Preparation

Opening response

Favor us, Lord, and deliver us.
Lord, come quickly and help us.

I keep your word close, in my heart,
so that I won’t sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

Praise

Savior eternal,
life of the world unfailing,
light everlasting
and our true redemption.
Taking our humanity
in your loving freedom,
you rescued our lost earth
and filled the world with joy.
By your first advent justify us,
by your second, set us free:
that when the great light dawns
and you come as judge of all,
we may be robed in immortality
and ready, Lord, to follow
in your footsteps blest, wherever they may lead.

Salus Aeterna

The Word of God

Psalm 70

Refrain:
Hurry to me, God! You are my helper and my deliverer.

Hurry, God, to deliver me;
    hurry, Lord, to help me!
Let those who seek my life be ashamed and humiliated!
    Let them fall back and be disgraced—
        those people who delight in my downfall!
Let those who say, “Aha! Aha!”
    stop because of their shameful behavior.
But let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you,
    and let those who love your saving help say again and again:
        “God is great!”
But me? I’m poor and needy.
    Hurry to me, God!
You are my helper and my deliverer.
    Oh, Lord, don’t delay!

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen.

Refrain:
Hurry to me, God! You are my helper and my deliverer.

Psalm prayer

God, our helper and defender,
deliver us in our weakness,
answer our longings
and vindicate our faith,
that we may see your glory
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture reading
Mark 13:34-37

It is as if someone took a trip, left the household behind, and put the servants in charge, giving each one a job to do, and told the doorkeeper to stay alert. Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know when the head of the household will come, whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the early morning or at daybreak. Don’t let him show up when you weren’t expecting and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: Stay alert!”

Silence may be kept.

Response

Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness,
because they will be fed until they are full.

Matthew 5:6

Prayers

Intercession and thanksgiving

Prayers may include these concerns

The church, that she may be ready for the coming of Christ
The leaders of the church
The nations, that they may be subject to the rule of God
Those who are working for justice in the world
The broken, that they may find God’s healing

Other intercessions and supplications may be offered as the Holy Spirit leads.

Prayer

Keep us, O Lord,
while we tarry on this earth,
in a serious seeking after you,
and in an affectionate walking with you,
every day of our lives;
that when you come,
we may be found not hiding our talent,
nor serving the flesh,
nor yet asleep with our lamp unfurnished,
but waiting and longing for our Lord,
our glorious God forever
Amen.

Richard Baxter (1691)

The Lord’s Prayer

Awaiting his coming in glory, as our Savior taught us, so we pray

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Amen.

Conclusion

May the Lord make us ready for his coming in glory.
Amen.

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