11/30/2025: First Sunday in Advent

IMMINENT ARRIVAL

Do you remember the feeling when someone important is about to arrive at your place? It’s a mixture of anticipation and excitement and nervousness. Did you make all the correct preparations? Will the person be happy to see you? When and how will the person arrive? Will there be any surprises?

During these weeks before Christmas, we anticipate the imminent arrival of Jesus. He’s an important person! We are about to celebrate his birth. He could return on judgment day at any time. But in worship we realize that he impacts our lives when the Bible is read and when the sacraments are administered. Suddenly we feel the excitement of an imminent arrival.

Our worship in the season of Advent follows this path.

    • First Sunday in Advent: Imminent Arrival of the King

    • Second Sunday in Advent: Imminent Arrival of the Judge

    • Third Sunday in Advent: Imminent Arrival of the Messiah

    • Fourth Sunday in Advent: Imminent Arrival of Emmanuel

IMMINENT ARRIVAL OF THE KING   

The king is an important person. His arrival at our place can mean something quite different to us depending on our relationship with him. We might fear his arrival if we expect him to punish us. We might welcome his arrival if we expect him to validate us. Either way, we expect his arrival to be a big deal. How would it make us feel if we heard that his arrival would be informal and familiar?

Advent marks the start of a new Church Year. We begin at the end, watching King Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, knowing full well that he will be killed before the end of the week. The events of Palm Sunday serve as a microcosm for all Jesus’ work, proving the King of the universe was willing to humble himself and endure anything for our salvation. That is precisely why Christ came. That is why we anticipate his imminent arrival not with worry but with joy.

God bless your worship.

Pastor Hartmann preaches on Habakkuk 1:1-3; 2:1-4 “Anticipation Is Keeping Us Waiting”

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Leigh Webster