Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Confession and Forgiveness:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be God’s name forever! Amen.

Beloved, now is the time to wake from sleep. Let us confront our sins, and confess them to the one who is merciful and just.

Silence is kept for reflection.

God of new beginnings, we confess that we have not welcomed your holy reign.  We have strayed from your paths.  We prepare for war instead of peace.  We dishonor one another and your creation.  Purify us with your refining fire and set us again on your way of love, that we may bear fruit worthy of repentance, and welcome your coming among us.  Amen.

People of God, a new thing is growing in our midst, a tender branch, a living sign. By water and the Spirit you are joined to this wonder. You have put on + Christ, and your sins have been washed away. Rejoice in the way of the Lord.
Amen.

Opening Hymn: ELW 239 “Hark, the Glad Sound”
Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes,  the Savior promised long;
let ev’ry heart prepare a throne and ev’ry voice a song.

He comes the pris’ners to release, in Satan’s bondage held.
The gates of brass before Him burst, the iron fetters yield.

He comes the broken heart to bind, the bleeding soul to cure,
and with the treasures of his grace to enrich the humble poor.

Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace, your welcome shall proclaim,
and heav’n’s eternal arches ring with your beloved name.

Apostolic Greeting:
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.

O come, O come, O Lord of might, as to your tribes, on Sinai’s height,
in ancient times you gave the law in cloud and majesty and awe. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel.

O come, O Branch of Jesse, free your own from Satan’s tyranny;
from depths of hell your people save, and give them victory o’er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel.

Prayer of the Day:
Let us pray.
Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming nurture our growth as people of repentance and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

First Reading: Genesis 17:15-22
¹⁵Thus God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, for Sarah is [now] her name. ¹⁶I will bless her, and indeed of her I will give you a son.  And I will bless her, and she will become nations; rulers of peoples shall come into being from her.” ¹⁷Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, “Can a child be born to one a hundred years old? And can Sarah, ninety years old, give birth?” ¹⁸Then Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael could live in your sight!” ¹⁹God said, “Nevertheless your wife Sarah shall give birth to a son for you, and you shall call his name Isaac. And I will establish my covenant with him, an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. ²⁰Now as for Ishmael, I have heard you and I will bless him and make him fruitful and I will make him exceedingly, exceedingly numerous and he shall be the father of twelve chieftains, and I will make him a great nation. ²¹But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall give birth to for you at this season next year.” ²²And when God had finished speaking with him, God ascended from Abraham.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!

Lighting of the Advent Wreath:
Let us pray.
Praise to you, O God, who holds our joy and sorrow. You bring water to parched ground and life out of death. Bless us as this light grows, and send sorrow sighing to flee away. Give us strength and patience, trusting that you are true to your promises. Transform the lives of all who suffer with your wonders near at hand.
Amen.

Light two candles to watch for Messiah:
let the light banish darkness.
He shall feed the flock like a shepherd,
gently lead them homeward.

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-45
This is the Holy Gospel according to Luke, the 1st chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.

³⁹Mary set out in those days and went to the hill country with haste, to a Judean town. ⁴⁰There she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹Now when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.⁴²Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ⁴³From where does this [visit] come to me? That the mother of my Sovereign comes to me? ⁴⁴Look! As soon as I heard the sound of your greeting in my ear, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵Now blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of those things spoken to her by the Holy One.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Children’s Message

Sermon

Hymn of the Day: ELW 250 “Blessed Be the God of Israel”
Blessed be the God of Israel who comes to set us free
and raises up new hope for us: a Branch from David’s tree.
So have the prophets long declared that with a mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies and all who wish us harm.

With promised mercy will God still the covenant recall,
the oath once sworn to Abraham, from foes to save us all;
that we might worship without fear and offer lives of praise
in holiness and righteousness to serve God all our days.

My child, as prophet of the Lord you will prepare the way,
to tell God’s people they are saved from sin’s eternal sway.
Then shall God’s mercy from on high shine forth and never cease
to drive away the gloom of death and lead us into peace.

Apostle’s Creed:
Let us confess our faith using the Apostle’s Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.*
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession:
As we prepare for the fullness of Christ’s presence, let us pray for a world that yearns for new hope.

