what we direct our attention to in the Church involves showing and even being to some extent that kind of presence in our world. We seek to bring peace between people, not just of nations but of factions within our own nation. We seek to bring justice, especially for those who are most often forgotten, those on the outskirts of our societies. We seek to make things right for those who are without food or clothing or shelter.
Our offerings are one way we extend our financial resources to do those things as well.
Consider your part in being the reason for hope in this time as our deacons come to collect our offering for today.

Prayer:

Please join me in an attitude of prayer.
God whose love for us shows in all the ways you bless us and most especially in the coming and the ministry and words of Jesus. Help us, as Jesus did, to bring hope to those nearby and those far off, to be a presence in this world which causes people to hope.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Lord, Amen.