St. Matthew s Ev. Lutheran Church. Second Sunday in Advent Theme: The Gift of PEACE 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Service

Transcription

1 St. Matthew s Ev. Lutheran hurch 1615 Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa, WI December 6 th, 2015 Second Sunday in Advent Theme: The Gift of EAE 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Service relude Welcome to Worship Gathering Advent Anthem (lease stand as you are able) Invocation (11:00) O ome, O ome, Emmanuel arr. by Michael Helman Godsbells A voice cries in the wilderness, repare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. As we worship today, let us prepare to welcome God s dramatic work in our midst, in our hearts, in our community, and in all of creation. Let us worship God. Advent roclamation Advent is a time of waiting. (Take a moment of silence) all to Worship Wait for the Lord

2 An Order of onfession and Forgiveness Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever. The Sun of righteousness shall rise with shining beams of healing, hope and EAE. Let us gather under the wings of God s mercy. 2 We are people of faith who wait in the darkness of sin and the light of hope and EAE. We wait for hrist. hrist has come! hrist is coming! hrist will come again! Advent is a time of waiting... (Silence for reflection and self-examination) Gathering Song Almighty God, we confess that we have sinned against you, and against our sisters and brothers. Our words and deeds have not proclaimed your reign of justice and truth. We have failed to watch and pray for the signs of your advent among us. Forgive our sin, and come quickly to save us. In the advent of hrist, the dawn from on high breaks upon us with light and peace. Remember the gift of baptism: your sin is washed away in the name of Jesus; you belong to hrist; you are anointed to serve. Stand up and raise your heads! The reign of God is near. Amen. #264 repare the Royal Highway Advent Greeting May the love of this season embrace you with God s grace. And also with you. rayer for the Advent Season Let us pray. O Lord our God, you break into our world with messages of hope, peace, joy and love. Renew our strength as we wait for your coming. Shine your light for those who live in darkness. Establish your love throughout the earth. repare our hearts for the birth of your Son, Jesus hrist, the Savior of all.

3 3 Word (lease be seated) Advent andle Lighting The Gift of EAE A On this Advent journey, we are mindful of the brokenness of the world that surrounds us. We long for the hope and EAE that surpasses all understanding. A As we look around us, we see the hostility that exists between neighbor and nation. We long for the hope and EAE that surpasses all understanding. A As we look beside us, we see fractured relationships and unforgiving hearts. We long for the hope and EAE that surpasses all understanding. A As we look within ourselves, we confess the reconciling words we have yet to speak and restoring deeds we have yet to do. We long for the hope and EAE that surpasses all understanding. A This morning we light two candles. The first candle reminds us of a starry night in a quiet stable when God changed the course of human history. Our hope is firm, for in our Savior's birth, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The second candle symbolizes God's perfect peace in an imperfect world. The season of Advent calls us to turn our eyes to the rince of eace who has come and will come again. Blessed be God forever. (The First and second Advent candles are lit) Advent andle Lighting #257 O ome, O ome, Emmanuel (Stanzas 3-4) rayer of the Day The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming give to all the people of the world knowledge of your salvation; through Jesus hrist, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Blessing of Reader The Spirit and the church cry out, come, Lord Jesus. Everyone who awaits his appearance cries out, come, Lord Jesus. The whole creation cries,

4 4 come, Lord Jesus. Let us pray. ome to us, Lord Jesus, as this morning s reader reads for us your Holy Word. Keep us attentive to the truth of the scriptures; turn us away from myths; and turn us in faith to you, our strength and our redeemer. Amen. First Reading Malachi 3:1-4 The Lord announces a covenant with Israel. A messenger like Malachi [his name meaning my messenger ] shall prepare a way for the coming of the Lord by purifying and refining God s people, as silver and gold are refined. salmody Luke 1:68-79 A Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. A Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. A By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Second Reading hilippians 1:3-11 The apostle aul was the pastor of many new churches. He writes in this letter about his joy to be in partnership with the hristians of hilippi. Listen to how tenderhearted aul, sometimes a stern preacher, is with his friends as he encourages them to grow in love and knowledge. (lease stand as you are able) Gospel Acclamation We Raise a Song of Advent raise

5 5 Gospel In the beginning was the Word, And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. A reading from the book of Luke. Gospel Luke 3:1-6 John the Baptist is a herald of the saving Lord, whose way is prepared by repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As we hear the careful record of human leaders, we sense the spectrum of political and religious authority that will be challenged by this coming Lord. Gospel Response The Word of God is scripture among us. The Word of God is within us. Thanks be to God. (lease be seated) Sermon (lease stand as you are able) Hymn of the Day The Nicene reed astor Matthew Kruse (lease stand as you are able) #249 On Jordan s Bank the Baptist s ry [rayer cards will be collected during the Hymn of the Day] Inside back cover of the Hymnal rayers of Intercession Waiting and watching for our sure and certain hope, let us pray for the world redeemed, the church reformed, and for all people restored in the coming one. We pray to the Lord

6 6 Lord, hear our prayer. Show us your light, O God, and bring us to see the day of our redemption, through Jesus hrist our Lord. Amen. Sharing the eace of hrist Meal (lease be seated) Musical Offering (8:30) Every Valley by John Ness Beck - Senior hoir Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain made low; and the crooked made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah 40:4, 5 (11:00) Hark, the Glad Sound! arr. by Susan Geschke Righteous Ringers (lease stand as you are able) Offertory With Joy, O Lord, Our Gifts We Bring Offertory rayer

7 7 A Heavenly Father, you provide for all our needs. Yet, what we receive is only the beginning of your boundless grace. Receive now, Lord, what we provide our humble offerings. May they, too, be only the beginning - tokens of an endless love for you. Through Jesus hrist our Lord. Words of Institution The Lord s rayer Traditional Version Invitation to ommunion God fills the hungry with good things. The rich He sends empty away. ome with joy to the feast. (lease be seated) Lamb of God #481 ome to the Table ommunion Anthem (8:30) Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor Senior hoir (11:00) arol for Advent by Don Besig New Generation hoir (lease stand as you are able) ommunion Hymn #250 Blessed Be the God of Israel rayer after ommunion A Let us pray. Lord Jesus hrist, the road to you is open before us through the saving power of this sacrament. repare our hearts to receive you. A Lord Jesus hrist, the road to heaven is made smooth by your saving work. repare our selves to meet you. A Lord Jesus hrist, the road to God's own heart is laid within us by your Spirit's power. repare in us a way. Amen. Sending

8 8 rayer of Sending of ommunion Let us pray. Gracious God whose mercy endures from generation to generation. As Mary set out to visit Elizabeth before she gave birth to her son, bless those who go forth to share your word and sacrament with our sisters and brothers who are sick/homebound/imprisoned. In your love and care, nourish and strengthen those to whom we bring this communion, that through the body and blood of your Son we may all know the hope of your promised coming in Jesus hrist our Lord. (lease be seated) Today s Highlights For more information on the church s activities, please pick up the bulletin announcements from the Welcome enter, ask an usher or go to our website, (lease stand as you are able) Three-Fold Benediction Believe that God came to us in Jesus hrist, and look for him to come again. May the advent of his coming bring your comfort, hope and joy. Jesus is the Word made flesh in our midst. May his incarnation fill your hearts with love and peace. Light and peace are yours through Jesus hrist. May your light so shine before others, that they see your works and glorify your Father in heaven. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Dismissal The coming of the Lord is near. Go in peace, prepare the way. Thanks be to God. ostlude Your presence has blessed our worship service. May you be strengthened by the strong word of God

9 expressed through music and worship today. 9 The peace of the Lord be with you as you go.