An evening setting of Holy Communion St. David s Evangelical Lutheran Church Saturday, December 1, 2018 5:30 pm Holy Communion Advent 1 Interims: The Reverend Larry Hoover and Bishop Emeritus Gregory Pile Church: 479-4110; Fax: 479-2994 www.stdavidslutheran.org
Welcome to St. David's Lutheran Church! We are blessed by your presence and honored that you have chosen to worship with us today. Please take a moment to sign the friendship sheet that is located in the booklet at the end of each pew, near the center aisle. These sheets will be collected after the service. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is offered to all who are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and who recognize the Sacrament as the true body and blood of our Lord. Baptized children are also welcome to receive the elements at the Lord s table at St. David s with the guidance and consent of their parents or guardians. Persons, who may not wish to receive the bread and wine of the communion, are still welcome to come to the table to receive a blessing. To do so please fold your hands and bow your head. Prayer Requests may be made by placing the request in the small wooden box at the rear, near the doors through which you entered. The acolyte will collect the requests and they will be included during the prayers of the congregation. For your comfort there is a restroom, equipped with a changing table and supplies and a water fountain located upstairs. Simply exit through the double doors back into the narthex. The restroom is straight ahead in the parlor, beside the grandfather clock, and the water fountain is to the right at the beginning of the hallway. Devotional The worship folder you are holding is also a weekly devotional booklet. The prayers and Scripture readings are appropriate for use at any time during the week. The liturgy itself is a Scripturally based order for daily prayer and devotion with Scriptural references noted where they apply. Even the hymns are appropriate tools for prayer and praise. Finally, there is a daily lectionary of Scripture readings for the rest of the week on the last printed page.
INTRODUCTION Advent is about the coming days. God s people have always lived in great expectation, but that expectation finds specific, repeated enunciation in the texts appointed for these four weeks. The ancients anticipated a righteous Branch to spring up for David. The Thessalonians awaited the coming of our Lord Jesus with all the saints. Our Lord s contemporaries hoped for the time to stand before the Son of Man. With them we eagerly await the coming days: another Christmas celebration, a second coming, and the advent of our Lord in word and supper. ANNOUNCEMENTS The assembly stands. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart, and confess our sins to God our Father, asking for forgiveness in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Congregation Kneels/Sits. Silence is kept for reflection. Our help is in the Name of the Lord. Who made heaven and earth. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord. And you forgave the iniquity of my sin. 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, Your Son, our Lord. O God, our heavenly Father, I confess to you that I have grievously sinned against you in many ways; not only by outward transgressions, but also by secret thoughts and desires which I cannot fully understand, but which are all known to You. I do earnestly repent, and am heartily sorry for these my offences, and I call upon Your great goodness to have mercy upon me, for the sake of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, to forgive my sins, and graciously to help my infirmities.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us, and for the sake of the sufferings, death, and resurrection of His dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, forgives us all our sins. As a minister of the Church of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore declare to you who do truly repent and believe in him, the entire forgiveness of all your sins: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The assembly stands. GREETING The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. KYRIE Lord, have mercy: Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy: Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy: Lord, have mercy. PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. A brief silence is kept before the prayer. Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection alert us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and redeem us for your life of justice, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. The assembly is seated.
LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH: ADVENT 1 Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe. You call all nations to walk in your light and to seek your ways of justice and peace, for the night is past, and the dawn of your coming is near. Bless us as we light the first candle of this wreath. Rouse us from sleep, that we may be ready to greet our Lord when he comes and welcome him into our hearts and homes, for he is our light and our salvation. Blessed be God forever. READING: Jeremiah 33:14-16 A reading from Jeremiah the 33 rd chapter. {In the Old Testament, righteousness often has to do with being faithful in relationship. God acts righteously both in punishing Israel for its sin and in having mercy. In today s reading, Jerusalem s future name The Lord is our righteousness proclaims that the Lord is even now working salvation for Israel.} 14The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: The LORD is our righteousness. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. The assembly stands.
GOSPEL: Luke 21:25-36 The holy gospel according to Luke the 21 st chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. {God will fulfill God s purposes and, already, hidden signs of that fulfillment abound. On that great day there will be dismay, perplexity, confusion, and terror, but God s people shall be given strength to stand boldly and receive God s promised redemption.} [Jesus said:] 25 There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. 29Then he told them a parable: Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 34 Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON The assembly is seated. Silence for reflection may follow. The assembly stands.
