Lutheran hurch of the Resurrection Sunday, December 23, 2018 Fourth Sunday of Advent AS WE GATHER radle 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 hrist s advent is for the offering of the body of Jesus hrist 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. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + (Silence please for prayer and meditation) RELUDE And All Earth Rejoiced radle Songs Make a Joyful Noise (lease stand as you are able) ONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, the Lord of Israel who comes to set us free, the mighty Savior who comes to show mercy, the Dawn from on high who guides us into peace. Amen Let us come before God in confession. Silence is kept for reflection. To you, O God, we lift up our souls. You know us through and through; we confess our sins to you. Remember not our sins; remember us with your steadfast love. Show us your ways; teach us your paths; and lead us in justice and truth, for the sake of your goodness in Jesus hrist our Savior. Amen. hildren of God, come with joy and draw water from the well of salvation. 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. 1
GATHERING SONG Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn ELW 242 2
LITANY FOR ADVENT A Blessed is he who comes as king, who comes in the name of the Lord. Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all his people on earth. A I will hear what the Lord God has to say A voice that speaks for peace. A eace for all people and for his friends And those who turn to him in their hearts. A His help is near for those who fear him. And his glory will live in our land. A Blessed is he who comes as king, who comes in the name of the Lord. Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. RAYER OF THE DAY A Stir up your power, Lord hrist, 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 WELOME AND OMMUNITY ANNOUNEMENTS FIRST READING A A reading from Micah Micah 5:2-5a 2 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. 3 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. 4 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; 5a and he shall be the one of peace. A Word of God, Word of Life Thanks be to God. SEIAL MUSI Gloriacappella epper hoplin Voices of Faith 3
SEOND READING Hebrews 10:5-10 A A reading from Hebrews 5 onsequently, when hrist came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 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). 8 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), 9 then he added, See, I have come to do your will. He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10 And it is by God s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus hrist once for all. A Word of God, Word of Life Thanks be to God. ANDLE LIGHTING EREMONY FOR ADVENT - Love Lord, you have searched me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know everything I do. Lord, even before I say a word, you already know. It s been said that a friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you. By this definition, God wrote the book on friendship. God, who created us and knows us better that we know ourselves, loves us deeply, in spite of the fact that there s so much about us that seems unloveable. It s a depth of love that is beyond comprehension and that s why Jesus came to help us understand it. Today, as we light the fourth Advent andle, we give thanks for the gift of God s love, and meditate on how we are called to live it: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. Love never ends. (lease stand if you are able) 4
THE GOSEL Luke 1:39-45[46-55] The Holy Gospel according to Luke Glory to you, O Lord. 39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. A The Gospel of the Lord. Thanks be to God. (lease be seated) SERMON astor Tom O. Miller 5
HYMN OF THE DAY O ome, O ome Emmanuel ELW 257 RAYERS OF INTERESSION (After each petition concludes with Hear us, O God, the congregation responds, your mercy is great ) EAE The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. I invite you to share the eace of hrist with one another. GIFTS OF OFFERING Infant Holy, Infant Lowly Make a Joyful Noise (lease sign the red welcome roster and pass it on as a ritual of friendship. Then pass it back noting the names of those you re worshiping with today.) 6
OFFERING SONG Wait for the Lord (2x) ELW 262 OFFERING RAYER 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. Amen. THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE 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 God thanks and praise. Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life: Blessed are you for the birth of creation. Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light. Blessed are you for your promise to your people. Blessed are you in the prophets' hopes and dreams. Blessed are you for Mary's openness to your will. Blessed are you for your Son Jesus, the Word made flesh. 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. 7
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. Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: hrist has died. hrist is risen. hrist will come again. With this bread and cup we remember your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth. We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection. We look with hope for his coming. ome, Lord Jesus. Holy God, we long for your Spirit. ome among us. Bless this meal. May your Word take flesh in us. Awaken your people. Fill us with your light. Bring the gift of peace on earth. ome, Holy Spirit. All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel, Word of God incarnate, ower of the Most High, one God, now and forever. Amen. Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray: LORD'S RAYER 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 INVITATION TO OMMUNION God fills the hungry with good things. Taste and see that the Lord is good. OMMUNION DISTRIBUTION MUSI On That Quiet hristmas Night Make a Joyful Noise 8
RAYER AFTER OMMUNION A 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 hrist. Amen. THE BLESSING 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. 9
REESSIONAL HYMN All Earth is Hopeful ELW 266 DISMISSAL A Go in peace. hrist is with you. Thanks be to God. Hallelujah! OSTLUDE The First Noel Make a Joyful Noise 10
WORSHI ASSISTANTS: Assisting Minister: Warren Schwegel/Kathy Wood Lectors: Judy Moore/Alessandra Tanfani ommunion: Warren & Nancy Schwegel, Sandy Russell/Kathy Wood, Jim & Margaret Martin Greeters: Nancy Rucker, Nancy Schwegel/huck & Sharon Kurdupski Ushers: Ed & Linda Babcock, Skip Donelson/Rich Schwerin, huck Kurdupski, Larry Rohlfes Altar Guild: Lorraine Wells Refreshments: Johnson The altar flowers this morning are given in gift by Joyce Moeszinger to the Glory of God and in memory of loved ones ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ NOTES ON TODAY S SRITURES: 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. Hebrews 10:5-10 - The author of Hebrews uses the image of religious sacrifice to convey the significance of hrist s coming. Through obedient acceptance of God s will, hrist allows his own body to become the greatest sacrifice of all, one through which we are made a holy people. Luke 1:39-45 [46-55] - 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. Mark your calendars! Sunday, December 30 Lessons and arols. One service only at 11:00 a.m. in the hurch Sanctuary 11
Readings for Next Sunday, December 30, 2018 First Sunday of hristmas radle 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 hrist s advent is for the offering of the body of Jesus hrist 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. We invite you to read these texts as you prepare for next Sunday s worship. Lessons and arols ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ OMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK: Stephen, Deacon and Martyr Wednesday, December 26, 2018 Stephen was a deacon and the first martyr of the church. He was one of those seven upon whom the apostles laid hands after they had been chosen to serve widows and others in need. Later, Stephen's preaching angered the temple authorities, and they ordered him to be put to death by stoning. John, Apostle and Evangelist Thursday, December 27, 2018 The son of Zebedee and brother of James, John was one of the twelve disciples and witness to the transfiguration. Tradition has named him also the writer of the Gospel of John, the three New Testament letters bearing his name, as well as Revelation. The Holy Innocents, Martyrs Friday, December 28, 2018 This day commemorates the young children killed by Herod in Bethlehem in his jealous attempt to murder the baby Jesus, a sobering reminder of the evil that led hrist to be born for our salvation. 12