ORDER OF WORSHIP
The Second Sunday of Advent
Decenber 8, 2024
Forerunners and messengers advance the advent of our God. While John the baptizer’s voice in the wilderness may be the principal focus of the day, Malachi’s prophecy could as easily herald the coming Christ as forerunner of the Lord of hosts. Finally all the baptized are called to participate in the sharing of the gospel. In so doing we prepare the way for the coming of Jesus and assist all people in capturing a vision of the “salvation of God.”
+ GATHERING +
LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH
The prophet Isaiah shared a word with the fearful world, a vision of gentleness and peace. “The wolf shall live with the lamb," he said, and "the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them."
Animals we would never trust together will eat right next to each other! And their children will be safe with each other.
Animals who like meat will eat plants!
Tiny children will be safe even in the places we would expect danger.
God's mountain will be a peaceful place for all people because all will know how God wants things to be.
As we wait faithfully for God’s time, we light the candles of Hope and Peace.
Our peace comes from God, who became one of us in Jesus.
Christ, Be Our Light
ELW 715, verse 2
Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has pow'r to save us.
Make us your living voice.
Refrain
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Blessed are you, God of peace, for you promise to bring forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse who will bring justice to the poor deliver the needy and crush the oppressor, who will bring peace to all people. As we light these candles, turn our wills to bear the fruit of repentance, transform our hearts to live in justice and harmony with one another and fix our eyes on the root of Jesse, who is Jesus Christ, the peace of all nations.
O people of peace, come.
Let us rejoice in the peace of the world, the one who was and is and is to come. Amen.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
Comfort, Comfort Now My People
ELW 256
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
Awake, Awake and Greet the New MOrn
ELW 242
Awake! Awake, and greet the new morn,
for angels herald its dawning.
Sing out your joy, for soon he is born,
behold! the Child of our longing.
Come as a baby weak and poor,
to bring all hearts together,
he opens wide the heav'nly door
and lives now inside us forever.
To us, to all in sorrow and fear,
Emmanuel comes a-singing,
his humble song is quiet and near,
yet fills the earth with its ringing;
music to heal the broken soul
and hymns of lovingkindness,
the thunder of his anthems roll
to shatter all hatred and blindness.
In darkest night his coming shall be,
when all the world is despairing,
as morning light so quiet and free,
so warm and gentle and caring.
Then shall the mute break forth in song,
the lame shall leap in wonder,
the weak be raised above the strong,
and weapons be broken asunder.
Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night,
though dark the winter and cheerless,
the rising sun shall crown you with light,
be strong and loving and fearless.
Love be our song and love our prayer
and love our endless story;
may God fill ev'ry day we share
and bring us at last into glory.
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)
Kyrie eleison,
Kyrie eleison,
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison,
Christe eleison,
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison,
Kyrie eleison,
Kyrie eleison.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming give to all the people of the world knowledge of your salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
+ WORD +
First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
God announces a covenant with Israel. A messenger like Malachi (his name means “my messenger”) will prepare the way for the coming of the Lord by purifying and refining God’s people, as silver and gold are refined.
1See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the LORD whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight — indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; 3he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. 4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm: Luke 1:68-79 (sung responsively by full verse)
Refrain: In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
68 Blessed are you, Lord, the | God of Israel,
you have come to your | people and set them free.
69 You have raised up for us a | mighty Savior,
born of the | house of your servant David. R
70 Through your holy prophets, you promised of old to save us | from our enemies,
71 from the | hands of all who hate us,
72 to show mercy | to our forebears,
and to re- | member your | holy covenant.
73 This was the oath you swore to our | father Abraham:
74 to set us | free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship you | without fear,
75 holy and righteous before you, | all the days of our life. R
76 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of | the Most High,
for you will go before the | Lord to prepare the way,
77 to give God’s people knowledge | of salvation
by the for- | giveness of their sins.
