Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church
Missouri Synod
Church Location: 114 Kingsley Road SW, Vienna, VA 22180
Mailing Address: 3057 Nutley Street Suite 822, Fairfax, VA 22031
703-455-4003 Rev. James Douthwaite, Pastor
Church Location: 114 Kingsley Road SW, Vienna, VA 22180
Mailing Address: 3057 Nutley Street Suite 822, Fairfax, VA 22031
703-455-4003 Rev. James Douthwaite, Pastor
Advent Sermons
2017
December 3 (Advent 1) - "Oh Wait!" [PDF] [Listen]
December 10 (Advent 2) - "Comfort in the Wilderness" [PDF] [Listen]
December 17 (Advent 3) - "Who Are You?" [PDF] [Listen]
December 24 (Advent 4) - "The Culmination of History" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: The Glory of God
(based on the Proper Prefaces for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany)
December 6 - "When He Comes Again in Glory" [PDF]
December 13 - "A New Revelation of Your Glory" [PDF] [Listen]
December 20 - "Manifested the Fullness of Your Glory" [PDF]
2016
November 27 (Advent 1) - "Leading the Way" [PDF] [Listen]
December 4 (Advent 2) - "The Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand!" [PDF] [Listen]
December 11 (Advent 3) - "Rejoicing in the Freedom of Christ" [PDF] [Listen]
December 18 (Advent 4) - "It's On!" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: Magnificent Magnificat Verbs
November 30 - He regards [PDF] [Listen]
December 7 - He brings down and exalts [PDF] [Listen]
December 14 - He remembers [PDF] [Listen]
2015
November 29 (Advent 1) - "Truly He Fulfills His Word" [PDF] [Listen]
December 6 (Advent 2) - "Waiting for "Christmas" " [PDF] [Listen]
December 13 (Advent 3) - "The Teacher of Joy" [PDF] [Listen]
December 20 (Advent 4) - "Leap for Joy!" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: God's Advents
December 2 - "In the Garden" [PDF] [Listen]
December 9 - "On Mt. Sinai" [PDF] [Listen]
December 16 - "The Last Day" [PDF] [Listen]
(Series concludes with Christmas Day Sermon: "In the Flesh")
2014
November 30 (Advent 1) - "Disappointed?" [PDF] [Listen]
December 7 (Advent 2) - "John's Advent Gift For You" [PDF] [Listen]
December 14 (Advent 3) - "Lighting the Darkness of Our Hearts" [PDF] [Listen]
December 21 (Advent 4) - "Gabriel and Mary, Paul and You" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: We Three Kings of Israel Are
December 3 - King Saul [PDF] [Listen]
December 10 - King David [PDF] [Listen]
December 17 - King Solomon [PDF] [Listen]
2013
December 1 (Advent 1) - "Your Coming King" [PDF] [Listen]
December 8 (Advent 2) - "The Coming One: A Saviour From Sin" [PDF] [Listen]
December 15 (Advent 3) - "Great, Greater, and Greatest" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: The Lord Is Near (The Story of Zechariah)
December 4 - "The Lord Interrupts" [PDF] [Listen]
December 11 - "The Lord Speaks" [PDF] [Listen]
December 18 - "The Lord Has Mercy" [PDF] [Listen]
2012
December 2 (Advent 1) - "Cheering the Coming of the Lord" [PDF] [Listen]
December 9 (Advent 2) - "Want to Really Celebrate Christmas?" [PDF] [Listen]
December 16 (Advent 3) - "Rejoice?" [PDF] [Listen]
December 23 (Advent 4) - "The Story of Two Little Towns" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: A New Look at Some Old Songs
December 5 - Savior of the Nations, Come [PDF] [Listen]
December 12 - Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding [PDF] [Listen]
December 19 - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel [PDF] [Listen]
2011
November 27 (Advent 1) - "From Throne to Throne" [PDF] [Listen]
December 4 (Advent 2) - "Comfort and Joy In the Wilderness" [PDF] [Listen]
December 11 (Advent 3) - "Who Are You?" [PDF] [Listen]
December 18 (Advent 4) - "Humble Thanks and Simple Faith" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: Advent with Jeremiah
November 30 - "The Young and the Restless" [PDF] [Listen]
December 7 - "Pottery Barn" [PDF] [Listen]
December 14 - "Peace on Earth?" [PDF] [Listen]
