Bethlehem Lutheran Church River Grove, IL

In grateful response to God's grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and the world. 

Advent, The season of Coming - The season of Advent centers on a profound Christian theme: the coming of Christ in every dimension of the Church’s life. First, Advent draws us to remember Christ’s coming in the flesh, the eternal Son who took on human nature and was born in Bethlehem. His incarnation reveals God’s faithfulness and His desire to dwell with His people.

Second, Advent invites reflection on Christ’s coming to us now, especially through His Word and Sacraments. In Baptism, He claims us as His own and unites us to His death and resurrection. In Holy Communion, He comes with His true body and blood to forgive sins, strengthen faith, and sustain us in hope. These are not symbolic gestures but real, present comings of Christ to His Church—moments when Emmanuel, “God with us,” touches His people with grace.

Finally, Advent turns our eyes to Christ’s coming again in glory. It is a season of watchfulness and expectation, reminding believers that history is moving toward the day when Christ will return to renew creation, judge with righteousness, and gather His people to Himself.

Thus, Advent proclaims a single, sweeping truth: Christ comes—past, present, and future—to bring light, life, and salvation to His people.

Mid Week Advent Service –Our one Mid Week Advent Service will be on December 10 at 11 AM.  Immediately afterwards we will have a fellowship luncheon.  The menu will include;

Green garden salad with dressings

Cheese, Sausage, and Pepperoni

Pizzas

Garlic and Parmesan chicken wings

BBQ chicken wings

Coffee, tea, water, soda

Cookie tray for dessert

This Sunday - FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Isaiah 2:1–5

Romans 13:11–14

Matthew 24:36–44

The Lord Comes in Meekness and Humility to Save Us Now

The Lord Jesus enters Jerusalem “humble, and mounted on a donkey,” riding on “a beast of burden” (Matt. 21:5), as He Himself bears the sins of the world in His body. Now He comes by the ministry of the Gospel to save us from sin, death, the devil and hell. Therefore, we sing, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matt. 21:9). For we are called “to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob,” His Holy Church, “that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths” (Is. 2:3). By His Word, we “walk in the light of the Lord” (Is. 2:5). That is to live in love, which “does no wrong to a neighbor” (Rom. 13:10). We “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light,” for “salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11, 12). Hence, the entire Christian life is a time to wake and watch, “for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matt. 24:42).

Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and opened the gates of heaven to all who trust in him.

God accepts all who believe in Jesus even though there is no merit or worthiness in us.

So that we might believe in Jesus, God has given us the ministry, which is the preaching of Christ and the

Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Through these, God also gives us the forgiveness of sins.

When God brings people to faith, He also produces many good works in our lives. These are done, not to earn

grace, but to do God’s will and please him. We love him because he first loved us.

God has given every man, woman and child a calling in life. Within that calling He directs us, and through

His Word, strengthens us to live for Him.

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. The Bible is free from all error and contradiction in all that it says.

The Word of God brings us to Jesus our Lord.