The First 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 #27 (green hymnal)
“Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending” v. 1-2, 4
1 Lo! He comes with clouds descending,
once for favored sinners slain;
thousand thousand saints attending
swell the triumph of his train:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Christ the Lord returns to reign.
2 Ev’ry eye shall now behold him
robed in glorious majesty;
those who set at nought and sold him,
pierced and nailed him to the tree,
deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
shall their true Messiah see.
4 Yea, amen, let all adore thee,
high on thine eternal throne;
Savior, take the pow’r and glory,
claim the kingdom as thine own.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou shalt reign, and thou alone!
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 your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection save us from the threatening dangers of our sins, and enlighten our walk in the way of your salvation, 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: 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 Sherry 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 2:1-5
1 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 In days to come
the mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
3 Many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
5 O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the LORD!
The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalmody
“How Did My Heart Rejoice to Hear” (Psalm 122)
1 How did my heart rejoice to hear
My friend devoutly say,
“In Zion let us all appear,
And keep the solemn day.”
2 I love her gates, I love the road;
The Church, adorned with grace,
Stands like a palace built for God,
To show his milder face.
3 Up to her courts, with joys unknown,
The holy tribes repair;
The Son of David holds his throne,
And sits in judgment there.
4 Peace be within this sacred place,
And joy a constant guest;
With holy gifts and heavenly grace,
Be her attendants blest.
5 My soul shall pray for Zion still,
While life or breath remains;
There my best friends, my kindred dwell,
There God, my Saviour reigns.
Second Lesson: Romans 13:11-14
11 Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; 12 the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 13 let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
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 24:36-44
♫ LBW Setting 1
(green hymnal, p. 63)
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 24th chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus said to the disciples, 36 “About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
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 and 2 of “We Light the Advent Candles” are sung as the children come to the Advent wreath and the first candle is lit.
1 We light the Advent candles
against the winter night,
to welcome our Lord Jesus
who is the world’s True Light,
to welcome our Lord Jesus
who is the world’s True Light.
2 The first one will remind us
that Christ will soon return.
We light it in the darkness
and watch it gleam and burn,
We light it in the darkness
and watch it gleam and burn.
Litany for the Lighting of the Advent Wreath
P: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe. You call all nations to walk in your light and to seek your ways of justice and peace, for the night is past, and the dawn of your coming is near.
C: Bless us as we light the first candle of this wreath.
P: Rouse us from sleep, that we may be ready to greet our Lord when he comes and welcome him into our hearts and homes, 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 #31 (green hymnal)
“Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying”
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
Please stand as you are able.
The Apostles’ Creed
A: Let us confess our common faith with all Christians throughout time and place, using the words of 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 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: It is the moment for you to wake from sleep (Rom. 13:11). We give our offering with eyes wide open for Jesus.
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: Stay awake, for the Kingdom of God is near and Christ is here.
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 #701 (blue hymnal)
“What Feast of Love”
1 What feast of love is offered here,
what banquet come from heaven?
What food of everlasting life,
what gracious gift is given?
This, this is Christ the king,
the bread come down from heaven.
Oh, taste and see and sing!
How sweet the manna given!
2 What light of truth is offered here,
what covenant from heaven?
What hope of everlasting life,
what wondrous word is given?
This, this is Christ the king,
the sun come down from heaven.
Oh, see and hear and sing!
The Word of God is given!
3 What wine of love is offered here,
what crimson drink from heaven?
What stream of everlasting life,
what precious blood is given?
This, this is Christ the king,
the sweetest wine of heaven.
Oh, taste and see and sing!
The Son of God is given!
Communion Hymn #312 (green hymnal)
“Once He Came in Blessing” v. 1-2, 4
1 Once he came in blessing,
all our ills redressing;
came in likeness lowly,
Son of God most holy;
bore the cross to save us;
hope and freedom gave us.
2 Still he comes within us;
still his voice would win us
from the sins that hurt us;
would to truth convert us
from our foolish error
ere he comes in terror.
4 Those who then are loyal
find a welcome royal.
Come, then, O Lord Jesus,
from our sins release us;
let us here confess you,
till in heav’n we bless you.
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 #37 (green hymnal)
“Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding!” v. 1-4
1 Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding!
“Christ is near,” we hear the cry.
“Cast away the works of darkness,
all you children of the day!”
2 Startled at the solemn warning,
let the earthbound soul arise;
Christ, its sun, all sloth dispelling,
shines upon the morning skies.
3 See the Lamb, so long expected,
comes with pardon down from heav’n.
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
one and all, to be forgiv’n;
4 So, when next he comes in glory
and the world is wrapped in fear,
he will shield us with his mercy
and with words of love draw near.
Dismissal
A: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
Worship Leaders
The Rev. Emily Beckering, Pastor
Kris Keith, Music Director **away
Kate Wollenburg, Organist **away
Carolyn Koehl, Organist
Addy Kruse, Hymn Leader
Donald Harris, Assisting Minister
Sherry Bronner, Reader
Upcoming Events
Sunday, November 27: 1 Advent
**NO Sunday School / Adult Forum**
10:30 am Worship (in-person / livestreamed)
1 pm Church Mice play rehearsal
Wednesday, November 30
6:30 pm Benson Street Christmas Walk Caroling Rehearsal
Thursday, December 1
12:30 pm Organ tuning
Friday, December 2
6 pm Scouts Lock-in begins
6 pm Benson Street Christmas Walk Caroling
Saturday, December 3
8 pm Scouts Lock-in ends
Sunday, December 4: 2 Advent
9 am Sunday School / Adult Forum
10:30 am Worship (in-person / livestreamed)
After worship: Evangelism Committee
1 pm Church Mice play rehearsal
Tuesday, December 6
5:30 pm Confirmation class
7 pm Church Mice play rehearsal
Thursday, December 8
6 pm Scouts BSA
Copyright Notices
How Did My Heart Rejoice to Hear: Arr. © 1969 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.
We Light the Advent Candles: Text by Gracia Grindal © 1999 Hope Publishing Company.
What Feast of Love: Text © 1993 Delores Dufner, published by OCP Publications, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland OR 97213. All rights reserved.
Once He Came in Blessing: Arr. © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding!: Arr. © 1969 Concordia Publishing House. 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.