You can glance at this list to see what’s up for this next Sunday, or read through for a sense of the flow and movement and meaning in our Sundays and seasons in the church.
NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2023
We conclude the Pentecost season with two festival Sundays: All Saints Sunday and Christ the King Sunday (which is also the end of our stewardship focus, Commitment Sunday). Then the new church year begins with the celebration of Advent, the time of expectation and preparation for the birth of Jesus.
At Advent Lutheran Church, we begin our namesake season two weeks before many other Christian churches for two reasons: (1) The length of the Advent season is arbitrary, and in some traditions Advent was six or seven Sundays. (2) Although we still celebrate Advent as four Sundays, the early start allows us to spend the two Sundays immediately preceding Christmas Day (including the morning of Christmas Eve this year) examining the Christmas story in the additional detail it deserves. So join us for this Advent and Christmas season!
Sunday, November 5, 2023 - All Saints Sunday
8:30 am In-Person Worship and Live-stream
11:00 am In-Person Worship
Matthew 5:1-12 Blessed are the poor in spirit
Sunday, November 12, 2023 - Christ the King Sunday
Stewardship Focus: Commitment Sunday
8:30 am In-Person Worship and Live-stream
11:00 am In-Person Worship
Matthew 25:31-46 The coming of the Son of Man; the separation of the sheep and goats
Sunday, November 19, 2023 - First Sunday of Advent
8:30 am In-Person Worship and Live-stream
11:00 am In-Person Worship
Mark 13:24-37 The coming of the Son of Man; the necessity of watchfulness
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 - Thanksgiving Eve
7:00 pm Combined Thanksgiving Service at Salford Mennonite Church, 480 Groff's Mill Road, Harleysville, PA 19438
Sunday, November 26, 2023 - Second Sunday of Advent
8:30 am In-Person Worship and Live-stream
11:00 am In-Person Worship
Mark 1:1-8 John the Baptizer appears in the wilderness
Sunday, December 3, 2023 - Third Sunday of Advent
8:30 am In-Person Worship and Live-stream
11:00 am In-Person Worship
John 1:6-8, 19-28 John the Baptizer explains his own role of preparing the way for and pointing to Jesus
Sunday, December 10, 2023 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
8:30 am In-Person Worship and Live-stream
11:00 am In-Person Worship
Luke 1:26-38 The Annunciation - The Angel appears to Mary
Sunday, December 17, 2023 - Second Sunday Before Christmas
8:30 am In-Person Worship and Live-stream
11:00 am In-Person Worship
Psalm 85 You have been gracious to your land, O Lord
Micah 5:2-5a But you, O Bethlehem..., from you shall come forth... one who is to rule in Israel
Luke 2:8-14 In that region there were shepherds, keeping watch over their flock by night
Sunday, December 24, 2023 - First Sunday Before Christmas
9:30 am In-Person Worship and Live-stream
Psalm 89 Your love, O LORD, forever I will sing
Ruth 4:7-12 Boaz takes Ruth as his wife, establishing the family connection to Bethlehem
Matthew 2:1-6 Wise Men from the East come first to Jerusalem, then continue on to Bethlehem
Sunday, December 24, 2023 - Christmas Eve Both services live-streamed, including preludes / special music.
3:00 pm (Prelude / Special Music begins 2:40 pm) Worship
9:00 pm (Prelude / Special Music begins 8:30 pm) Worship
Luke 2:1-20 The Birth of Jesus
Monday, December 25, 2023 - Christmas Day
9:30 am In-Person Worship
Psalm 98 Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things
Isaiah 52:7-10 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news
John 1:1-14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us
Sunday, December 31, 2023 - First Sunday of Christmas
9:30 am In-Person Worship and Live-stream
Service of Lessons and Carols
All live-streamed services may be viewed real-time, joined in progress, restarted while in progress, or viewed at your convenience at our YouTube Channel. Services posted for later viewing may be viewed at your convenience after the service is finished (or at a scheduled time that will be listed).