Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church ELW Setting 5 December 6, 2015 8:30 and 11:00 am Second Sunday of Advent Forerunners and messengers advance the advent of our God. While John the Baptizer s voice in the wilderness may be the principal focus of the day, Malachi s prophesy could as easily herald the coming Lord Jesus as forerunner of the Lord of hosts. Finally all the baptized are called to participate in the sharing of the gospel. In so doing we prepare the way for the coming of the Lord and assist all fl esh in capturing a vision of the salvation of God.
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. 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 Doctor James G. Cobb, Interim Pastor C. Robert Keene II, Organist and Director of Music Congregation of Trinity Lutheran, Ministers of the Word 6812 River Road, Newport News, VA 23607 (757) 245-7861 www.trinitylutheran-nn.com Trinity Lutheran is a partner church with Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center. Cover image by JoAnne Rawls.
Welcome and Announcements Lighting the Advent Wreath The Harry and Rummel Families The second candle we light is the Peace candle, reminding us that our Messiah comes as the Prince of Peace and his followers are a people of peace. Let us pray: We praise you, O God, for this circle of light that marks our days of preparation for Christ s advent. As we light the candles on this wreath, kindle within us the fire of your Spirit, that we may be light shining in the darkness. Enlighten us with your grace, that we may welcome others as you have welcomed us. Grant this through Christ our Lord, whose coming is certain and whose day draws near. Amen. Hymn Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah (stanzas 1 and 2) ELW 240 Confession and Forgiveness The assembly stands. All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. 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. To you, O God, we lift up our lives. 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 Christ our Savior. Amen. Silence is kept for refl ection. Sisters and brothers, 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 Christ; you are anointed to serve. Stand up and raise your heads! The reign of God is near. Amen. Gathering Hymn People, Look East ELW 248 The Greeting Kyrie 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. The Kyrie Eleison, Greek for Lord have mercy, asks for God s mercy and peace for us, for the Church, and for the whole world.
Prayer of the Day 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 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.
Old Testament Lesson: Malachi 3:1-4 The Lord announces a covenant with Israel. A messenger like Malachi (his name means my messenger ) shall prepare the way for the coming of the Lord by purifying and refi ning God s people, as silver and gold are refi ned. See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner s fire and like fullers soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. Let us rejoice at the unfolding of salvation. Thanks be to God. Canticle: Luke 1:68-79 Blessed Be the God of Israel ELW 250 Epistle Lesson: Philippians 1:3-11 The apostle Paul was the pastor of many new churches. He writes in this letter about his joy to be in partnership with the Christians of Philippi. Listen to how tender-hearted Paul, sometimes a stern preacher, is with his friends as he encourages them to grow in love and knowledge. I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. Let us rejoice at the unfolding of salvation. Thanks be to God. Gospel Acclamation The assembly stands. Prepare the way of the Lord.* All flesh shall see the salva- tion of God. (Luke 3:4, 6) Gospel Lesson: Luke 3:1-6 The Holy Gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord. 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.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, The voice of one crying out: In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. Time with the Children The assembly is seated. Sermon Invitation Announcement by Notable Nobodies to a Party Pastor Cobb with Bulldozers and Dynamite to Witness the Stirrings of God! So... Ready for Some Action? Silence is kept for refl ection after the sermon. The assembly stands. Hymn of the Day Hark, the Glad Sound ELW 239 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 Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
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. Anthem (8:30) Thou shalt know him when he comes, Not by any din of drums, Nor his manners, nor his airs, Nor by any thing he wears. The assembly is seated. Thou shalt know him when he comes, Not by his crown nor by his gown, But his coming known shall be, By the holy harmony Which his coming makes in thee. Mark Sirett Voluntary (11:00) Vox clara ecce intonat Gerald Near The assembly stands. Offertory Hymn As with Gladness Men of Old (stanza 3) ELW 302 Offertory Prayer 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. The Great Thanksgiving The sacrament of Holy Communion is also known as the Eucharist, from the Greek word for thanksgiving. Jesus gave thanks when he took the bread and wine and gave it to his disciples. 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 The text of the Sanctus is based on Isaiah 6:3 and Matthew 21:9. This is the highest point of the entire liturgy.
Thanksgiving at the Table 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 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 At the breaking of the bread, the Presider says, Gifts of God for the people of God. The assembly is seated. In John 1:29, John the Baptist says of Jesus, Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Before Holy Communion, we sing these same words. 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 Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 Johann Sebastian Bach Comfort, Comfort Now My People ELW 256 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus ELW 254 Table Blessing The assembly stands. The blessings and body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen. Post Communion Canticle
Post Communion Prayer 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. Amen. Blessing The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. In the name of the Father, and of the Son +, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Sending Hymn Soon and Very Soon ELW 439 Dismissal Our liturgy is ended: go in hope and peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. Voluntary Prelude in C Major, BWV 531 Johann Sebastian Bach