The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Gathering
Handbell Prelude
“Kling, Glöcken, Kling-a-ling-a-ling”
arr. Kenneth T. Kosche
“Once in Royal David’s City”
Henry Gauntlet, arr. John A. Behnke
Opening Hymn #28 (green hymnal)
“Savior of the Nations, Come” v. 1-3, 7
1 Savior of the nations, come;
Show the glory of the Son!
Ev’ry people, stand in awe;
Praise the perfect Son of God.
2 Not of human seed or worth,
But from God’s own mystic breath,
Fruit in Mary’s womb begun
When God breathed the Word, his Son.
3 Wondrous birth! Oh, wondrous child
Of the Virgin undefiled!
Mighty God and man in one,
Eager now his race to run!
7 Shining stable in the night,
Breathing vict’ry with your light;
Darkness cannot hide your flame,
Shining bright as Jesus’ name.
Confession and Forgiveness
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who alone does wonders, who lifts up the lowly, who fills the hungry with good things.
C: Amen.
P: Let us confess our sin, trusting in the tender mercy of our God.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P: God for whom we wait,
C: in the presence of one another, we confess our sin before you. We fail in believing that your good news is for us. We falter in our call to tend your creation. We find our sense of self in material wealth. We fear those different from ourselves. We forget that we are your children and turn away from your love. Forgive us, Blessed One, and assure us again of your saving grace. Amen.
P: God, in Christ Jesus, has looked with favor upon you! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, ☩ your sins are forgiven. You are children of the Most High, inheritors of the eternal promise, and recipients of divine mercy. God strengthens you anew to follow the way of peace.
C: Amen.
Greeting and Prayer of the Day
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray. Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that binds us, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
The Word
Blessing of the Lector
P: Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
Let us pray. Be with us, O God, as Kathy opens for us the scriptures, and open our ears to hear the good Word, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
First Reading: Micah 5:2-5a
2 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth;
5a and he shall be the one of peace.
The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Second Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10
5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body you have prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘See, God, I have come to do your will, O God’
(in the scroll of the book it is written of me).”
8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “See, I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10 And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalmody and Gospel
“My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness, O Lord” from Holden Evening Prayer
Marty Haugen
Addy Kruse, Soloist
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Music: “Light an Advent Candle”
Becki Slagle Mayo
P: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe. In your Son, Emmanuel, you have shown us your light and saved us from the power of sin.
C: Bless us as we light the fourth candle of this wreath.
P: Increase our longing for your presence, that at the celebration of your Son’s birth his Spirit might dwell anew in our midst, for he is our light and our salvation.
C: Blessed be God forever. Amen.
Children’s Sermon
Sermon
Silence for meditation
Hymn of the Day #632 (blue hymnal)
“The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came”
1 The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
with wings as drifted snow, with eyes as flame:
“All hail to thee, O lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favored lady.” Gloria!
2 ”For know a blessed mother thou shalt be,
all generations laud and honor thee;
thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,
most highly favored lady.” Gloria!
3 Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head;
“To me be as it pleaseth God,” she said.
“My soul shall laud and magnify God’s holy name.”
Most highly favored lady, Gloria!
4 Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
in Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn,
and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:
“Most highly favored lady.” Gloria!
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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
A: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
After each petition:
A: Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
After the last petition:
A: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
Peace
P: The peace of Christ be with you always.
C: And also with you.
The Meal
Offering Prayer
A: Let us pray.
C: God of abundance, we bring before you the precious fruits of your creation, and with them our very lives. Teach us patience and hope as we care for all those in need until the coming of your Son, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P: 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:
Sanctus
LBW Setting 1 (green hymnal, p. 69)
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
P: 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:
C: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
P: 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.
C: Come, Lord Jesus.
P: 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.
C: Come, Holy Spirit.
P: All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel, Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
The Lord’s Prayer
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.
Invitation to Communion
P: Come to the table, for God invites you.
The Body of Christ, broken for you.
