Sunday, December 18th
GATHERING
The holy spirit calls us together as people of God.
PRELUDE
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
who forgives all our sin,
whose mercy endures forever.
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.
God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith.
Amen.
GATHERING SONG “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” ELW 257
KYRIE
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH The Arnold Family
Let us pray: Holy and loving God, Your love is the greatest gift of our lives. It brings us into this world and it meets us in the life of the world to come. May Your love so shape our lives that our daily actions reveal Your light to the world. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
WORD
God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.
CHILDREN’S TIME
ANTHEM
Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain Carolyn Jennings
Climb to the top of the highest mountain, Joyous tidings proclaim to the world, Lift up your voice, shout the good news: Behold, your Lord comes to you.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd, He will carry the lambs in his arms, He will ever keep them safe from harm. Behold, your Lord comes to you.
He who made the stars in the heaven, He who fashioned the earth and the sea, From time eternal he was God, The Alpha and Omega, He. Behold, your Lord!
He will come in power and glory, He will rule with mercy truth, Hope of all the nations Light of all the world!
He will love the little children, He will hold them in his arms. Love him and trust him as a child, Behold, your Lord comes to you.
FIRST READING: Isaiah 7:10-16
10TheLordspoke to Ahaz, saying,11Ask a sign of theLordyour God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put theLordto the test.13Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also?14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.15He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.16For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.”
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
PSALM: 80:1-7,17-19
1Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock;
shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
2In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin,and Manasseh,
stir up your strength and come to help us.
3Restore us, O God;
let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved.
4OLordGod of hosts,
how long will your anger fume when your people pray? R
5You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6You have made us the derisionof our neighbors,
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved.
17Let your hand be upon the one atyour right hand,
the one you have made so strongor yourself.
18And so will we never turn away from you;
give us life, that we may call upon your name.
19Restore us, OLord God of hosts;
let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved. R
SECOND READING: Romans 1:1-7
1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,3the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh4and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name,6including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION “Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding!” (MERTON) ELW 246
GOSPEL: Matthew 1:18-25
18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”22All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.”24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Pastor Eric Trozzo
HYMN OF THE DAY “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” ELW 241
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,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly human.
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,*
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who 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.
*Or, “who proceeds from the Father.” The phrase “and the Son” is a later addition to the creed.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Response after each prayer: hear our prayer.
PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
ANTHEM Light Everlasting Olaf Christiansen
O Light everlasting, O Love never failing, illumine our darkness, and draw us to thee.
May we, from thy Spirit, receive inspiration, that brethren together thy wisdom may see. O Light everlasting, make known to all nations thy peace and salvation, and help us, O Father, thy temple to be.
O Light everlasting, O Love never failing, illumine our darkness and draw us to thee
MEAL
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ.
OFFERING “Come Now, O Prince of Peace: Ososŏ, ososŏ” ELW 247
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. 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.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
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:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,
you have brought us this far along the way.
In times of bitterness you did not abandon us,
but guided us into the path of love and light.
In every age you sent prophets
to make known your loving will for all humanity.
The cry of the poor has become your own cry;
our hunger and thirst for justice is your own desire.
In the fullness of time, you sent your chosen servant
to preach good news to the afflicted,
to break bread with the outcast and despised,
and to ransom those in bondage to prejudice and sin.
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 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 death and resurrection,
we await the day when Jesus shall return
to free all the earth from the bonds of slavery and death.
Come, Lord Jesus! And let the church say, Amen.
Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.
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
The gifts of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.
COMMUNION SONG
elw_hc4_lamb_m
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, grant us peace.
COMMUNION SONG “Savior of the Nations, Come” ELW 263
Savior of the Nations, Come (Words).rtf
Savior of the Nations, Come
1 Savior of the nations, come; virgin’s son, make here your home. Marvel now, O heav’n and earth: God has chosen such a birth.
2 Not by human flesh and blood, but the mystic Breath of God, was the Word of God made flesh, fruit of woman, blossom fresh.
3 Wondrous birth–oh, wondrous child– from his throne, a virgin mild! Very God, and Mary’s son, eager now his race to run!
4 From God’s heart the Savior speeds, back to God his pathway leads; out to vanquish death’s command, back to reign at God’s right hand.
5 Now your manger, shining bright, hallows night with newborn light. Night cannot this light subdue; let our faith shine ever new.
6 Praise we sing to Christ the Lord, virgin’s son, incarnate Word! To the holy Trinity praise we sing eternally!
ANTHEM “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” arr. Robert Hobby
(Congregation is invited to follow the text of ELW 490)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray. God for 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. Amen.
SENDING
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.
BLESSING
Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.
SENDING SONG “Joy to the World” ELW 267
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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