2010
November 28 (Advent 1) - "Humble Power" [PDF] [Listen]
December 5 (Advent 2) - "Peace in Repentance" [PDF] [Listen]
December 12 (Advent 3) - "A Real Chorus of Praise" [PDF] [Listen]
December 19 (Advent 4) - "Birth is Still a Miracle" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: Fathers of Christmas
December 1 - "Zechariah: Rejoicing Father" [PDF] [Listen]
December 8 - "Joseph: Protecting Father" [PDF] [Listen]
December 15 - "God the Father: Faithful Father" [PDF] [Listen]
2009
November 29 (Advent 1) - "Advent Joy" [PDF] [Listen]
December 6 (Advent 2) - "The Gift of New Life" [PDF][Listen]
December 13 (Advent 3) - "Turning Darkness into Light" [PDF] [Listen]
December 20 (Advent 4) - "God's Mercy in the Flesh" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: A Royal Wedding
December 2 - "The Promise" [PDF] [Listen]
December 9 - "The Preparation" [PDF] [Listen]
December 16 - "The Feast" [PDF] [Listen]
2008
November 30 (Advent 1) - "Your King is Coming" [PDF]
December 14 (Advent 3) - "Being Holied" [PDF]
December 21 (Advent 4)- "The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came" [PDF]
2007
December 2 (Advent 1) - "Counting Down" [PDF]
December 9 (Advent 2) - "Abounding in Hope" [PDF]
December 16 (Advent 3) - "The Prophet of Repentant Joy" [PDF]
December 23 (Advent 4) - "An Even Greater Mercy" [PDF]
Midweek Series: Isaiah's Vision of Advent
December 5 - "The Mountain of the Lord" [PDF]
December 12 - "The Tree of the Lord" [PDF]
December 19 - "The Sword of the Lord" [PDF]
2006
December 3 (Advent 1) - "Our Coming King" [PDF]
December 10 (Advent 2) - "Straighten Up!" [PDF]
December 17 (Advent 3) - "Great Expectations" [PDF]
December 24 (Advent 4) - "My Soul Magnifies the Lord" [PDF]
Midweek Series: Jesus is Manifested (1 Tim 3:16)
December 6 - "Manifested in the Flesh" [PDF]
December 13 - "Manifested in Weakness" [PDF]
December 20 - "Manifested in You!" [PDF]
2005
November 27 (Advent 1) - "Come Now! Come . . . How?" [PDF]
December 4 (Advent 2) - "Stirring the Pot" [PDF]
December 11 (Advent 3) - "A Christmas Card For You" [PDF]
December 18 (Advent 4) - "According to Your Word" [PDF]
Midweek Series: Isaiah 9:6
November 30 - "And His name shall be called Wonderful" [PDF]
December 7 - "And His name shall be called . . . Everlasting Father" [PDF]
December 14 - "And His name shall be called . . . Prince of Peace" [PDF]
2004
November 28 (Advent 1) - "Hosanna! Lord, save!" [PDF]
December 5 (Advent 2) - "From Wilderness to Paradise" [PDF]
December 12 (Advent 3) - "Got Patience?" [PDF]
December 19 (Advent 4) - "Miraculous Births" [PDF]
2003
November 30 (Advent 1) - "See, your King comes to you" [PDF]
December 7 (Advent 2) - "He's Back!" [PDF]
December 14 (Advent 3) - "Good Enough is not Good Enough" [PDF]
December 21 (Advent 4) - "Too Little?" [PDF]
Midweek Series: The Geneaology of Jesus
December 4 - "Jesus: Descended from Sinners" [PDF]
December 11 - "Jesus: Descended from Kings" [PDF]
December 18 - "Jesus: Descended from . . . who?" [PDF]
(Series concludes with Christmas Day Sermon: "Jesus: Descended from God")
2002
December 1 (Advent 1) - "The Prayer of Advent" [PDF]
December 8 (Advent 2) - "A 'Living' John the Baptist?" [PDF]
December 15 (Advent 3) - "The Voice" [PDF]
December 22 (Advent 4) - "The Miracle of God's New Dwelling" [PDF]
December 3 (Advent 1) - "Oh Wait!" [PDF] [Listen]
December 10 (Advent 2) - "Comfort in the Wilderness" [PDF] [Listen]
December 17 (Advent 3) - "Who Are You?" [PDF] [Listen]
December 24 (Advent 4) - "The Culmination of History" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: The Glory of God
(based on the Proper Prefaces for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany)
December 6 - "When He Comes Again in Glory" [PDF]
December 13 - "A New Revelation of Your Glory" [PDF] [Listen]
December 20 - "Manifested the Fullness of Your Glory" [PDF]
2016
November 27 (Advent 1) - "Leading the Way" [PDF] [Listen]