Prayers continue with each petition ending:

God, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

God of our longing, you know our deepest needs. By your Spirit, gather our prayers and join them with the prayers of all your children. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.

Sharing of the Peace:
May the peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.

The minister and congregation greet one another in the name of the Lord. Please share the peace at whatever level of physical contact with which you are comfortable.

Offering:
https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/468062

Offertory Hymn:
Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
and fill to the brim our cups of blessing.
Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown,
that we may be fed with the bread of life
Gather the hopes and dreams of all;
united them with the prayers we offer.
Grace our table with your presence,
and give us a foretaste of the feast to come.

Offering Prayer:
Let us pray.
Eternal God, you make the desert bloom and send springs of water to thirsty ground. Receive these simple gifts of bread, wine, and money, and make us messengers of your mercy and love for all in need of your healing and justice. We ask this through Christ our Savior.
Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving:
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. You comforted your people with the promise of the Redeemer, through whom you will also make all things new in the day when he comes to judge the world in righteousness. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of pow’r and might,
heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life: Blessed are you for the birth of creation. Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light. Blessed are you for your promise to your people. Blessed are you in the prophets’ hopes and dreams. Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will. Blessed are you for your Son Jesus, the Word made flesh.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

With this bread and cup we remember your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth. We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection. We look with hope for his coming.
Come, Lord Jesus.

Holy God, we long for your Spirit. Come among us. Bless this meal. May your Word take flesh in us. Awaken your people. Fill us with your light. Bring the gift of peace on earth.
Come, Holy Spirit.

All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel, Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Lord’s Prayer:
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us saying:
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.

Communion

Table Blessing:
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen.

Post-Communion Canticle:
Thankful hearts and voices raise; tell everyone what God has done.
Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and bear Christ’s holy name.
Send us with your promises, O God, and lead us forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving.  Alleluia

Post-Communion Prayer:
Let us pray.
Faithful God, in this meal you have remembered your mercy, bringing heaven and earth in the body and blood of Christ. As we wait for the day when all your promises will be fulfilled, sustain us and strengthen us by this holy mystery. Guide us toward your promised future, coming to birth in Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

Benediction:
God the eternal Word, who dwells with us in Jesus, and who holds us in the grace of the Holy Spirit, + bless you now and forever.
Amen.

Sending Hymn: O Lord, How Shall I Meet You”
O Lord, how shall I meet you, how welcome you aright?
Your people long to greet you, my hope, my heart’s delight!
Oh, kindle, Lord most holy, your lamp within my breast
to do in spirit lowly all that may please you best.

I lay in fetters, groaning; you came to set me free.
I stood, my shame bemoaning; you came to honor me.
A glorious crown you give me, a treasure safe on high
that will not fail or leave me as earthly riches fly.

Love caused your incarnation; love brought you down to me.
Your thirst for my salvation procured my liberty.
Oh, love beyond all telling, that led you to embrace
in love, all love excelling, our lost and fallen race.

Rejoice, then, you sad-hearted, who sit in deepest gloom,
who mourn your joys departed and tremble at your doom.
All hail the Lord’s appearing! O glorious Sun, now come,
send forth your beams so cheering and guide us safely home.

Dismissal:
Go in peace. Christ is near!
Thanks be to God!

Postlude

 

Prayer Requests: Dale Strassner, Alec Brock, Dave Wall, Liz Smith and Baby Grace, family and friends of Matt Rosamilia, family and friends of Michael McCollum, Mark Rabuck, Ryan Hunter, Rusty, Shirley Russell, Russ Wynn, Viv Marsh, Gladys Fawcett,  Alice Snyder, Marie Tanner, Peg Swinehart, Martha Ketchem, Bob Keifer.

 

In this season of Advent, our biblical translations come from the work of the Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, TX. This season’s lectionary texts and translations can be found in Dr. Gafney’s work, A Woman’s Lectionary for the Whole Church: Year W, copyright 2021, Church Publishing in New York, NY.

Portions reprinted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, copyright 2006.  Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress, license #SBL09796L.  Music reprinted from the ELW, by permission of OneLicense, license #A712349.  Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.   Used by permission.