SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT December 10, 2017 (Proper 27) 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Divine Service, Setting Four - Lutheran Service Book, pages 203-212 Intentional Interim Rev. Dr. Mark Koch Organist: Ron Crider This mark and the italicized characters denote a part of the liturgy which is sung or chanted. PRELUDE Prepare the Way Organ/Instrumental And the Glory of the Lord (Messiah) Comfort, Comfort Now My People HYMN Prepare the Royal Highway LSB 343 Stand *INVOCATION and OPENING VERSE In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. *CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Today we are reminded by the prophet: All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fade because the breath of the Lord blows on them; surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of our God stands forever! (Isaiah 40:6b-8) Standing guilty before almighty God who knows even the inmost secrets of our hearts, we wither like grass because we know we are guilty and without excuse. We nevertheless admit our sinfulness, and await the merciful Word of our God. (silence for personal reflection) 1
We confess before You, O Lord, that we are sinful. You intend our faith to flower into action, yet so often we have faded into selfishness and apathy. We have placed too much trust in ourselves, instead of placing our hope in You alone. We acknowledge Your just judgment and confess that we deserve to be cast away from Your presence for all eternity. But trusting in Your mercy through Jesus Christ, our Lord, grant us forgiveness for the sake of Him who sacrificed His very life that we may have eternal life. Amen. Comfort, comfort My people, says your God (Isaiah 40:1). And so I bring you these good tidings: Almighty God in His mercy has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who atoned for the sin of all people. Whether as a baby lying in a manger, or dying for us on the cross, we shout to the world: Here is your God! As your called and ordained servant of the Word in this place, I am privileged to speak tenderly of God s grace to you, that even now He carries you close to His heart. Therefore, on behalf of Christ Himself and by His own command, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken! (Isaiah 40:5b) 2
*SONG OF PRAISE LSB 204 To God on high be glory and peace to all the earth; Good-will from God in heaven proclaimed at Jesus birth! We praise and bless You, Father; Your holy name, we sing Our thanks for Your great glory, Lord God, our heavenly King. To You, O sole begotten, the Father s Son, we pray; O Lamb of God, our Savior, You take our sins away. Have mercy on us, Jesus; receive our heartfelt cry, Where You in power are seated at God s right hand on high! For You alone are holy; You only are the Lord. Forever and forever, be worshipped and adored; You with the Holy Spirit alone are Lord Most High, In God the Father s glory, Amen! our glad reply. *PRAYER OF THE DAY The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come among us to bring the joy of Your salvation. Keep us faithful to the work that You have given us while it is day. Make us always ready to share with others around us the hope and the joy we have within us. This we ask in the name of Jesus, our bright and Morning Star. AMEN. 3
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 40:1-11 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." 6 A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." 9 You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!" 10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 4
PSALM OF THE DAY from Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands! Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands! EPISTLE READING 2 Peter 3:8-14 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 5
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Stand *GOSPEL READING Mark 1:1-8 The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 1 st chapter. Glory to You, O Lord! 1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"-- 3 "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' " 4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 6
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ! *APOSTLE S CREED C: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen Sit 10:30 a.m. PraiseKids Children ages 3 grade 2 may assemble in the foyer for the children s worship time (see page B1 of the bulletin). HYMN Comfort, Comfort Ye My People LSB 347 v. 1-3 SERMON Stand *HYMN Comfort, Comfort Ye My People LSB 347 v. 4 Sit *PRAYERS (Each petition ends with) Lord in Your Mercy, Hear our prayer. 7
OFFERING and RECORD OF ATTENDANCE (Please indicate your presence and ministerial needs in the red Welcome Booklet located in each pew.) MUSICAL OFFERING Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Organ/Instrumental RECEIVING NEW MEMBERS (10:30 service) Stand *PREFACE 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 Him thanks and praise. It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God. And now we bless You, that in Jesus Christ, You have shown us complete and limitless love. Grant us grace to carry out whatever design and mission You have for our lives, remaining steadfast in hope throughout our earthly lives as we await the final advent of our Lord and the glorious reunion in heaven, where we will join in the eternal chorus of angels and archangels and all of the blessed, evermore praising You and saying: 8
*HOLY, HOLY, HOLY p. 208 *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. AMEN. 9
*THE WORDS OF OUR LORD Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. ALL: For as often as we eat of this bread and drink of this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Christ has died. Christ is risen. CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN! *LAMB OF GOD p. 210 10
DISTRIBUTION Please fill in the Communion rail starting in the middle and working your way out, and returning to your seat in the same order. If you choose not to commune today, you may still approach the rail to receive a blessing instead of the Sacrament. Please indicate this intention by keeping your arms folded across your shoulders while kneeling. Children are also welcome to approach for this same purpose. More information can also be found inside the front cover of this bulletin. DISTRIBUTION HYMNS Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord LSB 637 All Glory Be to God Alone LSB 948 *POST-COMMUNION PRAYER Merciful Father, everlasting God, You sent a voice of comfort through the prophet Isaiah and Your people were reborn in hope. You sent a voice to be the messenger of Your kingdom through John the Baptizer and Your people were called to repentance and faith. Now send us out with the comfort we have received through Your Word and in this Sacrament, that the world may be reborn in hope through Jesus Christ and be prepared to meet Him when He comes again in glory; for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN. *BENEDICTION 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. AMEN. *HYMN My Hope is Built on Nothing Less LSB 575 ANNOUNCEMENTS POSTLUDE Hark the Glad Sound Organ/Instrumental ========================================================== Unless otherwise noted, Bible quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Portions of this service reprinted from Lutheran Service Book. Copyright 2006 Concordia Publishing House, used by permission. And from Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series A, Part 3. Copyright 2016 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. CCLI#260083. 11
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