First Lesson: Revelation 21:1-6a

Theme: Future bliss for God’s saints

Exegetical note
The vision of the new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem delivered here by John of Patmos includes an auditory component in which God promises to dwell with humanity (presumably the saints), with the result that grief, pain and death will be eliminated as part of the former, displaced order of things.

Call to Worship
Leader: Rejoice, Christians, for a great future is in store for all believers!
People: FOR IN THE VISION OF A NEW HEAVEN, A NEW EARTH, AND A NEW JERUSALEM, IS GOD’S PROMISE TO DWELL WITH US.
Leader: Then there will be no more grief or pain or death.
People: AND BY GOD’S GRACE, WE SHALL DWELL FOREVER WITH ALL THE SAINTS.

Collect
God of hope, who have promised a blissful future for all yo…