Third Sunday of Advent
10:00 AM Service December 11, 2022
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Ringing of the Bell
Lighting of the Advent Wreath and Prayer
Hymn # 257 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” st. 5,6
5. 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. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
6. 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, Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
(Please Stand)
Confession and Forgiveness
P: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
C: Blessed be God’s name forever. Amen
Beloved, now is the time to wake from sleep. Let us confront our sins, and confess them to the one who is merciful and just.
(Silence is kept for reflection)
P: God of new beginnings,
C: we confess that we have not welcomed your holy reign. We have strayed from your paths. We dishonor one another and your creation. Purify us with your refining fire and set us again on your way of love, that we may bring fruit worthy of repentance, and welcome your coming among us. Amen.
P: People of God, a new thing is growing in our midst, a tender branch, a living sign. By water and the Spirit you are joined to this wonder. You have put on + Christ, and your sins have been washed away. Rejoice in the way of the Lord.
C: Amen.
L: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ; the love of God, and the communion of
the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
L: Let us pray.
All: Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming, that, transformed by grace, we may walk in your way; 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: Isaiah 35: 1—10 Pg. 1111
R: Word of God, Word of life.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm Psalm 146: 5—10 Pg. 980
Refrain:
PS 146:5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the
LORD his God,
PS 146:6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them--the
LORD, who remains faithful forever.
Refrain:
PS 146:7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free,
PS 146:8 the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed
down, the LORD loves the righteous.
Refrain
Refrain:
PS 146:9 The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the
widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
PS 146:10 The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD.
Refrain:
Second Reading: James 5: 7—10 Pg. 1885
R: Word of God, Word of life.
C: Thanks be to God.
(Please stand for the Gospel)
After the Gospel is announced:
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
Gospel Reading Matthew 11: 2—11 Pg. 1512
P: The gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
(Please be seated)
Sermon
(Please Stand)
Hymn # 242 “Awake, Awake and Greet the New Morn”
L: With the whole church, let us confess our faith:
All: 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.
The Prayers
L: . . .Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
Sharing of the Peace
L: The peace of Christ be with you always.
C: And also with you!
L: Let us share Christ’s peace with one another.
Offering Hymn # 239 “Hark, the Glad Sound!”
(Please stand on the last verse as the offering is brought forward.)
Offering Prayer
L: O Mighty One,
C: You have done great things for us, and holy is your name. Bless all we offer you—our selves, our time, and our possessions—that through us your grace and favor may be made known to all the world; for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.
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.
SENDING
Blessing
Hymn #264 “Prepare the Royal Highway”
L: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
Our thanks to those who serve as our worship leaders:
Our Reader—Dottie Gilbert
Our Liturgist—Don Gillett
Organist—Ed Workmon
Hand Bell Director—Wendy Kuenemann
Pastor—Rev. Paul Miller