December 4 (Advent 2) - "The Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand!" [PDF] [Listen]
December 11 (Advent 3) - "Rejoicing in the Freedom of Christ" [PDF] [Listen]
December 18 (Advent 4) - "It's On!" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: Magnificent Magnificat Verbs
November 30 - He regards [PDF] [Listen]
December 7 - He brings down and exalts [PDF] [Listen]
December 14 - He remembers [PDF] [Listen]
2015
November 29 (Advent 1) - "Truly He Fulfills His Word" [PDF] [Listen]
December 6 (Advent 2) - "Waiting for "Christmas" " [PDF] [Listen]
December 13 (Advent 3) - "The Teacher of Joy" [PDF] [Listen]
December 20 (Advent 4) - "Leap for Joy!" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: God's Advents
December 2 - "In the Garden" [PDF] [Listen]
December 9 - "On Mt. Sinai" [PDF] [Listen]
December 16 - "The Last Day" [PDF] [Listen]
(Series concludes with Christmas Day Sermon: "In the Flesh")
2014
November 30 (Advent 1) - "Disappointed?" [PDF] [Listen]
December 7 (Advent 2) - "John's Advent Gift For You" [PDF] [Listen]
December 14 (Advent 3) - "Lighting the Darkness of Our Hearts" [PDF] [Listen]
December 21 (Advent 4) - "Gabriel and Mary, Paul and You" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: We Three Kings of Israel Are
December 3 - King Saul [PDF] [Listen]
December 10 - King David [PDF] [Listen]
December 17 - King Solomon [PDF] [Listen]
2013
December 1 (Advent 1) - "Your Coming King" [PDF] [Listen]
December 8 (Advent 2) - "The Coming One: A Saviour From Sin" [PDF] [Listen]
December 15 (Advent 3) - "Great, Greater, and Greatest" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: The Lord Is Near (The Story of Zechariah)
December 4 - "The Lord Interrupts" [PDF] [Listen]
December 11 - "The Lord Speaks" [PDF] [Listen]
December 18 - "The Lord Has Mercy" [PDF] [Listen]
2012
December 2 (Advent 1) - "Cheering the Coming of the Lord" [PDF] [Listen]
December 9 (Advent 2) - "Want to Really Celebrate Christmas?" [PDF] [Listen]
December 16 (Advent 3) - "Rejoice?" [PDF] [Listen]
December 23 (Advent 4) - "The Story of Two Little Towns" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: A New Look at Some Old Songs
December 5 - Savior of the Nations, Come [PDF] [Listen]
December 12 - Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding [PDF] [Listen]
December 19 - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel [PDF] [Listen]
2011
November 27 (Advent 1) - "From Throne to Throne" [PDF] [Listen]
December 4 (Advent 2) - "Comfort and Joy In the Wilderness" [PDF] [Listen]
December 11 (Advent 3) - "Who Are You?" [PDF] [Listen]
December 18 (Advent 4) - "Humble Thanks and Simple Faith" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: Advent with Jeremiah
November 30 - "The Young and the Restless" [PDF] [Listen]
December 7 - "Pottery Barn" [PDF] [Listen]
December 14 - "Peace on Earth?" [PDF] [Listen]
2010
November 28 (Advent 1) - "Humble Power" [PDF] [Listen]
December 5 (Advent 2) - "Peace in Repentance" [PDF] [Listen]
December 12 (Advent 3) - "A Real Chorus of Praise" [PDF] [Listen]
December 19 (Advent 4) - "Birth is Still a Miracle" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: Fathers of Christmas
December 1 - "Zechariah: Rejoicing Father" [PDF] [Listen]
December 8 - "Joseph: Protecting Father" [PDF] [Listen]
December 15 - "God the Father: Faithful Father" [PDF] [Listen]
2009
November 29 (Advent 1) - "Advent Joy" [PDF] [Listen]
December 6 (Advent 2) - "The Gift of New Life" [PDF][Listen]
December 13 (Advent 3) - "Turning Darkness into Light" [PDF] [Listen]
December 20 (Advent 4) - "God's Mercy in the Flesh" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: A Royal Wedding
December 2 - "The Promise" [PDF] [Listen]
December 9 - "The Preparation" [PDF] [Listen]
December 16 - "The Feast" [PDF] [Listen]
2008
November 30 (Advent 1) - "Your King is Coming" [PDF]