78 In the tender compassion | of our God
the dawn from on | high shall break upon us,
79 to shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the | shadow of death,
and to guide our | feet into the way of peace. R
SECOND READING: Philippians 1:3-11
The apostle Paul was the pastor of many new churches. He writes in this letter about his joy to be in partnership with the Christians of Philippi. Listen to how tender-hearted Paul, sometimes a stern preacher, is with his friends as he encourages them to grow in love and knowledge.
3I thank my God every time I remember you, 4constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Lord, to whom shall we go, Alleluia.
You have the words of eternal life, Alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL: Luke 3:1-6
John the Baptist is a herald of Jesus, whose way is prepared by “repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” As we hear the careful record of human leaders, we sense the spectrum of political and religious authority that will be challenged by this coming Lord.
The holy gospel according to Luke..
Glory to you, O Lord.
1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
5Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth;
6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Pastor Jeanette Sweet
HYMN OF THE DAY
On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry
ELW 249
On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
announces that the Lord is nigh;
awake and hearken, for he brings
glad tidings of the King of kings!
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.
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.
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.
All praise to you, eternal Son,
whose advent has our freedom won,
whom with the Father we adore,
and Holy Spirit, evermore.
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.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
As we prepare for Emmanuel, God-with-us, let us pray for all people and places that long for God’s presence.
O Lord, Hear My Prayer
ELW 751
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer:
when I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer:
come and listen to me.
Refining God, move through your church. Root out practices that harm your people, and kindle a fire for sharing the gospel among bishops, pastors, deacons, and all the baptized. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
Renewing God, transform your creation. Steer us from habits that harm what you have made, and guide us in practices that preserve and restore creatures and habitats. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
Ruling God, teach the nations your ways. Strengthen organizations and communities that broker peace and care for refugees, immigrants, and all caught in the center of conflict (especially). Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
Rescuing God, restore your people who are in any need. Heal all who are suffering (especially). Provide comfort and strength, and nurture sustained wholeness for the future. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
Reforming God, fill this congregation with your presence. Enrich our seasonal preparations, and bless the efforts by worship committees, music ensembles, staff, clergy, and lay leaders as they work in the weeks ahead. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
Lord, we thank you for Grace’s Call Committee, for their diligence and
faithfulness as servants of Christ. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon them.
Blessing, strengthening and empowering them for the task of calling a new
pastor. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
In your presence you give fullness of joy. Care for all for whom joy feels distant. Be present with persons experiencing depression, anxiety, or any other illness, especially Rita, Mary, Mabel, AnnaMae, Doris, Jan, June, Barbara, Ann, Julie, Sydney, Carol, Anne, Judy, Tom, Lydia, Brian, James & Grace, Wil, Amy, Michael, Bob & Jane, Scott, Ron & Flo, Mac, Marie, Monica, Tom & Leona, Avery, Doris, Elaine, John, Tim, Betty, Linda, Jeff, Henry, Gary, Mary, Greg, Helen & Ron, and Max. Bring them healing and wholeness. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Reassuring God, we remember those who have died and rest in you. Guide us in deep gratitude for their life, and allow us to learn from their faithful witness. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
Savior of the nations, come, and receive these prayers and the pleas of our hearts, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
SHARING OF THE 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
WHat Hope! An Eden Prophesied
LSB 342
OFFERTORY
Create In Me a Clean Heart
ELW 188
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with your free Spirit.
OFFERING PRAYER
Creator God,
you made the whole world,
even the farthest stars,
and you draw near to feed us.
We praise you for these gifts of bread and wine.
Strengthen us with this food
that we may live in expectation
for the advent of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
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;
who on this day overcame death and the grave,
and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.
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 (ELW 190)
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of pow’r and God of might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
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 has 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 (sung)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those
who sin against us;
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the pow'r,
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Amen.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Behold, God is making all things new.
Take your place in the new creation.
DISTRIBUTION
This holy meal is for all the baptized children of God. We commune at the altar rail. The ushers will direct you down the center aisle. Please go to an open spot at the altar rail. After you have received the host, the first chalice is for intinction and the second chalice is for drinking. A third chalice of grape juice is also offered. Please let the Pastor know if you wish to receive gluten-free wafers. 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.