The Blood of Christ, shed for you.
All eat bread and drink wine or juice at their seat.
Communion Hymn #30 (green hymnal)
“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”
1 Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us;
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art,
dear desire of ev’ry nation,
joy of ev’ry longing heart.
2 Born thy people to deliver,
born a child, and yet a king;
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all-sufficient merit
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Table Blessing
P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C: Amen.
Prayer after Communion
A: Let us pray. God for whom we wait, in this meal you give us a foretaste of that day when the hungry will be fed with good things. Send us forth to make known your deeds and to proclaim the greatness of your name, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen.
Sending
Announcements for God’s Mission in the World
Blessing
P: Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
C: Amen.
Closing Hymn #629 (blue hymnal)
“All Earth Is Hopeful”
1 All earth is hopeful, the Savior comes at last!
Furrows lie open for God’s creative task:
this, the labor of people who struggle to see
how God’s truth and justice set ev’rybody free.
2 People of Israel, you heard the prophet tell:
“A virgin mother will bear Emmanuel”;
she conceived him, “God with us,”
our brother, whose birth
restores hope and courage to children of this earth.
3 Mountains and valleys will have to be prepared;
new highways opened, new protocols declared.
Almost here! God is nearing, in beauty and grace!
All clear ev’ry gateway, in haste, come out in haste!
4 We first saw Jesus a baby in a crib.
This same Lord Jesus today has come to live
in our world; he is present, in neighbors we see
our Jesus is with us, and ever sets us free.
Dismissal
A: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
“Joy to the World”
arr. Hugo Gehrke
Worship Leaders
The Rev. Emily Beckering, Pastor
Kris Keith, Music Director
Kate Wollenburg, Organist
John Cathcart, Assisting Minister
Kathy Hirt, Reader
Handbell Choir
Susan Bardes
Sherry Bronner
Nancy Erbeck
Nick Huitger
Carolyn Koehl
Addy Kruse
Joyce McDowell
Linda Miller
Upcoming Events
Sunday, December 19: Fourth Sunday of Advent
9 am Sunday School / Adult Forum
10:30 am Worship Service (in-person/livestreamed)
After Worship: Readers’ rehearsal for Lessons and Carols
Monday, December 20
7 pm Council Meeting
Tuesday, December 21
**No Confirmation Class**
Wednesday, December 22
7 pm Bell choir rehearsal
Thursday, December 23
**No Bible study**
6 pm BSA Troop Meeting
Friday, December 24
6:45 pm Special Music
7 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Sunday, December 26
**No Sunday School / Adult Forum**
10:30 am Worship Service – Lessons & Carols
Wednesday, December 29
**No bell choir**
Thursday, December 30
**No Bible study**
Copyright Notices
“Kling, Glöcken, Kling-a-ling-a-ling!”: Arr. © 2002 Concordia Publishing House, 3558 S. Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118-3968.
“Once in Royal David’s City”: Arr. © 1993 Concordia Publishing House, 3558 S. Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118-3968.
“Savior of the Nations, Come”: Tr. and setting © 1969 Concordia Publishing House.
“My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness, O Lord”: Text and music by Marty Haugen © 1990, 2016 GIA Publications, Inc., 7404 S. Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60638. www.giamusic.com. 800.442.3358.
“Light an Advent Candle”: Words and music by Becki Slagle Mayo © 2007 Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of The Lorenz Corporation.
“The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came”: Arr. © 1955, 1983 E.H. Freeman, Ltd., admin. Glenwood Music Corp.
“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”: Setting © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
“All Earth is Hopeful”: Spanish text and tune © 1993 and tr. © 1995 Centro de Pastoral Litúrgica, admin. OCP Publications, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213.
Hymns/anthems: Music reprinted and streamed by permission under ONE LICENSE #A-726103 and CCLI Licenses #21045423 and #21045416. All rights reserved.
Liturgical texts and service music: From SundaysandSeasons.com. Copyright © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS010308.