December 14 (Advent 3) - "Being Holied" [PDF]
December 21 (Advent 4)- "The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came" [PDF]
2007
December 2 (Advent 1) - "Counting Down" [PDF]
December 9 (Advent 2) - "Abounding in Hope" [PDF]
December 16 (Advent 3) - "The Prophet of Repentant Joy" [PDF]
December 23 (Advent 4) - "An Even Greater Mercy" [PDF]
Midweek Series: Isaiah's Vision of Advent
December 5 - "The Mountain of the Lord" [PDF]
December 12 - "The Tree of the Lord" [PDF]
December 19 - "The Sword of the Lord" [PDF]
2006
December 3 (Advent 1) - "Our Coming King" [PDF]
December 10 (Advent 2) - "Straighten Up!" [PDF]
December 17 (Advent 3) - "Great Expectations" [PDF]
December 24 (Advent 4) - "My Soul Magnifies the Lord" [PDF]
Midweek Series: Jesus is Manifested (1 Tim 3:16)
December 6 - "Manifested in the Flesh" [PDF]
December 13 - "Manifested in Weakness" [PDF]
December 20 - "Manifested in You!" [PDF]
2005
November 27 (Advent 1) - "Come Now! Come . . . How?" [PDF]
December 4 (Advent 2) - "Stirring the Pot" [PDF]
December 11 (Advent 3) - "A Christmas Card For You" [PDF]
December 18 (Advent 4) - "According to Your Word" [PDF]
Midweek Series: Isaiah 9:6
November 30 - "And His name shall be called Wonderful" [PDF]
December 7 - "And His name shall be called . . . Everlasting Father" [PDF]
December 14 - "And His name shall be called . . . Prince of Peace" [PDF]
2004
November 28 (Advent 1) - "Hosanna! Lord, save!" [PDF]
December 5 (Advent 2) - "From Wilderness to Paradise" [PDF]
December 12 (Advent 3) - "Got Patience?" [PDF]
December 19 (Advent 4) - "Miraculous Births" [PDF]
2003
November 30 (Advent 1) - "See, your King comes to you" [PDF]
December 7 (Advent 2) - "He's Back!" [PDF]
December 14 (Advent 3) - "Good Enough is not Good Enough" [PDF]
December 21 (Advent 4) - "Too Little?" [PDF]
Midweek Series: The Geneaology of Jesus
December 4 - "Jesus: Descended from Sinners" [PDF]
December 11 - "Jesus: Descended from Kings" [PDF]
December 18 - "Jesus: Descended from . . . who?" [PDF]
(Series concludes with Christmas Day Sermon: "Jesus: Descended from God")
2002
December 1 (Advent 1) - "The Prayer of Advent" [PDF]
December 8 (Advent 2) - "A 'Living' John the Baptist?" [PDF]
December 15 (Advent 3) - "The Voice" [PDF]
December 22 (Advent 4) - "The Miracle of God's New Dwelling" [PDF]
2018
December 2 (Advent 1) - "Just As He Had Told Them" [PDF] [Listen]
December 9 (Advent 2) - "Tarnished Silver Cleansed by the Blood of Christ" [PDF]
[Listen]
December 16 (Advent 3) - "Adventing" [PDF] [Listen]
December 23 (Advent 4) - "Planning and Preparing for Christmas" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: The Christmas Story (as told by the angel Gabriel)
December 5 - The Time Has Come [PDF] [Listen]
December 12 - Wait! What? Who? [PDF] [Listen]
December 19 - Gabriel, We Have a Problem [PDF] [Listen]
(Series concludes with Christmas Eve Sermon: Glory be to God on High!
December 2 (Advent 1) - "Just As He Had Told Them" [PDF] [Listen]
December 9 (Advent 2) - "Tarnished Silver Cleansed by the Blood of Christ" [PDF]
[Listen]
December 16 (Advent 3) - "Adventing" [PDF] [Listen]
December 23 (Advent 4) - "Planning and Preparing for Christmas" [PDF] [Listen]
Midweek Series: The Christmas Story (as told by the angel Gabriel)
December 5 - The Time Has Come [PDF] [Listen]
December 12 - Wait! What? Who? [PDF] [Listen]
December 19 - Gabriel, We Have a Problem [PDF] [Listen]
(Series concludes with Christmas Eve Sermon: Glory be to God on High!
The theme of our Advent midweek meditations this year is: The Christmas Story (as told by the angel Gabriel). This is just a fun way for me to try to tell the story in a creative way, from the perspective of Gabriel. Yes, I've taken some poetic license here, but believe I remain faithful and true to the story. I hope this make you think about the story in a new way and grow in appreciation for it and all that God has done for us.
~ Pastor Douthwaite