Prepare the way of the LORD with... HUMILITY!

Transcription

1 Prepare the way of the LORD with... HUMILITY! Volume 78, Number 64 Advent Wednesday #2 December 9, 2015

2 Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church 421 North Second Street Mankato, Minnesota Pre-Service Devotion: Psalm 45 TLH p. 133) Pre-Service Prayer: O LORD God, as I enter into Your presence this Advent season may Your Spirit prepare my heart for Jesus coming! May He lead me to repent of my sins, to walk humbly before You, and to rejoice in You always as my Savior and my Lord. Yes, be with me as I worship this day. Amen. Pre-Service Carols (1:00 P.M. Grades 3-6) Bells Advent Order of Service Ensemble (1:00 P.M. Grades 3-6) Opening Hymn: 55 Come, Thou Precious Ransom, Come Welcome and Invocation: Congregation sings Amen! Confession of Sins and Absolution: All: We come before You with humility to confess our many sins of thought, word, and deed. We have failed to live as You require, and for that we are truly sorry. We pray that You would lead us to turn away from our sins. We also ask that You would grant us Your Spirit s power, so that as we look forward to Your Son s return, we might from this day forward walk in Your paths and pursue Your goals, to Your glory and for our blessing. Pastor: Jesus came into this world to redeem you from your sins and save you from Satan, death, and hell. It is with joy that I announce the fact that all your sins have been forgiven by your Heavenly Father for the sake of His Son, Jesus. He has heard your prayer and will grant your petitions, for He loves you dearly and has adopted you into His family. Depart this day in peace and with great joy! 2

3 Responsive Reading: The Words of Mary P: My soul magnifies the Lord, C: And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. P: For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; C: For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. P: For He who is mighty has done great things for me, C: And holy is His name. P: And His mercy is on those who fear Him C: From generation to generation. P: He has shown strength with His arm; C: He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. P: He has put down the mighty from their thrones, C: And exalted the lowly. P: He has filled the hungry with good things, C: And the rich He has sent away empty. P: He has helped His servant Israel, C: In remembrance of His mercy, P: As He spoke to our fathers, C: To Abraham and his seed forever. [Luke 1:46-55] Liturgical Hymn: A Voice Cries Out (see next page) 3

4 4

5 Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:1-11 Paul urges us to avoid selfishness and to consider the needs and interests of others. He then urges us to have the mind of Christ, Who humbled Himself in order to save us. Hymn: Arise, O Christian People! Arise, O Christian people! Prepare yourselves today. Prepare to greet the Savior, Who takes your sins away. To us by grace alone The truth and light were given; The promised Lord from heaven To all the world is shown. Prepare the way before Him; Prepare for Him the best. Cast out what would offend Him, This great, this heav nly Guest. Make straight, make plain the way: The lowly valleys raising, The heights of pride abasing, His path all even lay. The humble heart and lowly God raises up on high; Beneath His feet in terror The haughty soul shall lie. The heart sincere and right, That heeds God s invitation And makes true preparation It is the Lord s delight. Prepare my heart, Lord Jesus; Turn not from me aside, And help me to receive You This blessed Advent-tide. 5

6 From stall and manger low Come now to dwell within me; I ll sing Your praises gladly And forth Your glory show. Amen. Christian Worship #14 Setting: Kermit G. Moldenhauer 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. OneLicense.net License #A Meditation: Isaiah 40:3-4 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth. Theme: PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD with humility! 6

7 Offertory: Lift Up Your Heads Redeemer, come and open wide My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide! O enter with Thy grace divine; Thy face of mercy on me shine. Thy Holy Spirit guide us on Until our glorious goal is won. Eternal praise and fame We offer to Thy name. (LSB 340:5 or 341:5) Offering (Offerings in the afternoon service may be left in the narthex collection plate.) Prayer Lord s Prayer: (Congregation sings) 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. 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. Benediction: Congregation sings Amen Closing Hymn: 704:1,3-4,6 (tan Supplement) O Lord, How Shall I Meet You Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted, the text, tune, and/or setting of service elements are in public domain. 7

8 Serving Us Today Pastor: Paul D. Nolting Deacon: Richard Lueck (1:00 p.m.) / Leif Olmanson (7:00 p.m.) Organist: Gary Hanel (1:00 p.m.) / Karla Olmanson (7:00 p.m.) Head Usher: Karl Friedrichs Asst. Usher: Kyle Hulke Sound: Brent Schreyer Screen: Russell Schmitt (1:00 p.m.) / Clifford Kuehne (7:00 p.m.) 8