Third Sunday of Advent
10:00 AM Service December 12, 2021
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Ringing of the Bell
(Please Stand)
Confession and Forgiveness
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who alone does wonders, who lifts up the lowly, who fills the hungry with good things.
C: Amen.
Let us confess our sin trusting in the tender mercy of our God.
(Silence is kept for reflection)
P: God for whom we wait,
C: in the presence of one another, we confess our sin before you. We fail in believing that your good news is for us. We falter in our call to tend your creation. We find our sense of self in material wealth. We fear those different from ourselves. We forget that we are your children and turn away from your love. Forgive us, Blessed One, and assure us again of your saving grace. Amen.
P: God, in Christ Jesus, has looked with favor upon you! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, + your sins are forgiven. You are children of the Most High, inheritors of the eternal promise, and recipients of divine mercy. God strength-ens you anew to follow the way of peace.
C: Amen.
Hymn # 240 “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah” st. 1—3
1. Light one candle to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness. He shall bring salvation to Israel, God fulfills the promise.
2. Light two candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness,
He shall feed the flock like a shepherd. Gently lead them homeward.
3. Light three candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness.
Lift your heads and lift high the gateway for the King of glory.
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of
the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
L: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
L: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
L: 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.
L: For the holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let
us pray to the Lord.
L: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
L: Let us pray:
All: 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 forev-er. Amen.
WORD
First Reading: Zephaniah 3: 14—20 Pg. 1466
R: Word of God, Word of life.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm Isaiah 12: 2-6 Pages 1078
ISA 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the
LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
ISA 12:3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
ISA 12:4 In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his
name is exalted.
ISA 12:5 Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known
to all the world.
ISA 12:6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of
Israel among you."
Second Reading: Philippians 4: 4—7 Pg. 1830
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 Luke 3: 7—18 Pg. 1593
P: The gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
(Please be seated)
Sermon
(Please Stand)
Hymn # 246 “Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding!”
1. Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding! “Christ is near,” we hear it say. “Cast away the works of darkness, all you children of the day!”
2. Wakened by the solemn warning, from earth’s bondage let us rise; Christ, our sun, all sloth dispelling, shines upon the morning skies.
3. See the Lamb, so long expected, come with pardon down from heaven. Let us haste, with tears of sorrow, one and all, to be forgiven;
4. So, when next he comes in glory and the world is wrapped in fear, he will shield us with his mercy and with words of love draw near.
5. Honor, glory, might, and blessing to the Father and the Son with the everlasting Spirit while unending ages run!
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.
Offering
L: O Mighty One,
C: You have done great things for us, and holy is your name. Bless all we offer you—ourselves, 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 #242 “Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn”
1. 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 heavenly door and lives now inside us forever.
2. 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 loving kindness, the thunder of his anthems roll to shatter all hatred and blindness.
3. 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.
4. Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night, though dark the winter and cheer-less, 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 every day we share and bring us at last into glory.
L: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Postlude