PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP Lord Jesus, Son of God, and our Advent King, you give hope to the hopeless. This evening, send your Spirit through the spoken and sung Word to strengthen us. Lift our eyes of faith in watchfulness and our hearts in hope-filled anticipation of your coming as we celebrate your first coming in flesh, and your coming again in glory on the Last Day. In your name I pray. Amen. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP Advent is the season when we remember the coming of Christ. Since childhood we have associated that coming with the season of Christmas when we remember Jesus incarnation in Bethlehem. But in the season of Advent God helps us to learn better to wait for Christ s coming again. Tonight, God brings us hope as we hear promises made about Jesus coming, knowing that those promises were kept when God become man. SERVICE OF LIGHT 2
HYMN EXHORTATION AND PRAYER M: Dear people of God, in the season of Advent, it is our responsibility and joy to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the angels, to go to Bethlehem and see the Son of God lying in a manger. Let us hear and heed in Holy Scripture the story of God s loving purpose from the time of our rebellion against him until the glorious redemption brought to us by his holy child, Jesus, and let us look forward to the yearly remembrance of his birth with hymns and songs of praise. But first, let us pray for the needs of his whole world, for peace and justice on earth, for the unity and mission of the Church for which he died, for the people in our country and in our state, and especially for the brothers and sisters in our synod and in our own congregation. And because he particularly loves them, let us remember in his name the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed, the sick and those who mourn, the lonely and unloved, and the aged and the little children as well as all those who do not know and love the Lord Jesus Christ. 3
Finally, let us praise God for the faith of Mary, mother of our Lord, and that whole multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in Jesus, we are one forevermore. To sum up all these petitions, let us pray as Christ himself taught us. 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. FIRST LESSON - Jeremiah 23:5, 6 God will raise up for David a righteous branch. The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior. Dennis Henderson HYMN RESPONSE Christian Worship #47 stanzas 1, 4, and 5 Behold, a Branch is growing Of loveliest form and grace, As prophets sang, foreknowing; It springs from Jesse s race And bears one little flow r In midst of coldest winter, At deepest midnight hour O Savior, Child of Mary, Who felt our human woes, O Savior, King of glory, Who conquered all our foes, Bring us at last, we pray, To the bright courts of heaven And to the endless day. 4 This flow r, so small and tender, With fragrance fills the air; His brightness ends the darkness That kept the earth in fear. True God and yet true man, He came to save his people From earth s dark night of sin.
SECOND LESSON - Isaiah 64:1-9 Keith Werth God is called upon to come among us and deliver us from our iniquities. Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! 2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! 3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. 4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. 5 You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? 6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. 7 No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins. 8 Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9 Do not be angry beyond measure, LORD; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people. HYMN RESPONSE Christian Worship #5 stanzas 1, 2 and 7 As angels joyed with one accord Upon the advent of our Lord, So laud we all and bless the name Of him who from the Father came. He came, not clothed in majesty Nor pow r that suits his deity. In lowly state he walked till he In dying set us captives free. Lift up your heads! All grief and pain Shall vanish when he comes again. Where we shall see him face to face, There joy alone shall have a place. 5
THIRD LESSON - Isaiah 35:1-10 God will prepare a way in the wilderness for his people. The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. 3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; 4 say to those with fearful hearts, Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you. 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 7 The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. 8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. 9 No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 10 and those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Colin Funk HYMN RESPONSE Christian Worship #15 stanzas 1, 2 and 4 Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding; Christ is near, we hear it say. Cast away the works of darkness; You are children of the day. Lo, the Lamb, so long expected, Comes with pardon down from heav n. Let us haste, with tears of sorrow, One and all, to be forgiv n, Honor, glory, might, dominion To the Father and the Son With the everlasting Spirit While eternal ages run! 6
FOURTH LESSON - Isaiah 7:10-14 Servando Garcia The Lord promises that a Son will be conceived and his name will be Emmanuel. Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test. 13 Then Isaiah said, Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. HYMN RESPONSE Christian Worship #24 stanzas 1 and 2 The angel Gabriel from heaven came, His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame; All hail, said he to meek and lowly Mary, Most highly favored maiden. Gloria! I come from heav n to tell the Lord s decree: A blessed virgin mother you shall be. Your Son shall be Immanuel, by seers foretold, Most highly favored maiden. Gloria! 7
FIFTH LESSON - Zephaniah 3:14-18 The Lord takes away his punishment against his people. 14 Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. 16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. 17 The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. 18 I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you. Kevin Hejnal HYMN RESPONSE Christian Worship #26 stanzas 1-3 Jesus came, the heav ns adoring, Came with peace from realms on high; Jesus came to win redemption, Lowly came on earth to die; Alleluia! Alleluia! Came in deep humility. Jesus comes again in mercy When our hearts are worn with care; Jesus comes again in answer To an earnest, heartfelt prayer, Alleluia! Alleluia! Comes to save us from despair. Jesus comes to hearts rejoicing, Bringing news of sins forgiv n; Jesus comes with words of gladness, Leading souls redeemed to heav n. Alleluia! Alleluia! Hope to all the world is giv n. PRAYER & BLESSING M: O God, you make us glad with the expectation of the coming of your one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Grant that we, who with joy receive him as our Redeemer, may without fear behold him when he will come to be our judge, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. M: Go forth into the world in peace, be of good courage, hold fast to that which is good, render to no one evil for evil, strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak, help the afflicted, honor all people, love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the blessing of God Almighty the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you forever. C: Amen. 8
CLOSING HYMN Jesus, your Church with longing eyes For your expected coming waits. When will the promised light arise And glory beam from heaven s gates? Teach us in watchfulness and prayer To wait for your appointed hour, And fit us by your grace to share The triumphs of your conqu ring pow r. Jesus, Your Church with Longing Eyes Christian Worship #9 stanzas 1 and 5 COME CELEBRATE THE FULFILLMENT OF THESE PROMISES WITH US! CHRISTMAS EVE DAY WORSHIP 9:00 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, 6:30 PM CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY 9:00 AM CHRISTMAS DAY FESTIVAL SERVICE Minister: Daniel Schroeder Organist: Nancy Miller The following were reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-706579: Evening Prayer 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. Service of Light Text, Music: 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress. Cover artwork by Ian M. Welch. Copyright 2015 Ian M. Welch. All Rights Reserved. Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NIV, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. 9