SANCTUS (ELW 196)
O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy upon us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy upon us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us your peace. Amen.
HYMNS DURING COMMUNION
All Earth is Hopeful
ELW 266
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.
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.
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!
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.
We Are Waiting for Jesus
ACS 905
We are waiting for Jesus; Jesus brings peace.
We are waiting for Jesus; Jesus brings peace.
Sun of justice, shine upon us;
we are trusting in your promise.
We are waiting for Jesus; Jesus brings peace.
We are waiting for Jesus; Jesus brings peace.
We are waiting for Jesus; Jesus brings peace.
Loving Shepherd, walk beside us;
stir our hearts, and gently guide us.
We are waiting for Jesus; Jesus brings peace.
TABLE BLESSING
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Generous God,
we thank you for the gift of life, for the bread of salvation.
We thank you for coming among us, for leading us into peace.
We thank you for showering us with mercy, for sending us into the world.
Come, Lord Jesus, and go with us as we feed the hungry in your name.
Amen.
+ SENDING +
SENDING HYMN
Hark the Glad Sound
ELW 239
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.
BENEDICTION
The Ancient One, enthroned,
the Crucified One, now risen,
the Indwelling One, poured out,
bless you now and forever.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Encourage one another in Christ.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
The King of Glory
W&P 136
Liturgical Text and Music from Evangelical Lutheran Worship and All Creation Sings, © 2006, 2020, 2022 Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS016761. All rights reserved.
Comfort, Comfort Now My People, Text: Johann G. Olearius, 1635-1711; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878, alt. Music: Trente quatre pseaumes de David, Geneva, 1551. Public domain.
Awake, Awake, and Greet the New Morn. Text and music: Marty Haugen, b. 1950. Text and music © 1983 GIA Publications, Inc., Text and music reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
Kyrie, Music: Russian Orthodox traditional, Public domain.
Psalm for Zechariah, Words: Luke 1:68-79.. Music: Mark Mummert © 2004, 2006 Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
Alleluia 7, Music: Jacques Berthier, 1923-1994 and the Taizé Community. Music ©1984 Les Presses de Taizé, admin. GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry, Text: Charles Coffin, 1676-1749; tr. composite. Music: European tune, adapt. Michael Praetorius, 1571-1621. Public domain.
O Lord, Hear My Prayer, Text: Taizé Community, adapt. Music Jacques Berthier, 1923-1994. Text and music © 1982, 1991 Les Presses de Taizé, admin. GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
What Hope! An Eden Prophesied, Text: Stephen P. Starke, b. 1955, © 1998 Stephen P. Starke, admin. Concordia Publishing House. Music: Public domain, setting © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Text and music reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
Create in Me a Clean Heart, Music: J. A. Freylinghausen, 1670-1739. Public domain.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Music: Deutsche Messe, Franz Schubert, 1797-1828, adapt. Richard Proulx, b. 1937. Adapt. © 1985, 1989 GIA Publications, Inc. Music reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
The Lord's Prayer (major key version), Music: Jack S. Upton, Jr., 1944-2013, Used by permission.
O Christ, Lamb of God, Music: J. Bugenhagen, Christliche Ordnung, 1528. Public domain.
All Earth is Hopeful. Text: Alberto Taulé, b. 1932; Tr. Madeleine Forell Marshall, b. 1946. Alberto Taulé Text and music © 1993, Tr © 1995 Centro de Pastoral Litúrgica, admin. OCP Publications. Text and music reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
We Are Waiting for Jesus, Text and music: John Helgen, b. 1957. Text and music © 2013 Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved. .
Hark the Glad Sound, Text:Philip Doddridge, 1702-1751. Music: Thomas Haweis, 1734-1820. Public domain.
The King of Glory, Text: Willard F. Jabusch. Text © 1968, 1995 Willard F. Jabusch, admin. OCP Publications. Text reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense A-722274. All rights reserved. Music: Israeli traditional. Public domain.
