ASLC Podcast

“Rejoice always,” begins the reading from 1 Thessalonians. Isaiah and the psalmist make clear that God is turning our mourning into laughter and shouts of joy. “All God’s children got a robe,” go the words of a spiritual. It is not so much a stately, formal, pressed outfit as it is a set of party clothes, clothes we are happy to wear. We receive that robe in baptism, and in worship we gather for a foretaste of God’s party.

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Tonight, we gather to Wait. The voice of one crying in the wilderness says: “Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.”

Scripture Readings: 2 Peter 3:8-15a

John calls people to repent, to clear the decks, to completely reorder their lives so that nothing gets in the way of the Lord’s coming. The reading from Isaiah gives the context for this radical call: the assurance of forgiveness that encourages us to repent; the promise that the coming one will be gentle with the little ones. Isaiah calls us all to be heralds with John, to lift up our voices fearlessly and say, “See, your God is coming!” We say it to one another in worship, in order to say it with our lives in a world in need of justice and peace.

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; Mark 1:1-8

For now, it is time for us to wake from sleep; for the night is spent, and the light of Christ draws near. Come! Let us worship!

Scripture Readings: Mark 13:33-37

Stir up your power, and come! The psalmist’s plea in Psalm 80:2 has become familiar to us in the Advent prayers. Isaiah wants God to rip the heavens open. Both cry out for an apparently distant, angry God to show up, to save, to restore. When we hear Jesus describing the coming of the Son of Man with stars falling from heaven, it can sound dire and horrible, not like anything we would ever hope for. But when we really look at the suffering of people God loves, we can share the hope that God would tear open the heavens and come.
Scripture Readings: Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Mark 13:24-37

The two disciples were walking to Emmaus completely down, for Jesus had been killed a couple of days ago. In their funk a third person joined their walking and asked them questions and explained that Jesus would need to suffer to be glorified. In Emmaus they recognized that Jesus was who they were talking to. When they recognized him, they returned to Jerusalem giving thanks, for their hearts were lifted when they looked to Jesus.

Scripture Readings: Luke 24:13-35

On this final Sunday of the church year our gospel is Jesus ’great story of judgment. In the end, the faithful are those who served Christ by ministering to those who are poor, hungry, naked, sick, or estranged. In the first reading God is the shepherd who seeks the lost, weak, and injured and feeds them with justice. We gather this day to celebrate the reign of Christ and his victory over death, yet we await the joy of all things yet to come. Acknowledging Christ as our merciful ruler, we go forth that his reign may be known in our loving words and deeds. In other words, show up, do good, and be kind - no matter what.

Scripture Readings: Matthew 25:31-46; Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Psalm 95:1-7a

Our readings during November speak of the end times. Zephaniah proclaims that the coming day of the LORD will be filled with wrath and distress. Paul says it will come like a thief in the night and urges us to be awake and sober. Jesus tells the parable of the talents, calling us to use our gifts, while we still have time, for the greater and common good. In a world filled with violence and despair, we gather around signs of hope—word, water, bread, and wine—eager to welcome.

Scripture Readings:  Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Psalm 90:1-8 [9-11] 12

Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. Surrounded by the faithful of every time and place, we celebrate Christ’s coming in our midst in the word of life and the feast of victory—the marriage feast of the lamb.

Scripture Readings: Psalm 70; Matthew 25:1-13

All Saints celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who are the body of Christ. As November heralds the dying of the landscape in many northern regions, the readings and liturgy call us to remember all who have died in Christ and whose baptism is complete. At the Lord’s table we gather with the faithful of every time and place, trusting that the promises of God will be fulfilled and that all tears will be wiped away in the new Jerusalem.

Scripture Readings: Matthew 5:1-12; Revelation 7:9-17; 1 John 3:1-3