Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church ELW Setting 5 December 11, 2016 Third Sunday of Advent 8:15 am Worship Service A note of joyful expectation marks today s worship. Isaiah announces that the desert shall rejoice and blossom. Jesus points to signs of God s reign: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear. We wait with patience for the coming of the Lord, even as we rejoice at his presence among us this day: in word and holy supper, in church and in our homes, in silent reflection and in works of justice and love. We pray that God would open our eyes and ears to the wonders of Christ s advent among us.
Welcome members and guests to our worship service today. If you are visiting, we encourage you to sign the guest register located in the narthex. Please include your home address, email address and phone number. Each pew contains cards that you may fill out if you wish to consult with the pastor or provide additional information about yourself. A nursery is available for children up to five years of age during the service. The nursery is located off the hallway on the Huntington Avenue side of the church building. There are also quiet bags available for older children to enjoy during the service. Please ask an usher about borrowing one. Parents are invited to bring children from the nursery for Holy Communion to receive a blessing. If children become restless or noisy during worship, parents are encouraged to take them in to and out of the sanctuary as necessary. Trinity offers an induction loop for the benefit of hearing impaired worshippers. To use, please switch your hearing aid to T. If you are unsure if your hearing aid is compatible, please contact your audiologist. The Reverend Tina Melusky, Pastor Rob Keene, Organist and Director of Music Congregation of Trinity Lutheran, Ministers of the Word 6812 River Road, Newport News, VA 23607 Church office: (757) 245-7861 Pastor's cell: (734) 239-4013 www.trinitylutheran-nn.com Trinity Lutheran is a partner church with Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center. Cover image by JoAnne Rawls.
Welcome Lighting of the Advent Wreath The Jay Family Hymn Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah (stanzas 1, 2 and 3) ELW 240 Gathering The assembly stands and faces the processional cross. All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. Confession and Forgiveness Both our confession of sin and God s promise of mercy are rooted in our baptism. We come before God recalling our brokenness, but even more God s great grace poured out upon us because of Christ Jesus death, crucifi xion, resurrection, and ascension. Pastor: People: Pastor: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who comes to wake us from sleep, who leads us into the light of grace. Amen. Let us prepare the way of the Lord by confessing our sin against God and neighbor. God of all time, we confess that we have not prepared for your merciful reign among us. We ignore our neighbors in need and fail in the labor of justice and peace. In your mercy forgive us. Grant us wisdom to welcome your light and to seek the things that will endure until Christ comes again in glory. Amen. Silence is kept for refl ection. Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. In + Jesus Christ your sins are forgiven and all things are made new. Rejoice in this good news! Amen. Gathering Hymn People, Look East ELW 248 The Greeting We sing as the Holy Spirit gathers us for worship. This hymn sets the tone for the day. 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. Prayer of the Day This prayer collects the themes from today s Scripture readings. Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming, that, transformed by grace, we may walk in your way; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. The assembly is seated. Word First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10 Pew Bible Old Testament Page 622 Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
Canticle: Luke 1:46b-55 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for you, Lord, have looked with favor on your lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: you, the Almighty, have done great things for me and holy is your name. You have mercy on those who fear you, from generation to generation. You have shown strength with your arm and scattered the proud in their conceit, casting down the mighty from their thrones and lifting up the lowly. You have filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. You have come to the aid of your servant Israel, to remember the promise of mercy, the promise made to our forbears, to Abraham and his children forever. Second Reading: James 5:7-10 Pew Bible New Testament Page 204 Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God. Gospel Lesson: Matthew 11:2-11 The assembly stands. Gospel means good news and refers to the message about God s gracious work in Jesus Christ. The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 11th chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. John the Baptist expects the Messiah to bring God s judgment upon the earth. From a prison cell, he wonders whether Jesus is the one who will do this. When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another? Jesus answered them, Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me. As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you. Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. Time with the Children Sermon The assembly is seated. Pastor Tina
Silence is kept for refl ection after the sermon. The assembly stands. Hymn of the Day Let Streams of Living Justice ELW 710 This hymn complements the day s Scripture readings and often underscores the message of the sermon. The Apostles' 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. Prayers of Intercession Let us pray. Have mercy, O God. Sharing of the Peace The peace, which enables people to live in unity and in the spirit of mutual forgiveness, comes from Christ whose word has been proclaimed. The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. Announcements Receiving of Tithes and Offerings Offertory The assembly is seated. Offertory Hymn As with Gladness Men of Old (stanza 3) ELW 302 Offertory Prayer This hymn becomes our prayer as our gifts are collected and dedicated to our Lord s service. Our offerings support the ministries of Christ s church in this congregation, our community, our Virginia Synod, and our E.L.C.A. Savior of the nations, come. Make your home here in us. Feed us with your love, that our faith shine ever new and our lives reveal your light. Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving Meal Proper Preface It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise we praise your name and join their unending hymn: Sanctus "Holy, Holy, Holy" echoes the heavenly chorus in Isaiah 6:3 and the crowds of Mark 11:9 as Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. This reminds us that we are in the presence of a God identifi ed both by holiness and humility. Thanksgiving at the Table The Eucharistic (Thanksgiving) Prayer unites God s creative and redeeming acts throughout history to the work of Jesus Christ. 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. 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: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ 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. Come, Lord Jesus. Holy God, we long for your Spirit. Come 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. Come, Holy Spirit. All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel, Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High, one God, now and forever. Amen. Lord s Prayer When we pray for our daily bread, we are acknowledging that God provides for our needs each day. 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. Agnus Dei The assembly is seated.
This canticle echoes John the Baptist's pronouncement in John 1:29 that Jesus is the Passover Lamb of God's people and the Savior of the world. Communion As you receive the bread in your hand, you may commune by intinction using the silver chalice, or you may consume the bread and then drink from the pewter chalice. Music During the Distribution Lost in the Night ELW 243 Table Blessing The assembly stands. Sending The blessings and body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen. Post Communion Prayer God for whom we wait, you come to us in the broken bread and the cup we share. Make us ready always to welcome Christ into our hearts, and send us forth to be your people in the world, announcing your coming among us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Blessing May Christ, the Sun of righteousness, shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path. Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen. Sending Hymn Hail to the Lord's Anointed ELW 311 Dismissal Our liturgy is ended. Go in peace. Prepare the way of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Postlude
Serving Today Acolytes Matthew Mynoymany and Melissa Quist Communion Assistant Sounthone Mynoymany Lector Bill Solomon Usher Captain Suzanne Beckstoffer Ushers Carol Bessom and Cathy Stevens Nursery Coordinator Charlotte Duff Nursery Supervisor Charlotte Duff Nursery Attendant Tricia Wessler Altar Guild Astrid and Steve Quist Building Lockup Dick Davis
Offertory Today s Music Wo soll ich fl iehen hin, BWV 646 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Music During the Distribution Conditor alme siderum Gerald Near (b. 1942) Postlude Herr Christ, der ein'ge Gottessohn, BWV 601 Notes on the Music J. S. Bach Late in life, Bach published a set of six chorale preludes engraved by Johann Georg Schübler. Consequently, these pieces are referred to as the Schübler chorales. All feature Advent texts. Five of the six are transcriptions of movements from Bach's cantatas; today's selection, Wo soll ich fliehen hin, is the exception. If it is a transcription, the original cantata has been lost to history. Conditor alme siderum is a 7th-century chant melody. A translation is available at ELW 245, "Creator of the Stars of Night." Herr Christ, der ein'ge Gottessohn is one of the four Advent chorales included in Bach's Orgel-büchlein.