Sunday between 27 November and 3 December
First Sunday of Advent (Year B)
First Reading - Isaiah 63.18 - 64.9
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Tear open the heavens, O Lord,
and come down, like a raging fire.
Let the mountains break apart
at your presence,
so that all
the nations tremble,
and even your enemies
will know your name.
From ancient times,
no eye has seen, no ear has heard,
any God
but you.
You rescue those who trust in you.
You welcome all who gladly do right.
But now
our transgressions
have aroused your anger.
Our enemies
have destroyed your sanctuary.
And we have become
like a people
that has never known you;
like a people that has never been
called by your name.
Even our most righteous deeds
are like a filthy garment before you.
We fade like a fallen leaf,
and our own iniquities
sweep us away, like the wind.
There is no one left amongst us who calls
on your name, or pleads with you for mercy.
You have turned your face away from us,
and abandoned us to our iniquity.
And yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
You are the potter, and we are the clay.
You made us; we are the work of your hands.
We are your people, O Lord.
Do not be angry with us beyond measure,
or remember our iniquity for ever.
This is the word of the Lord.
Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 1.4-9
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians.
Every day, I give thanks
for all that God is doing amongst you;
for in Christ, you have grown in every way.
You have grown in your confidence
in the message of Christ.
And you have grown in every spiritual gift,
as you look for the coming of our Lord.
God has called you into the fellowship
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
And we trust that God will continue
to give you the strength
that will keep you in holiness
for the day of our Lord.
This is the word of the Lord.
Gospel - Mark 13.24-37
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Mark.
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘There will be
persecution and suffering,
until the day
when the sun and the moon
will give no light,
and the stars
will be shaken from the sky.
And then you will see
the Son of Man
coming in the clouds
with great power and glory.
And he will send angels
to gather his chosen
from the furthest corners
of the heavens
and the earth.
When buds
and then leaves
appear on the fig tree,
you know
that summer is near.
In the same way,
when you see these things
taking place,
you will know
that the time is near.
All these things
will take place
before this generation
has passed away.
The heavens
and the earth
will be destroyed;
but my words
will remain for ever.
No one knows
the day or the hour
at which
these things will take place:
not the angels in heaven,
nor even the Son;
but only the Father.
The master of the household
is going on a journey,
leaving the servants
each with their own task.
And you are appointed to keep watch.
You do not know
whether the master will return
at dawn, or in the evening, or in the night;
and he must not
find you sleeping
when he returns.
So I say to you, and to everyone:
be on your guard,
and stay alert,
for you do not know
when that day will come.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.