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November 30, 2025
See TodayAdvent 1
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Isaiah 2:1–5 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
- Psalm
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Psalm 122 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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A Song of degrees of David.
1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
- Epistle
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Rom. 13:(8–10) 11–14 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
- Gospel
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Matt. 21:1–11 or Matt. 24:36–44 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Matt. 21:1–11
1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
Matt. 24:36–44
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Advent 1
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
The Lord Comes in Meekness and Humility to Save Us Now
The Lord Jesus enters Jerusalem “humble, and mounted on a donkey,” riding on “a beast of burden” (Matt. 21:5), as He Himself bears the sins of the world in His body. Now He comes by the ministry of the Gospel to save us from sin, death, the devil and hell. Therefore, we sing, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matt. 21:9). For we are called “to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob,” His Holy Church, “that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths” (Is. 2:3). By His Word, we “walk in the light of the Lord” (Is. 2:5). That is to live in love, which “does no wrong to a neighbor” (Rom. 13:10). We “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light,” for “salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11, 12). Hence, the entire Christian life is a time to wake and watch, “for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matt. 24:42).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — Three-Year Lectionary Series A (opens in a new tab). Used by permission. These pages may be reproduced for congregational use only. Commercial reproduction, or reproduction for sale of this work or any portion of this work, without the written permission of the copyright holder, is prohibited. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Scripture quoted in the summary is from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Introit, Gradual and Verse
Source: LCMS Three-Year Series (A) Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for November 30, 2025 — Responsive Form
Stir up Your power, O Lord, to rescue us from the dangers of this dark world by the advent of Your Son, that we may ever walk in His light and learn the way of peace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, You have made us glad to enter into Your presence to hear the Good News of our Savior and to receive Your gifts. Preserve Your Church against all her enemies. Lead us to walk in Your ways and to follow Your path, that when Jesus returns in His glory we may welcome Him with glad hosannas. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord of love, visit our homes and defend us from the temptation to walk in the works of darkness. Clothe us with the armor of light. Preserve the single in holiness, and lead husbands and wives to love one another and raise their children in the faith. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty Father, You are the authority to whom all temporal authorities must bow. Give wisdom and godly insight to our president; our governor; and all who make, administer or judge our laws. Grant peace among the nations, that swords may be beaten to plowshares and spears to pruning hooks. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, You have given us Your Son to bear the burdens of our sin and to grant us healing and hope. Hear us on behalf of those in great need, those afflicted with physical and mental ills, those whose hearts are touched by grief, and those in their last days on earth [especially _____________]. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Everlasting God, Your Son has given us a place at His table where we receive the food of His own flesh and blood given for the life of the world. Grant us faith to recognize His body in this bread and His blood in this cup and to receive this blessed communion with joy and thanksgiving. Unite Your people, that we may confess with one voice the truth of Your Word and live together in love and anticipation for that day when Christ shall return in triumph. Bring us with all the saints into Your eternal presence and to the marriage feast of the Lamb without end. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank, bless and praise You forever that You have sent Your Son to reign over us poor sinners, who for our trespasses deserve rightly to remain in bondage to sin and Satan. You have given us a righteous and humble King who, through His death, has saved us from sin and eternal death. We implore You, enlighten, govern and direct us by Your Holy Spirit, that we may remain faithful to this righteous King and Savior and not be offended by His humble appearance or despised Word, but believe in Him and obtain eternal salvation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series A 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Prayers of the Church for November 30, 2025 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above, that our Lord’s advent might kindle in us a love for His name, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
That the church would be preserved against all her enemies; and that we, as God’s people, would walk in His ways and one day welcome with glad hosannas Jesus in His glory, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For Christian homes, that God would defend the single, husbands and wives, and all children from the temptation to walk in the works of darkness, clothing them instead with the armor of light, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our president, governor and all in temporal authority, that godly wisdom would guide policy and lead nations into the way of peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those in great need, those afflicted with physical and mental ills, those whose hearts are touched by grief, and those in their last days on earth, [especially _____________,] let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For unity amongst God’s people, that we may confess with one voice the truth of the Word and live together in love and anticipation for that day when Christ shall return in triumph and we will enter with all the saints into the marriage feast of the Lamb without end; and that we would here discern the body and blood of Christ in this holy meal, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank, bless and praise You forever that You have sent Your Son to reign over us poor sinners, who for our trespasses deserve rightly to remain in bondage to sin and Satan. You have given us a righteous and humble King who, through His death, has saved us from sin and eternal death. We implore You, enlighten, govern and direct us by Your Holy Spirit, that we may remain faithful to this righteous King and Savior and not be offended by His humble appearance or despised Word, but believe in Him and obtain eternal salvation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series A 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Hymn of the Day
LSB 332 Savior of the Nations, Come
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for First Sunday in Advent (One-Year) and Advent 1 (Series A, B and C).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 167 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
The Advent of Our King — Historical Advent Hymn
1. The advent of our King
Our prayers must now employ,
And we must hymns of welcome sing
In strains of holy joy.
2. The everlasting Son
Incarnate deigns to be;
Himself a servant’s form puts on
To set His servants free.
3. O Zion’s Daughter, rise
To meet thy lowly King,
Nor let thy faithless heart despise
The peace He comes to bring.
4. As Judge, on clouds of light,
He soon will come again
And His true members all unite
With Him in heaven to reign.
5. Before the dawning day
Let sin’s dark deeds be gone,
The old man all be put away,
The new man all put on.
6. All glory to the Son,
Who comes to set us free,
With Father, Spirit, ever One,
Through all eternity.
TLH 68
Text: Zechariah 9:9
Author: Charles Coffin, 1736
Translator: John Chandler, 1837, alt.
Composer: Aaron Williams, 1770
Tune: ST. THOMAS
Source: Project Wittenberg; The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 68 (opens in a new tab). Public domain. Project Wittenberg permits distribution, copying and printing.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 334 O Lord, How Shall I Meet You
- Distribution LSB 636 Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness
- Distribution LSB 331 The Advent of Our King
- Closing LSB 343 Prepare the Royal Highway
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — Three-Year Lectionary Series A 2025–26 (opens in a new tab). Hymn numbers and titles only; hymn texts are not reproduced. Reproduction for individual, church or school use does not require permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.