St Andrew, Apostle
He never moved to center stage, but played well an essential supporting role. He was, so someone observed, the great introducer. Three times St. Andrew took someone to Jesus, first and perhaps most significantly his own brother Peter, who Jesus appointed to head the earthly church. Andrew’s was a ministry of moving along the fringe of the crowd and making sure someone got the attention he needed when otherwise his needs and gifts might have been ignored.
The Rev. Jeffrey Wilson

Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give unto us, who are called by your Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

1The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament* proclaims his handiwork.
2Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4yet their voice* goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens* he has set a tent for the sun,
5which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hidden from its heat.
Psalm 19 New Revised Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
Amos 2:6-16 - 2 Peter 1:1-11 - Matthew 21:1-11

By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
--Luke 1:79-80

Thanksgiving Day

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day we bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You've done especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.
For beauty in nature, Your glory we see for joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, Your mercy and care these are the blessings You graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise with a promise to follow You all of our days.
--Mary Fairchild

1To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
6Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Psalm 25 New Revised Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
Zephaniah 3:1-13 – 1 Peter 2:11-25 - Matthew 19:23-30

Our season of waiting begins today. The daily lectionary readings for the season of Advent begin on the Thursday prior to the first Sunday in Advent.
Appropriately, the psalmist speaks about waiting for the Lord. The Lord is certainly worth the wait and we realize this is not an idle waiting. For in this Advent season, we know that we are waiting for God to break into the world in a new way. We are not idle in our waiting; instead we are expectant. We are still being taught, led, forgiven. We live as people who trust in the Lord and as people who expect that the promised mercy of the Lord will be upon us.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness. All the paths of the Lord will lead us toward the manger this Advent. If you are headed somewhere else - get off that path.
How will you know if you are on a path of the Lord? Examine yourself. Are you learning, feeling the pull of the Spirit, offering forgiveness to others? Are you putting your trust in the Lord? These are natural events while on a path God sets before you.
Devotion by Rev. Gary Sandberg

Issac Watts, Hymnwriter

O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven with hymns and spiritual songs of praise: Give us the wings of faith to behold the joyful glory of your saints, and to be so strengthened by the vigorous poetry of your servant Isaac Watts that we may faithfully walk in the path you have set before us and at last, through your grace, possess the land of pure delight opened to us by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Philip H. Pfatteicher

9Worship the Lord in holy splendor;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10Say among the nations, ‘The Lord is king!
The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
He will judge the peoples with equity.’
11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the Lord; for he is coming,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with his truth
Psalm 96 New Revised Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
Obadiah 15-21– 1 Peter 2:1-10 - Matthew 19:23-30

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you, bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.From The Book of Common Prayer

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord;
give praise, O servants of the Lord,
2 you that stand in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
sing to his name, for he is gracious.
4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.
5 For I know that the Lord is great;
our Lord is above all gods.
Psalm 135 New Revised Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
Nahum 1:1-13 – 1 Peter 1:13-25 – Matthew 19:13-22

Clement, Bishop of Rome, ca. 100

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all peoples may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

3 Things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
5 He established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children; 6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children, 7 so that they should set their hope in God,
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
Psalm 78 New Revised Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
Joel 3:1-2, 9-17 – 1 Peter 1:1-12 – Matthew 19:1-12

Edmund of East Anglia, Martyr

O God of ineffable mercy, who gave grace and fortitude to blessed Edmund the king to triumph over the enemy of his people by nobly dying for your Name: Bestow on us your servants the shield of faith, with which we can withstand the assaults of our ancient enemy; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

1In your strength the king rejoices, O Lord,
and in your help how greatly he exults!
2You have given him his heart’s desire,
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
4He asked you for life; you gave it to him—
length of days for ever and ever.
5His glory is great through your help;
splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6You bestow on him blessings for ever;
you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7For the king trusts in the Lord,
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.
Psalm 21 New Revised Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
Nehemiah 2:1-20 – Revelation 6:12-7:4 – Matthew 13:24-30

Mechtild of Magdeburg, Mechtild of Hackeborn, Gertrude the Great
Renewers of the Church
On this day three German mystics and spiritual writers are commemorated together. In the late thirteenth century, the convent of Helfta in Saxony, Germany was a center of female mysticism. This convent produced a number of well-known mystics in the latter part of the century. This sort of mystical community of women was especially prevalent in Germany, and continued well into the fourteenth century.

Eternal God of fire and mercy, you have filled the hearts of your servants throughout the ages with visions of love and splendor: Bring your light, we pray, into the darkness of our hearts that we may know the joy of your presence and the power of your grace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

1God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5God is in the midst of the city;* it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
7The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.*
Psalm 46 New Revised Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
Nehemiah 1:1-11 – Revelation 5:11-6:11 – Matthew 13:18-23