Sunday, December 13, 2020 – recording
Third Sunday of Advent
Prelude: Meditation on “Jefferson”
Welcome and Announcements
Gathering Hymn: “Wake, Awake for Night Is Flying” – LBW # 31,
vs 1 - 3
Confession & Forgiveness
Greeting & Kyrie
Canticle of Praise: “Glory to God…”
Prayer of the Day
First Reading, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm # 126
Second Reading, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Holy Gospel, John 1:6-8, 19-28
Sermon
Hymn of the Day: “Praise to the Lord” – LBW # 543, vs 1 - 4
Nicene Creed
Prayers of the Church
The Lord’s Prayer
Blessing
Dismissal
Sending Hymn: “Prepare the Royal Highway” - LBW # 26, vs 1 – 4
Postlude: Voluntary on “Bereden Vag For Herran”
**************************************************************************************************************************************
(Congregational
responses are in bold print)
The community of
faith comes together in worship to praise God and be nurtured by His Word and
Sacrament. As the prelude begins, prepare to worship, use opportunities during
the service to practice silence, to focus upon God, and to offer prayer.
Prelude Meditation
on “Jefferson”
Welcome and Announcements Pastor John
Gathering Hymn “Wake, Awake,
For Night is Flying” LBW # 31, vs 1 - 3
Wake, awake, for night is flying, The watchmen on the heights are crying; Awake, Jerusalem, at
last. Midnight hears the welcome voices, And at the
thrilling cry rejoices: "Come forth, you maidens! Night is past. The
bridegroom comes! Awake;
Your lamps with gladness take!" Alleluia! Prepare yourselves to meet the
Lord, Whose light has stirred the waiting guard.
Zion hears the watchmen singing, And in her heart new joy is springing. She wakes, she rises
from her gloom, For her Lord comes down all-glorious, The
strong in grace, in truth victorious. Her Star is ris'n;
her light is come. Oh, come, you Blessed One, Lord Jesus, God's own Son. Sing
hosanna! We go until the halls we view Where you have bid us dine with you.
Now let all the heav'ns
adore you, And saints and angels sing before you. The harps
and cymbals all unite. Of one pearl each shining portal, Where, dwelling with
the choir immortal, We gather round your dazzling
light. No eye has seen, no ear Has yet been trained to hear. What joy is ours! Crescendos
rise; your halls resound; Hosannas blend in cosmic sound.
Confession & Forgiveness (Pastor)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and
from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the
inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily
magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive
our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Most merciful God, we confess that we are in bondage to sin and
cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you
with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the
sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and
lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the
glory of your holy name. Amen.
Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for
his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the
Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire
forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Greeting (Pastor)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the
communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.
Kyrie (Worship
Assistant)
In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For
the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord,
have mercy. For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of
the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord,
have mercy. For this
holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to
the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen.
Canticle of
Praise “Glory to God…” (Worship
Assistant)
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s
people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God
and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away
the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the
Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the
Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with
the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Prayer of the
Day (Pastor)
First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 (Worship
Assistant)
1“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the
Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up
the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to those who are bound; 2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s
favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3to
grant to those who mourn in Zion — to give them a beautiful headdress instead
of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise
instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the
planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. 4They shall build up
the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall
repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
8“For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and
wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an
everlasting covenant with them. 9Their offspring shall be known
among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of
the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an
offspring the Lord has blessed. 10I will greatly rejoice in the
Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of
salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom
decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns
herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its
sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord
God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.” This is the word of the Lord,
thanks be to God.
Psalm: Psalm # 126 - read responsively (Worship Assistant)
For those who recognize the generous hand of God in
their midst, their hearts sing for joy just as the heart of the psalmist who
proclaimed that the Lord has done great things for his people and makes their
hearts glad. God’s goodness was a like a dream come true for those who
struggled in pain but were then filled with joy.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then were
we like those who dream.
Then was
our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.
Then they
said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord
has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed.
Restore our
fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses of the Negev.
Those who sowed
with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go
out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their
sheaves.
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (Worship Assistant)
Saint Paul
proclaimed to the Christians in Thessalonica that God’s will for them in Christ
was that they would give thanks in everything, rejoice always, and pray
unceasingly. Though hard to do, it’s a reminder that
God is always working in our lives. Let us take care not the quench the Holy
Spirit as he moves and fills us.
