21

December 2025

Dec

Signs and Faithfulness

Toda la Tierra Espera

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A

Mary is pregnant; Joseph comes up with a contingency plan, and an angel throws new information into the mix that changes everything. Do you feel the frenzy in the story?

Reader One: Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to the king and said, “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven” (Isaiah 7:11 NRSV). But when the king refused, God would not be stopped. “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 NRSV).

Reader Two: God wants us to know, even when we aren’t sure ourselves. God wants us to experience God’s presence, even when we think we can handle life on our own. God sends us signs of God’s presence with us; all we need to do is keep our eyes open and look.

Reader One: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, ‘God is with us.’" When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus (Matthew 1:23-25 NRSV).

Reader Two: We light these candles, the candle of joyous hope, of proclaimed peace, of deep everlasting joy, and today of presence that speaks of love, as a sign that no matter our circumstance, we know we are not alone.

Light all four candles of the Advent wreath.

In This Series...


First Sunday of Advent, Year A - Lectionary Planning Notes Second Sunday of Advent, Year A - Lectionary Planning Notes Third Sunday of Advent, Year A - Lectionary Planning Notes Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A - Lectionary Planning Notes

Colors


  • Purple
  • Blue

In This Series...


First Sunday of Advent, Year A - Lectionary Planning Notes Second Sunday of Advent, Year A - Lectionary Planning Notes Third Sunday of Advent, Year A - Lectionary Planning Notes Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A - Lectionary Planning Notes