December 23, 2018 Fourth Sunday of Advent What Shall We Do?

Transcription

1 December 23, 2018 Fourth Sunday of Advent What Shall We Do?

2 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 23, 2018, 8:15 am & 10:30 am Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa, Minnesota Rev. Drew Bakken, Pastor Rev. Kari Williamson, Pastor GOOD MORNING & WELCOME TO LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE CROSS! Welcome to worship as we come together in praise and thanksgiving to our living Savior! Holy Spirit, blow through our church with power. Open our hearts to follow your call. INTRODUCTION Cradle and cross are inextricably connected on the fourth Sunday of Advent. Between a lovely tribute to the little town of Bethlehem and the blessed virgin Mary s magnificent song of praise, the letter to the Hebrews reminds us in no uncertain terms that Christ s advent is for the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. It is the kind of tension in which the church always lives as when in the holy communion with high delight we proclaim the Lord's death. PRELUDE WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Sheep May Safely Graze, J.S. Bach ADVENT HYMN Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah HYMN #240 (vss. 1, 2, 3 & 4) ADVENT LITURGY As we light our advent candle We thank you for the joy you give. As we prepare for Christmas time Light of the world, shine on us. In the midst of sorrow Bring joy to our hearts. To all the people who don't know you, Light of the world, shine through us. In this world of pain and darkness, Help us to find joy in serving you. In our service here today, Light of the world, light the way. GATHERING HYMN Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn HYMN #242 (please stand, as you are able)

3 CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 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. Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, 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. GREETING The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the refining fire of the Holy Spirit, and the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, be with you all. And also with you. KYRIE (sung twice) HYMN #154 HYMN OF PRAISE My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness HYMN #251 PRAYER OF THE DAY Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that binds us, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (please be seated) CHILDREN'S MESSAGE Pr. Kari Williamson MUSICAL OFFERING (8:15) Sophie Stubbs (10:30) A Star, P. Choplin Sr. Choir

4 FIRST READING Micah 5:2-5a The prophet Micah, having pronounced judgment upon Judah, speaks of a future shepherd-king who, like David, will come from the small town of Bethlehem. (Ephrathah refers to the area around Bethlehem.) This king will restore Israel and bring peace. New Testament writers understood this passage to be referring to Jesus. But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace. Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God. SECOND READING Hebrews 10:5-10 The author of Hebrews uses the image of religious sacrifice to convey the significance of Christ s coming. Through obedient acceptance of God s will, Christ allows his own body to become the greatest sacrifice of all, one through which we are made a holy people. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, See, God, I have come to do your will, O God (in the scroll of the book it is written of me). When he said above, You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law), then he added, See, I have come to do your will. He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION He Came Down vss. 1 & 4 HYMN #253 (please stand as you are able)

5 GOSPEL Luke 1:39-45 * We are presented with Elizabeth, John s mother, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, two women filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. In Elizabeth s inspired greeting and Mary s song of praise we hear of a saving God who remembers, scatters, lifts up, and fulfills all things. The holy gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord. In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. (please be seated) SERMON What Shall We Do? Pr. Kari Williamson HYMN OF THE DAY The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came HYMN #265 (please stand, as you are able on the last verse)

6 APOSTLE'S CREED 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 (please be seated) OFFERING The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came, K. Langlois OFFERTORY In the Bleak Midwinter vs. 3 HYMN #294 (please stand as you are able) OFFERING PRAYER 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. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION As we await the coming of Christ, we pray in hope for the church, the world, and all of creation. Faithful Lord, you keep your promises. Teach us to sing of your faithfulness all our days. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Prince of peace, your sacrifice gives abundant life to all. Raise up leaders in every nation whose goals are health and well-being for all people and creation. Grant them wisdom and compassion to serve as you would have them serve. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Good Shepherd, you feed your flock. Fill the hungry with good things. Lift up the lowly. Accompany the refugee. Comfort the lonely. Heal the sick. Send us in haste to surround them with your love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Love Incarnate, you are with us at the manger, on the cross, and on the resurrection road. Walk with all who live with depression, grief, or heartache in this season. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Confident that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, we bring to you these prayers and those unspoken, in the name of Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

7 WORDS OF INSTITUTION THE LORD S PRAYER 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. COMMUNION Piano Selections POST COMMUNION PRAYER Holy One, we give you thanks that in this bread and cup we have feasted again on your endless love. Let that love overflow more and more in our lives, that we may be messengers to prepare your way, harvesters of justice and righteousness, and bearers of your eternal Word, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. BENEDICTION May God direct your ways in peace, make you abound in love for one another and for all, and strengthen your hearts until the coming of our Lord Jesus. Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen. DISMISSAL Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God. SENDING HYMN Joy to the World HYMN #267 POSTLUDE Joy to the World, K. Langlois From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2015 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License # New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Christian Copyright Solutions Worshipcast License #7366

8 Organist Advent Wreath Cathy Taylor 8:15 Jarrett, Danae, Jace & Jude Anderson 10:30 Chad, Jaime, Arabelle, Isaac & Emmalyn Boesen Acolytes 8:15 Andy Grell, Carly Maine, Logan Verville 10:30 Colin Stotko, Keaton Brill, Grace Whipple Greeters 8:15 Boyd & Dawn Maine 10:30 Tony, Mindi & Ali Whipple Scripture Readers 8:15 Andy Ogren 10:30 Mindi Brill Musical Offering 8:15 Sophie Stubbs 10:30 Sr. Choir, directed by Brian Stubbs Sound Room Bob Burns Ushers 8:15 Lee & Nancy Wangstad 10:30 Brent & Jana Campbell Fellowship Hour/ Brew Crew Dale & Connie Peterson Paula West Worship Coordinators 8:15 Chuck Trucano 10:30 Mark Swenson Nursery Jaime Boesen Comm. Asst 8:15 Dave & Bonnie Stevens 10:30 Karen Clarine, Jan Burns Altar Guild Darrell Paske, Brad Swanson Church of the Cross Office Office Hours Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm lcc@lccnisswa.org Web Site: lccnisswa.org Pastors Rev. Drew Bakken Rev. Kari Williamson Youth and Family Ministry Zach Malecha Custodian Clint Baker Office Manager Laurie Hemish Children and Family Ministry Kari Erickson Financial Secretary Karen Wiele DIRECTORY Music Ministry/Organist Cathy Taylor Lay Ministries Coordinator Sally Hodgson Senior Choir Director Brian Stubbs Organist Laura Raedeke Bell Choir Director Judy Rickbeil King s Kids Director Carol Smith ELCA Global Missionary Pr. Bradn Buerkle Lutheran Church of the Cross 5064 Co. Rd. 13 Nisswa, MN lcc@lccnisswa.org