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The Second Sunday of Advent

Prelude

Gathering

Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness

Please stand as you are able. All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

P:  Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who comes to wake us from sleep, who leads us into the light of grace.

C:  Amen.

P:  Let us prepare the way of the Lord by confessing our sin against God and neighbor.

Please kneel or sit as you are able.

Silence is kept for reflection.

P:  God of all time,

C:  we confess that we have not prepared for your merciful reign among us. We ignore our neighbors in need and fail in the labor of justice and peace. In your mercy forgive us. Grant us wisdom to welcome your light and to seek the things that will endure until Christ comes again in glory. Amen.

P:  Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. In ☩ Jesus Christ your sins are forgiven and all things are made new. Rejoice in this good news!

C:  Amen.

Please stand as you are able.

Entrance Hymn #26 (green hymnal)

“Prepare the Royal Highway”

Greeting

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.

Kyrie

♫ LBW Setting 1
(green hymnal, p. 57)

A:  In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

C:  Lord, have mercy.

A:  For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

C:  Lord, have mercy.

A:  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.

C:  Lord, have mercy.

A:  For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.

C:  Lord, have mercy.

A:  Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C:  Amen.

Hymn of Praise

♫ LBW Setting 1
(green hymnal, p. 58)

A:  Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his 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

♫ LBW Setting 1
(green hymnal, p. 62)

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  And also with you.

P:  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.

C:  Amen.

The Word

Blessing of the Lector

P:  The Spirit and the church cry out, come, Lord Jesus. Everyone who awaits his appearance cries out, come, Lord Jesus. The whole creation cries, come, Lord Jesus. Let us pray.

  Come to us, Lord Jesus, as Chet reads for us your holy word. Keep us attentive to the truth of the scriptures; turn us away from myths; and turn us in faith to you, our strength and our redeemer.

C:  Amen.

Please be seated.

First Lesson: Isaiah 11:1-10

¹ A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
 and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
² The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him,
 the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
 the spirit of counsel and might,
 the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
³ His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
 or decide by what his ears hear;
⁴ but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
 and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
 and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
 and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

⁶ The wolf shall live with the lamb,
 the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
 and a little child shall lead them.
⁷ The cow and the bear shall graze,
 their young shall lie down together;
 and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
⁸ The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
 and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
⁹ They will not hurt or destroy
 on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
 as the waters cover the sea.

¹⁰ On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

  The word of the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God.

Psalmody: Hymn #763 (blue hymnal)

“Let Justice Flow Like Streams” (Psalm 72)

Second Lesson: Romans 15:4-13

⁴ Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. ⁵ May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, ⁶ so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 ⁷ Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. ⁸ For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹ and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
 “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles,
  and sing praises to your name”;
¹⁰ and again he says,
 “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;
¹¹ and again,
 “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
  and let all the peoples praise him”;
¹² and again Isaiah says,
 “The root of Jesse shall come,
  the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
 in him the Gentiles shall hope.”
¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

  The word of the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God.

Please stand as you are able.

Verse

♫ LBW Setting 1
(green hymnal, p. 62)

Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

♫ LBW Setting 1
(green hymnal, p. 63)

P:  The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 3rd chapter.

C:  Glory to you, O Lord.

¹ In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” ³ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
 “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
 ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
  make his paths straight.’ ”
⁴ Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, ⁶ and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
 ⁷ But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruit worthy of repentance. ⁹ Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
 ¹¹ “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

P:  The Gospel of the Lord.

C:  Praise to you, O Christ.

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Please face the back of the sanctuary as the Advent wreath is lit.

Verses 1-3 of “We Light the Advent Candles” are sung as the children come to the Advent wreath and the first two candles are lit.

Litany for the Lighting of the Advent Wreath

P:  Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe. John the Baptist calls all people to prepare the Lord’s way, for the kingdom of heaven is near.

C:  Bless us as we light the second candle of this wreath.

P:  Baptize us with the fire of your Spirit, that we may be a light shining in the darkness, welcoming others as Christ has welcomed us, for he is our light and our salvation.

C:  Blessed be God forever. Amen.

Please be seated.

Children’s Sermon

Sermon

Silence for reflection.

Hymn of the Day #36 (green hymnal)

“On Jordan’s Banks the Baptist’s Cry”

1  On Jordan’s banks the Baptist’s cry
announces that the Lord is nigh;
awake and hearken, for he brings
glad tidings of the King of kings!

2  Then cleansed be ev’ry life from sin;
make straight the way for God within,
and let us all our hearts prepare
for Christ to come and enter there.

3  We hail you as our Savior, Lord,
our refuge and our great reward;
without your grace we waste away
like flow’rs that wither and decay.

4  Stretch forth your hand, our health restore,
and make us rise to fall no more;
oh, let your face upon us shine
and fill the world with love divine.