Together we confess our faith: NICENE CREED We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION As we await the coming of Christ, we pray in hope for the church, the world, and all of creation. A brief silence. Equip your church, merciful God. Secure our roots in the soil of your eternal word. Ease our worries and remove our shame. Grow our faithfulness and let your steadfast love blossom among us. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Sustain your creation, holy God. Water the parched soil. Restore depleted fields. Send farmers, forest rangers, and gardeners to care for fig trees and wheat fields, gardens and arboretums. Increase our love for the land. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Grow peace within us, abundant God. Raise up leaders in every community grounded in your justice and mercy. Increase their love for all people. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Feed the hungry, living God. Gather our harvest into a feast for our neighbors. Move us to nurture those who are bereaved and lonely. Empower those living with HIV/AIDS and all who are sick (especially). Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Increase our joy, wondrous God. Plant thanksgiving in our hearts and multiply the good fruit of our outreach ministries and creation care programs (especially). Guide us in our service to local and global neighbors. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Here other intercessions may be offered. In thanksgiving, we remember all who have died and now rest in your glory. Hold all who mourn in the comfort of your eternal light, and bring us to delight in the new life you promise. 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.
PEACE The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. The minister and congregation may greet one another in the name of the Lord. Peace be with you. Peace be with you. The assembly is seated. OFFERING OFFERTORY The assembly stands. OFFERING PRAYER Let us pray. 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. THE GREAT THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER Holy God, the Beginning and the End, our Salvation and our Hope, we praise you for creating a world of order and beauty. When our forebears chose the way of sin and death, you sent the prophets to proclaim your justice and mercy. At this end of the ages your Son Jesus to make the cross the way of life. There, on that cross, He willingly offered Himself up as a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. By that gift of love and grace we know the depth of your love, the power of your forgiveness, and the hope of life with you. Therefore we offer ourselves as disciples who follow as witnesses to the world and as living memory of His gift of grace. Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be for us the body and blood of your Son our Lord. Amen, come Lord Jesus. In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. With this bread and cup we remember our Lord's passover from death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. THE LORD S PRAYER Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray. 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.
LAMB OF GOD Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace, grant us peace. The assembly is seated. The Holy Communion is distributed with these or similar words: The body of Christ, given for you The blood of Christ, shed for you COMMUNION Following the Holy Communion the congregation stands: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace. POST-COMMUNION PRAYER Let us pray. 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. BLESSING The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace. QUIET MEDITATION
DISMISSAL Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE GOSPEL MESSAGE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Waiting with Hope Today we begin the season of Advent, a season of expectation, watching, and waiting for the coming birth of Christ. Waiting is often the last thing we want to do. Waiting requires trust; it requires acknowledging our lack of control; it requires restraint and delayed satisfaction. Waiting is hard. We much prefer certainty, control, and immediacy over the uncertainty and vulnerability of waiting. In the gospel text for today, Jesus speaks of a time of great uncertainty, when even the celestial bodies will be unmoored from their orbits. He speaks of people waiting in great fearfulness for what these signs might portend and then he indicates that all the chaos and tumult are actually signs that the kingdom of God is near. What are we to make of such a statement? When Jesus describes chaos as a sign of God s reign, it is not because God s reign brings destruction. Rather, it is a sign because God chooses to be born in the middle of the tumult and uncertainty that is this world. When all seems lost and like our waiting is hopeless, God s kingdom comes. When our lives seem wildly uncertain and when waiting seems unbearable, our need for a savior will be fulfilled in Christ. As we prayerfully anticipate the birth of Jesus in a world that is unstable and broken, Jesus assures us that we can wait with true hope, not uncertainty and fear. Hope because God s promises far outlast everything in heaven and on earth. Hope because Jesus love encompasses even the biggest storm we may wait through. Hope because God s reign brings us a completeness that we can anticipate with joy. Hope because the kingdom of God will always be far more surprising than we can imagine.
Daily Readings for the Week December 2-8 Sunday: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-10 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36 Psalm 90 Numbers 17:1-11 2 Peter 3:1-18 Psalm 90 2 Samuel 7:18-29 Revelation 22:12-16 Psalm 90 Isaiah 1:24-31 Luke 11:29-32 Luke 1:68-79 Malachi 3:5-12 Philippians 1:12-18a Luke 11:68-79 Friday: Malachi 3:13-18 Philippians 1:18b-26 Saturday: Luke 1:68-79 Malachi 4:1-6 Luke 9:1-6 Copyright 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS006303. 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.