December 15, 2024
Third Sunday in Advent
Holy Communion
Christ’s presence in our midst in the wonder of the holy supper is cause for singing. The nearness of the God in prayer, in every circumstance, is cause for rejoicing. The coming of one “more powerful” than John, even with a winnowing fork in hand, is good news—and cause for exultation—for us who are being saved. Great joy is the tone for the third Sunday of Advent.
+ GATHERING +
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH
The prophet Isaiah shared a word with the grieving world, a vision of vibrant renewal. All of creation will be glad.
Even the earth itself will praise God! Dry places like deserts will be full of blooming life.
Joy will grow like new crocuses poking up through the ground and spreading out in the front yard.
The whole earth will sing praises to God, and so will we!
As we wait faithfully for God’s time, we light the candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy.
In God’s time of joy, all sorrow and sighing will leave us..
Christ, Be Our Light
ELW 715, verse 3
Refrain
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed. Refrain
Blessed are you, God of Creation, for you promise to make the desert rejoice and blossom, to watch over the strangers, and to set the prisoners free. As we light these candles, satisfy us with your good gifts, open our eyes to the great things you have done for us, and fill us with patience until the coming of our Lord, Jesus the Christ.
O people of joy, come.
Let us travel on God’s holy way and enter into Zion with singing. Amen..
PRELUDE
O Come, O Come Emmanul
arr. Paul Fey
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 (page 138)
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above,
and for our salvation,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
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.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house,
and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray.
Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the preaching of John, that, rejoicing in your salvation, we may bring forth the fruits of repentance; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
+ READINGS +
FIRST READING: Zephaniah 3:14-20
The prophet Zephaniah’s message is mostly one of judgment for sin. This reading, however, which comes from the conclusion of the book, prophesies joy for Judah and Jerusalem. Judgment has led to repentance, and God’s salvation is at hand.
14Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
15The LORD has taken away the judgments against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
17The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
18as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you,
so that you will not bear reproach for it.
19I will deal with all your oppressors
at that time.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20At that time I will bring you home,
at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes, says the LORD.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM Isaiah 12:2-6 (Read responsively by full verse)
2Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord GOD is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
3With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
4And you will say in that day:
Give thanks to the LORD,
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.
5Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
6Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
SECOND READING: Philippians 4:4-7
Despite being in prison, Paul is remarkably upbeat as he writes this letter. Here, he urges his friends in Philippi to trust God with all their worries and concerns with the hope that they will experience God’s joy and peace.
4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (page 142)
Alleluia, Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the word of eternal life, alleluia.
GOSPEL: Luke 3:7-18
John the Baptist heralds the mighty one who is coming. John teaches that preparation for God’s reign is not a matter of identity but of bearing fruits of merciful justice, radical generosity, and vocational integrity.
The holy gospel according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
7John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin 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. 9Even 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."
10And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" 11In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 13He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." 14Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Pastor Jeannine Sweet
HYMN OF THE DAY
Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers\
ELW 244
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
does its successive journeys run;
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.
To him shall endless prayer be made,
and praises throng to crown his head;
his name like sweet perfume shall rise
with ev'ry morning sacrifice.
People and realms of ev'ry tongue
dwell on his love with sweetest song;
and infant voices shall proclaim
their early blessings on his name.
Blessings abound where'er he reigns:
the pris'ners leap to lose their chains,
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.
Let ev'ry creature rise and bring
peculiar honors to our king;
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud amen.
APOSTLES’ CREED (page 105)
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
As we prepare for Emmanuel, God-with-us, let us pray for all people and places that long for God’s presence.
A brief silence.
God who reforms, fill your church with courage to do your will. Empower your people in taking risks that bear fruit. Raise up leaders who will proclaim the good news. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
God who creates, you hold in balance diverse ecosystems. Encourage efforts to protect wild lands from devastation. Care for animals and people in the path of destructive fires, storms, and other disasters. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
God who leads, this world cries out for true justice. Guide legislatures, judges, and lawyers in actions steeped in love and restoration. Increase the desire to advocate for all who are confronted with discrimination and oppression based on race, gender, sexuality, class, or age. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
God who embraces, help us notice the places where your people are hurting or sick. We pray especially for 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. Show your compassion and remember your people in love. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
God who abides, you dwell among the people of this congregation. Deepen our relationships with one another, and make us aware of the diverse talents and gifts present here. 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.
God who consoles, we thank you for the time we have had with loved ones who have died. Comfort us with the promise of everlasting life in you. 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
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
We prepare now to receive our offerings as we return to God a portion of what God has entrusted to us.
+ 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.
ANTHEM
Advent Echo Carol
Beall
OFFERING SONG
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 (page 107)
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 pow'r and might,
holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow'r and might,
heaven 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 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 (page 145)
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
God feeds us with tender mercy.
Come to the table.
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 communion rail where we receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Gluten free bread and grape juice are 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 (page 146)
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 HYMNS
I am the Bread of Life
ELW 485
"I am the Bread of life.
You who come to me shall not hunger,
and who believe in me shall not thirst.
No one can come to me unless the Father beckons."
Refrain
"And I will raise you up,
and I will raise you up,
and I will raise you up on the last day."
"The bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world,
and if you eat of this bread,
you shall live forever, you shall live forever." Refrain
"Unless you eat
of the flesh of the Son of Man
and drink of his blood,
and drink of his blood,
you shall not have life within you." Refrain
"I am the resurrection,
I am the life.
If you believe in me,
even though you die, you shall live forever." Refrain
Yes, Lord, I believe
that you are the Christ,
the Son of God,
who have come into the world. Refrain
Now the Silence
ELW 460
Now the silence
Now the peace
Now the empty hands uplifted
Now the kneeling
Now the plea
Now the Father's arms in welcome
Now the hearing
Now the pow'r
Now the vessel brimmed for pouring
Now the body
Now the blood
Now the joyful celebration
Now the wedding
Now the songs
Now the heart forgiven leaping
Now the Spirit's visitation
Now the Son's epiphany
Now the Father's blessing
Now
Now
Now
TABLE BLESSING
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray:
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 SONG
Joy to the World
ELW 267
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her king;
let ev'ry heart prepare him room
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sin and sorrow grow
nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
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
O Day of Peace
arr. Charles Callahan
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.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Music: VENI EMMANUEL, anonymous. arr. Paul Fey.
Christ, Be Our Light, Text and music: Bernadette Farrell, b. 1957. Text and music © 1993 Bernadette Farrell. Published by OCP Publications. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
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.
Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers, Text: Laurentius Laurenti, 1660-1722; tr. Sarah B. Findlater,1823-1907. Swedish folk song. Public Domain
Advent Echo Carol, Text and music: Mary Kay Beale. Text and music © 2022 CandelaWorks Music | Jubilate Music Group, LLC. 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.
I Am the Bread of Life, Text and music: Suzanne Toolan, RSM, b. 1927. Text and music © 1966, 1970, 1993 GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved
Now the Silence, Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, 1919-2008. Music: Carl F. Schalk, 1929-2021. Text and music © 1969 Hope Publishing Company. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
Joy to the World. Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748. Music: English melody, 18th cent.; arr. Lowell Mason, 1792-1872. Public domain..
O Day of Peace, Music: Charles Callahan, b. 1951, Music © 2003 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP), div MorningStar Music Publishers. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
