ORDER OF WORSHIP
FIrst Sunday of Advent
December 3, 2023

+ GATHERING +

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH

Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah
ELW 240 (v 1)

Light one candle to watch for Messiah:
let the light banish darkness.
He shall bring salvation to Israel,
God fulfills the promise.

PRELUDE 

 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
arr. Roger C. Wilson

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Most merciful God,
we confess that we are captive 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.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God 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.

GATHERING HYMN

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You
ELW 241

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.

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. 

KYRIE    (ELW 155)

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray.
 Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection awaken us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and keep us blameless until the coming of your new day, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

+ WORD +  

FIRST READING:   Isaiah 64:1-9
This lament comes from a people who have had their hopes shattered. The visions of a rebuilt Jerusalem and a renewed people of God, spoken of in Isaiah 40–55, have not been realized. Instead, the people experience ruin, conflict, and famine. This lament calls God to account—to be the God who has brought deliverance in the past.

¹O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
 so that the mountains would quake at your presence —
 ² as when fire kindles brushwood
 and the fire causes water to boil —
 to make your name known to your adversaries,
 so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
 ³When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
 you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
 ⁴From ages past no one has heard,
 no ear has perceived,
 no eye has seen any God besides you,
 who works for those who wait for him.
 ⁵You meet those who gladly do right,
 those who remember you in your ways.
 But you were angry, and we sinned;
 because you hid yourself we transgressed.
 ⁶We have all become like one who is unclean,
 and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
 We all fade like a leaf,
 and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
 ⁷There is no one who calls on your name,
 or attempts to take hold of you;
 for you have hidden your face from us,
 and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
 ⁸Yet, O LORD, you are our Father;
 we are the clay, and you are our potter;
 we are all the work of your hand.
 ⁹Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD,
 and do not remember iniquity forever.
 Now consider, we are all your people.

The worrd of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

PSALM 80:1-7, 17-19  (in unison)

 ¹Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
 you who lead Joseph like a flock!
 You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
 ²before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
 Stir up your might,
 and come to save us!
 ³Restore us, O God;
 let your face shine, that we may be saved.
 ⁴O Lord GOD of hosts,
 how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
 ⁵You have fed them with the bread of tears,
 and given them tears to drink in full measure.
 ⁶You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
 our enemies laugh among themselves.
 ⁷Restore us, O God of hosts;
 let your face shine, that we may be saved.
 ¹⁷But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
 the one whom you made strong for yourself.
 ¹⁸Then we will never turn back from you;
 give us life, and we will call on your name.
 ¹⁹Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;
 let your face shine, that we may be saved.

SECOND READING:  1 Corinthians 1:3-9
As the Christians in Corinth await the advent of Jesus, Paul reminds them how the Lord has already enriched them through spiritual gifts and will continue to strengthen them until the coming day of the Lord.

The word of the Lord.       
Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION   (ELW 175)

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

GOSPEL:      Mark 13:24-37
Jesus encourages his followers to look forward to the day when he returns in power and glory to end all suffering.

The holy gospel according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.

[Jesus said:]  ²⁴In those days, after that suffering,  the sun will be darkened,  and the moon will not give its light,
 ²⁵and the stars will be falling from heaven,  and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
²⁶Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. ²⁷Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
²⁸From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁰Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. ³¹Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
³²But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. ³⁵Therefore, keep awake — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, ³⁶or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. ³⁷And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."

The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON  

HYMN OF THE DAY    

The King Shall Come
ELW 260

The King shall come when morning dawns
and light triumphant breaks,
when beauty gilds the eastern hills
and life to joy awakes.

Not as of old a little child,
to bear and fight and die,
but crowned with glory like the sun
that lights the morning sky.

Oh, brighter than the rising morn
when Christ, victorious, rose
and left the lonesome place of death,
despite the rage of foes.

Oh, brighter than that glorious morn
shall dawn upon our race
the day when Christ in splendor comes,
and we shall see his face.

The King shall come when morning dawns
and light and beauty brings.
Hail, Christ the Lord! Your people pray:
come quickly, King of kings.

APOSTLES’ 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 THE PEOPLE

With hope and expectation, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all who await God’s day of restoration.