16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give
thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for
you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise
prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain
from every form of evil. 23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify
you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and
body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He
who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. This
is the Word of God, word of life, thanks be to God.
Holy
Gospel: John 1:6-8,
19-28 (Pastor)
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 1st
Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.
The arrival of John the
Baptist, who was not the light, but the one who was sent to bear witness to the
Light, had come. The goal of John’s witness was that all would come to believe
in the Messiah of Israel. The Light, Jesus, was coming into the world and this
was a call to prepare our hearts to receive him.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He
came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe
through him. 8He was not the light, but
came to bear witness about the light.
19And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent
priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20He
confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21And
they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the
Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22So they said to him, “Who are
you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24(Now
they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25They asked him, “Then why
are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands
one you do not know, 27even he who comes after me, the strap of
whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28These things took place in
Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. This is the gospel of the
Lord, praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Pastor
John
Hymn of the Day “Praise to the Lord” LBW # 543 vs. 1 - 4
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the
King of creation! O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation! Let
all who hear Now to his temple draw near, Joining in glad adoration!
Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things
is wondrously reigning And, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining. Have
you not seen All that is needful has been Sent by his gracious ordaining?
Praise to the Lord, who will prosper
your work and defend you; Surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew What the Almighty can do If
with his love he befriend you.
Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is
in me adore him! All that has life and breath, come now with praises before
him! Let the amen Sound from his people again. Gladly forever adore him!
Nicene
Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God
from God, Light from Light, true God from
true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and
the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and
glorified. He has spoken through the
prophets. We believe in one holy catholic
and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one
Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We
look for the resurrection of the dead, and
the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers
of the Church (Worship
Assistant)
(P): Walking in the
light of the coming Savior, let us pray for the church, the world, and all who
await God’s justice. A brief silence.
(W): God of light and life, by the power of your Spirit
and the light of your Word, enable us to continue our Advent waiting in
faithfulness as we prepare to receive the one who is the Light of the World.
Let the light of Christ shine in our lives so that all may know his love and
saving power. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): Holy Lord, in these early days of winter the creation
groans with change. Field lay fallow and darkness comes earlier. Allow your
people to experience that same rest and regeneration that the created order is
experiencing, so that we would have strength for each new day. Lord in
your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): Holy Spirit, giver of faith, empower us to bear
witness to your light and life in the wilderness places of your world: in
war-torn countries, dilapidated neighborhoods, poverty-stricken lives, and in
the empty and searching hearts that we encounter daily. Fill with your love and
hope, those who are struggling with despair. Help us to be bearers of your Good
News to all who need to hear a word of love. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): God of
strength, stir in us and make us aware of the needs of the whole human family.
Help us to bring words of understanding, comfort, and hope to those who need
kindness and encouragement. Keep us mindful that while most of us experience
Advent as a time of joyful expectation, for many it is a difficult time of the
year. Bring light to those who are in darkness, so that the coming Christ would
lift their hearts in joy. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(P): Into your hands,
gracious God, we commend all for who we pray, trusting in your steadfast love
and faithfulness, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray the prayer our Savior
taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom
come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against
us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Blessing (Pastor)
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with
grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.
Dismissal (Worship Assistant)
Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.
Sending Hymn “Prepare
the Royal Highway” LBW # 26, vs 1
– 4
Prepare
the royal highway, the King of kings is near! Let every hill and valley A level
road appear! Then greet the King of glory Foretold in sacred story:
(Refrain): Hosanna
to the Lord, For he fulfills God’s Word!
God’s people, see him coming: Your own eternal king! Palm branches
strew before him! Spread garments! Shout and sing!
God’s promise will not fail you! No more shall doubt assail you! (Refrain)
Then
fling the gates wide open To greet your promised king!
Your king, yet every nation Its tribute too may
bring. All lands will bow before him; Their voices join your singing: (Refrain)
His is
no earthly kingdom; It comes from heaven above. His rule is peace and
freedom And justice, truth, and love. So let your praise be sounding For kindness so abounding: (Refrain)
Postlude Voluntary on “Bereden
Vag For Herran”