5  All praise to you, eternal Son,
whose advent has our freedom won,
whom with the Father we adore,
and Holy Spirit, evermore.

Please stand as you are able.

The Nicene Creed

A:  Let us confess our common faith with all Christians throughout time and place, using the words of the 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 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 people may greet one another with a sign of Christ’s peace, and may say, “Peace be with you,” or similar words.

Invitation to Offering

A:  We have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Let us now give our offering that we, like John the Baptist, might help prepare the way of the Lord.

Offering

♫ LBW Setting 1
(green hymnal, p. 66)

Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
and fill to the brim our cup 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 the dreams of all;
unite them with the prayers we offer now.
Grace our table with your presence, and give us
a foretaste of the feast to come.

Offertory 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.

The Meal

Dialogue

♫ LBW Setting 1
(green hymnal, p. 68)

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 him thanks and praise.

P:  It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everliving God. 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 again to judge the world in righteousness. And so, 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 pow’r 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.

Thanksgiving

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 has 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:  Amen. 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:  Amen. 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.

The Lord’s Prayer

P:  Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus 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.

Invitation to Communion

P:  Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, who has come to save you.

Please be seated.

Agnus Dei

♫ LBW Setting 1
(green hymnal, p. 72)

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us peace.

Communion

P:  The Body of Christ, broken for you.

  The Blood of Christ, shed for you.

Those who wish to commune at the altar rail may either bring forward their individual Communion kit, or receive the wafer and wine/grape juice by intinction (dipping) from the Communion Ministers, when they are directed forward by the usher. Those who wish to commune in their seat with their individual Communion kit may remain seated.

Communion Hymn #421 (green hymnal)

“Lord Christ, When First You Came to Earth”

1  Lord Christ, when first you came to earth,
upon a cross they bound you,
and mocked your saving kingship’s worth
by thorns with which they crowned you.
And still our wrongs may fashion now
new thorns to pierce that steady brow,
and robe of sorrow round you.

2  O awesome Love, which finds no room
in life where sin denies you,
and, doomed to death, shall bring to doom
the pow’r which crucifies you,
till not a stone was left on stone,
and then the nations’ pride, o’erthrown,
will nevermore defy you!

3  New advent of the love of Christ,
will we again refuse you,
till in the night of hate and war
we perish as we lose you?
From ancient doubts our minds release
to seek the kingdom of your peace,
by which alone we choose you.

4  O wounded hands of Jesus, build
in us your new creation;
our pride is dust, our vaunt is stilled;
we wait your revelation.
O Love that triumphs over loss,
we bring our hearts before your cross
to finish your salvation.

Communion Hymn #29 (green hymnal)

“Comfort, Comfort Now My People”

1  “Comfort, comfort now my people;
tell of peace!” So says our God.
Comfort those who sit in darkness
mourning under sorrow’s load.
To God’s people now proclaim
that God’s pardon waits for them!
Tell them that their war is over;
God will reign in peace forever.

2  For the herald’s voice is crying
in the desert far and near,
calling us to true repentance,
since the kingdom now is here.
Oh, that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way!
Let the valleys rise to meet him,
and the hills bow down to greet him!

3  Straight shall be what long was crooked,
and the rougher places plain!
Let your hearts be true and humble,
as befits his holy reign!
For the glory of the Lord
now on earth is shed abroad,
and all flesh shall see the token
that God’s word is never broken.

Table Blessing

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

C:  Amen.

Post-Communion Canticle

♫ LBW Setting 1
(green hymnal, p. 72)

Thank the Lord and sing his praise; tell ev’ryone what he has done.
Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear his name.
He recalls his promises and leads his people forth in joy
with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Post-Communion Prayer

A:  Let us pray.
God with 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.

Silence for reflection.

Sending

Announcements For God’s Mission in the World

Please stand as you are able.

Blessing

P:  The God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus.

C:  Amen.

P:  The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

C:  Amen.

P:  The God of all grace ☩ bless you now and forever.

C:  Amen.

Closing Hymn #725 (blue hymnal)

“Blessed Be the God of Israel”

Dismissal

A:  Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God.

Postlude

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Worship Leaders

The Rev. Emily Beckering, Pastor
Kris Keith, Music Director
Kate Wollenburg, Organist
Carroll Mayhugh, Assisting Minister
Chet Laine, Reader

Upcoming Events

Copyright Notices

Prepare the Royal Highway: Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.

Let Justice Flow like Streams: Text © 1984 Jane Parker Huber, admin. Westminster John Knox Press.

We Light the Advent Candles: Text by Gracia Grindal © 1999 Hope Publishing Company.

Lord Christ, When First You Came to Earth: Text from Lift Up Your Hearts © Abingdon Press. Arr. © 1969 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.

Blessed Be the God of Israel: Text by Carl P. Daw Jr. © 1989 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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 © 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS010308.