Hear Our Prayer
ELW 178

Hear our prayer, Hear our prayer,
Lord make us whole:
peace to all people, hope for each soul.
God of Grace, in this place,
hear now our prayer.

Call your church into holy fellowship as we await the restoration of all things. Reenergize your faithful people to live with hope and compassion, especially those who serve as missionaries near and far. Center us on your promise to come among us and make all things new. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.

All creation signals your presence, O God: the vastness of the cosmos, the turn of the seasons, and living things that both rest and flourish. Rekindle our commitment to care for the earth. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.

Let the nations tremble at your holy presence, that justice and liberation prevail in all corners of the earth. Restore peace to nations in conflict, teach righteousness to corrupt leaders and systems, and bring stability to areas facing uncertain futures. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.

Enrich the spirits of all who feel hopeless, fearful, or despairing. Stay close to those who await healing or relief, particularly Arlene, Anne, Mabel, Mike, Anna Mae, Doris, Michael, Julie, Carol, Anne, Tom, Lydia, Paul, Wil, Amy, Bob, Jane, Marian L., Monica, Scott, Ron, Flo, Doris, Dottie, Ruth, Marian, Tim, Betty, Henry, Mary, Greg, Ann Joyce, Jim, Yolanda, and Max.Deliver all in any need. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.

Be with those who keep awake at night: nurses working overnight shifts, caregivers of newborns and aging adults, stargazers, those who are anxious, or those who are traveling. Reveal to all that the dark can be a place of calm and comfort filled with your presence. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.

     Other petitions may be offered.

You have sent out your angels and gathered your faithful people from every time and place, calling them into one fellowship of saints. Bless the witness of those who dwell in your eternal presence. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.

Listen to these and all our prayers, O God of hosts, and restore us with your great and everlasting mercy.
Amen.

EXCHANGE OF PEACE

Let Your Peace Rain upon Us
ACS 989

Let your peace rain upon us,
O living God of peace.
Let your peace rain upon us,
Lord, fill our hearts with your peace.

Peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

  + MEAL +  

OFFERING
You may place your offerings in the offering plate as it is passed during the service.  Alternatively, some are using Tithe.ly for online giving or are using their bank’s online banking option.  Whichever way you choose to give, we are grateful for your stewardship and generosity.

MUSICAL OFFERING

 Be Watchful, Be Ready
by John A. Behnke

OFFERING SONG  

Create In Me a Clean HEart
ELW 188

OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray.
God of power, God of plenty, God of abundance, all things are yours.  We bring to you that which you have entrusted to us.  Use them so that all may be fed.  Shape us into the very body of Christ and use us for the sake of the world.  In the name of Jesus.
Amen.

    HOLY COMMUNION

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

DIALOGUE
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.

PREFACE    

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     (ELW 190)

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heav’n and earth are full, full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest,
hosanna in the highest.   

THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE 

You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God. You are most holy, and great is the majesty of your glory.

You so loved the world that you gave your only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish
but have eternal life.

We give you thanks for his coming into the world to fulfill for us your holy will and to accomplish all things for our salvation.

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.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Christ has died.
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again. 

Remembering, therefore, his salutary command, his life-giving passion and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension, and the promise of his coming again, we give thanks to you, O Lord God Almighty, not as we ought but as we are able; we ask you mercifully to accept our praise and thanksgiving and with your Word and Holy Spirit to bless us, your servants, and these your own gifts of bread and wine, so that we and all who share in the body and blood of Christ may be filled with heavenly blessing and grace, and, receiving the forgiveness of sin, may be formed to live as your holy people and be given our inheritance with all your saints.

To you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory in your holy church, now and forever.                      Amen.           

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.

DISTRIBUTION 
The baptized children of God are invited by the Lord to the Lord’s Table where we receive Jesus’ very body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine. We commune at the head of the aisle where we receive the host. Then to Pastor’s side  is first, a chalice for intinction and second, a common cup for drinking, and a third chalice of juice. Gluten free bread is available. If you wish to commune, but cannot come forward, let an usher know and Pastor will come to you. If you do not wish to commune, you are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing. You may wish to remain at the rail for a time of personal prayer following which you may return to your pew down the side aisle.

AGNUS DEI     (ELW 196)

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

HYMN DURING COMMUNION

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
ELW 257

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Refrain
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   shall come to you, O Israel.

