In a little over a week we enter the season of Advent. Advent is usually one of my favorite seasons of the church year. The themes of watchfulness, preparation, and hope infuse this season. The church both anticipates the celebration of God’s coming in the form of the Christ child and the final coming of Christ in the time to come.
In the midst of a pandemic, Advent seems different this year. In some ways it feels as if the entire year has been a long “advent” waiting on a vaccine, hoping for coronavirus case counts to decrease, and longing to gather in person. We continue to pray for our world, for creation, for an end to injustice. Yet, we know that God’s promises persist. We know God is near. We pray that our faith be strengthened, that we may be transformed to walk in God’s way. This is the promise of Advent.
Advent also brings us Mary’s song, the Magnificat, as recorded in Luke’s Gospel. Evangelical Lutheran Worship includes seven settings of this song (p. 314 and #234, 235, 251, 573, 723, and 882). And the hymn “Unexpected and Mysterious” (ELW 258) captures the mystery and grace made known in the incarnation — God’s becoming human. All Creation Sings introduces a free adaptation of Mary’s song highlighting God’s liberating activity in the world.
Even though this Advent will be different, with routine practices and rituals adapted in worship and in our daily lives, I will continue to hold on to Mary’s sung reminder that the promise of God’s mercy made to our forebears continues today and into the future. For that, I give thanks. Advent remains my favorite season.
With Advent longing,
Deacon John Weit
Assistant to the Presiding Bishop, Executive for Worship
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All Creation Sings
The Pew, Accompaniment, and Leaders editions are available for preorder. Updated release information is available on the ACS website.
The web page for All Creation Sings now includes videos of selected hymns and songs, a blog post offering guidance for ACS’s use in the home and other settings, and a resource to support introducing ACS in synods and congregations.
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New Worship Resources at ELCA.org
Supplemental Resources for Service of the Word
New Thanksgiving for the Word prayers for Advent, Christmas, and the Time after Epiphany have been added to this resource, PDF and Word formats.
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Recently featured in the Worship Blog
Worship in the Home
“Worship in the Home” is available weekly on the ELCA Worship blog. You are encouraged to worship as you are able in homes on Sunday and throughout the week. If you don’t have Evangelical Lutheran Worship at home, a copy can be purchased through Augsburg Fortress’s webstore, or perhaps your church might set up a lending library for home use. In addition to Sunday worship resources, resources for Daily Prayer are available, including simplified forms of Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer as well as table prayers.
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