Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 First Sunday of Advent

The Collect

First Sunday of Advent
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of Advent

Old Testament Reading

Zechariah 14:4-9
⁴And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Makinga very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south. ⁵Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the LORD my God will come, And all the saints with You. ⁶It shall come to pass in that day That there will be no light; The lights will diminish. ⁷It shall be one day Which is known to the LORD- Neither day nor night. But at evening time it shall happen That it will be light. ⁸And in that day it shall be That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, Half of them toward the eastern sea And half of them toward the western sea; In both summer and winter it shall occur. ⁹And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be- " The LORD is one," And His name one. -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 50

Deus deorum
1The LORD, the God of gods, has spoken; *
     he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, *
     God reveals himself in glory.
3Our God will come and will not keep silence; *
     before him there is a consuming flame,
     and round about him a raging storm.
4He calls the heavens and the earth from above *
     to witness the judgment of his people.
5"Gather before me my loyal followers, *
     those who have made a covenant with me
     and sealed it with sacrifice."
6Let the heavens declare the rightness of his cause; *
     for God himself is judge.
7Hear, O my people, and I will speak:
     "O Israel, I will bear witness against you; *
     for I am God, your God.
8I do not accuse you because of your sacrifices; *
     your offerings are always before me.
9I will take no bull-calf from your stalls, *
     nor he-goats out of your pens;
10For all the beasts of the forest are mine, *
     the herds in their thousands upon the hills.
11I know every bird in the sky, *
     and the creatures of the fields are in my sight.
12If I were hungry, I would not tell you, *
     for the whole world is mine and all that is in it.
13Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls, *
     or drink the blood of goats?
14Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving *
     and make good your vows to the Most High.
15Call upon me in the day of trouble; *
     I will deliver you, and you shall honor me."
16But to the wicked God says: *
     "Why do you recite my statutes,
     and take my covenant upon your lips;
17Since you refuse discipline, *
     and toss my words behind your back?
18When you see a thief, you make him your friend, *
     and you cast in your lot with adulterers.
19You have loosed your lips for evil, *
     and harnessed your tongue to a lie.
20You are always speaking evil of your brother *
     and slandering your own mother's son.
21These things you have done, and I kept still, *
     and you thought that I am like you."
22"I have made my accusation; *
     I have put my case in order before your eyes.
23Consider this well, you who forget God, *
     lest I rend you and there be none to deliver you.
24Whoever offers me the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me; *
     but to those who keep in my way will I show the salvation of God."

- OR -

Psalm 50:1-6

1The LORD, the God of gods, has spoken; *
     he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, *
     God reveals himself in glory.
3Our God will come and will not keep silence; *
     before him there is a consuming flame,
     and round about him a raging storm.
4He calls the heavens and the earth from above *
     to witness the judgment of his people.
5"Gather before me my loyal followers, *
     those who have made a covenant with me
     and sealed it with sacrifice."
6Let the heavens declare the rightness of his cause; *
     for God himself is judge.

New Testament Reading

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
⁹For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, ¹⁰night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? ¹¹Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. ¹²And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, ¹³so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

Luke 21:25-31
²⁵"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." ²⁹Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. ³⁰When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. ³¹So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. -- NKJV