O come, O Wisdom from on high,
embracing all things far and nigh:
in strength and beauty come and stay;
teach us your will and guide our way.  Refrain

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.  Refrain

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

O come, O Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav'nly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.  Refrain

O come, O Dayspring, come and cheer;
O Sun of justice, now draw near.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadow put to flight.  Refrain

O come, O King of nations, come,
O Cornerstone that binds in one:
refresh the hearts that long for you;
restore the broken, make us new.  Refrain

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.  Refrain

BLESSING AFTER COMMUNION

And now may the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ preserve us on to life everlasting.  
Amen.

SONG AFTER COMMUNION  

Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether (vs. 3)  
ELW 470

All our meals and all our living
make as sacraments of you,
that by caring, helping, giving,
we may be disciples true. 
Alleluia! Alleluia!
We will serve with faith anew.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
O God, we give you thanks that you have set before us this feast, the body and blood of your Son. By your Spirit strengthen us to serve all in need and to give ourselves away as bread for the hungry, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

+ SENDING +  

SENDING HYMN

 Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers
ELW 244

Rejoice, rejoice, believers,
and let your lights appear;
the evening is advancing,
and darker night is near.
The bridegroom is arising
and soon is drawing nigh.
Up, pray and watch and wrestle;
at midnight comes the cry.

The watchers on the mountain
proclaim the bridegroom near;
go forth as he approaches
with alleluias clear.
The marriage feast is waiting;
the gates wide open stand.
Arise, O heirs of glory;
the bridegroom is at hand.

The saints, who here in patience
their cross and suff'rings bore,
shall live and reign forever
when sorrow is no more.
Around the throne of glory
the Lamb they shall behold;
in triumph cast before him
their diadems of gold.

Our hope and expectation,
O Jesus, now appear;
arise, O Sun so longed for,
o'er this benighted sphere.
With hearts and hands uplifted,
we plead, O Lord, to see
the day of earth's redemption
that sets your people free!

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

DISMISSAL
Go in peace.  Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE

Savior of the Nations, Come
Andreas Nikolaus Vetter

Liturgical Text and Music from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, © 2006, 2020, 2022 Augsburg Fortress.  Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS016761.  All rights reserved.

Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah, Text: Wayne L. Wold, b. 1954. Text © 1954 Fortress Press. Text reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved. Music: Yiddish folk tune, Public Domain.

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You.  Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676; tr. composite.  Music: Johann Crüger, 1598-1662.
Public domain.

Kyrie, Music: Russian Orthodox taditional, Public Domain.

Gospel Acclamation, Music: Jacques Berthier, 1923-1994, and the Taize Community.  Music ©1981 Les Presses de Taizé, admin. GIA Publications, Inc. Text and music reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense A-722274.  All rights reserved.

The King Shall Come,Text: John Brownlie, 1859-1925.  Music: A. Davisson, Kentucky Harmony, 1816; arr. Theodore A. Beck, 1929-2003.  Arr. ©  1969 Concordia Publishing House. Music reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

Hear Our Prayer, Text and music: Paul Andress, b. 1956. Text and music © 2006 Augsburg Fortress.  Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.  

Let Your Peace Rain upon Us, Palestinian traditional; tr. Mark Swanson, b. 1955, and Mark Sedio, b. 1954.  English text © 2020 Augsburg Fortress.  Text reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved Music: Palestinian traditional.  Public Domain.

Create in Me a Clean Heart, Music: J. A. Freylinghausen, 1670-1739. Public domain.

Holy, Holy, Holy, Music: Franz Schubert, 1737-1828; adapt. Richard Proulx, b. 1937.  Adapt. © 1985, 10989 GIA Publications, Inc.  Music reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

O Christ, Lamb of God, Music: J. Bugenhagen, Christliche Ordnung, 1528.  Public Domain.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.  Text: Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Köln, 1710; tr. composite.  Text sts. 2,6,7 © 1997 Augsburg Fortress.  Text reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved. Music: French processional, 15^th cent. Public Domain.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers, Text: Laurentius Laurenti, 1660-1722; tr. Sarah B. Findlater,1823-1907. Swedish folk song.  Public Domain.