December 13th and 14th, 2014

Third Sunday of Advent

Holy Communion (ELW 5)

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

PRELUDE

Nol

Jean-Franois Dandrieu

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

All may stand and make the sign of the cross, the sign with which we are
marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

INTRODUCTION
"Rejoice always," begins the reading from First Thessalonians. Isaiah
and the psalmist make clear that God is turning our mourning into
laughter and shouts of joy. "All God's children got a robe," go the
words of the spiritual. It is not so much a stately, formal, pressed outfit
as it is a set of party clothes, clothes that make us feel happy just to put
on. We receive that robe in baptism, and in worship we gather for a
foretaste of God's party.
CHILDREN are always welcome to our Worship Service. Rainbow bags
and a cry room are available. A staffed nursery is also available if needed.
An usher will gladly provide you with assistance.
As a worship courtesy, we ask that you please turn off or set to vibrate
all cellular telephones and pagers during the worship service.
We ask that all present today please fill out the Attendance and Communion
registration card found in your bulletin and place it in the offering plate so
that we may record your presence with us.
PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE PEW
Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the
preaching of John, that, rejoicing in your salvation, we may bring forth the
fruits of repentance; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy spirit, one god, now and forever. Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from
whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the
inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily
magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But
if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Please kneel, silence is kept for reflection.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have
sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done
and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole
heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of
your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and
lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the
glory of your holy name.
Amen.
In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for
his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the
church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire
forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and
of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Almighty God grant unto us the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit,
reconciliation with God, true repentance, and time for the amendment of life.
Amen.
Please stand and sing:
GATHERING SONG:

Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers (ELW 244)

GREETING
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.
KYRIE

BLESSING OF THE ADVENT WREATH

O faithful and loving God, we praise you for your tender compassion and
give you thanks for your steadfast love for us and all creation. Bless us who
see the light of this wreath, that we may be strengthened by the hope of your
advent among us, and live toward the completion of all things in you. We ask
this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL SONG:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, vv. 1, 6, 7 (ELW 257)

my whole being shall exult in my God;

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the
words of your prophets, that, anointed by your Spirit, we may testify to your
light; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Please be seated.
A MESSAGE FOR OUR CHILDREN

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

FIRST READING: Isaiah 61:14, 811

PSALM: Psalm 126
The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
2
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3
to provide for those who mourn in Zion
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.
4
They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
8
For I the LORD love justice,
I hate robbery and wrongdoing;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9
Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge
that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.
10
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,

Refrain:

Tone:

When the LORD restored the for- | tunes of Zion,

then were we like | those who dream.
2
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
and our tongue with | shouts of joy.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great | things for them."
3
The LORD has done great | things for us,
and we are | glad indeed.
4
Restore our for- | tunes, O LORD,
like the watercourses | of the Negeb. R
5

Those who | sowed with tears

will reap with | songs of joy.
6
Those who go out weeping, carry- | ing the seed,
will come again with joy, shoulder- | ing their sheaves.

Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all

circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not
quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise the words of prophets, 21but test
everything; hold fast to what is good; 22abstain from every form of evil.
23
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your
spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

"I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,

'Make straight the way of the Lord,'"
as the prophet Isaiah said.
24
Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25They asked him, "Why
then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the
prophet?" 26John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands
one whom you do not know, 27the one who is coming after me; I am not
worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." 28This took place in Bethany
across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

SECOND READING:

1 Thessalonians 5:1624

16

Please be seated
Please stand for the reading of the gospel
SERMON Pastor Charles Peterson
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION AND VERSE
Please stand and sing:
HYMN OF THE DAY: On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry (ELW 249)
CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Verse:

I am sending my messen-| ger before you,*

who will prepare your | way before you. (Matt. 11:10)

GOSPEL: John 1:6-8, 19-28

The holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
6

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He
came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
8
He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 19This is the
testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from
Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20He confessed and did not deny it,
but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." 21And they asked him, "What then?
Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered,
"No." 22Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for
those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23He said,

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

With longing and hopeful expectation, let us pray for the church, the world,
and all those in need.
Please sit or kneel as you are able.
Each petition ends with:
let us pray.
Have mercy, O God.
Receive our prayers, faithful God, as we watch and wait for your coming
among us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Please be seated.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANTHEM AT THE OFFERING
Comfort, Comfort Now My People

Genevan Psalter

Please stand and sing:

OFFERTORY HYMN: Create in Me a Clean Heart (ELW 188)

OFFERING 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.

DIALOGUE

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Holy God, the Beginning and the End, our Salvation and our Hope, we praise
you for creating a world of order and beauty Through him all glory and
honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church,
both now and forever.
Amen.
LORD'S PRAYER

PREFACE
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

INVITATION TO COMMUNION
The coming of the Lord is a consuming fire. All who desire the old to pass
away and to live a new life, come with joy to the feast.
Please be seated.

COMMUNION
The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Amen.
All baptized people are welcome to the table to receive Christs body and
blood. If you have not been baptized, you are also welcome to the table as
Gods guest; we are honored by your presence. We recognize the Body of
Christ as the community of the baptized, so if you would like to become part
of the Body of Christ, we encourage you to seek baptism. If you cant or dont
wish to receive today, we encourage you to hold your hands over your chest
for a blessing. But please come.
LAMB OF GOD

HYMN DURING DISTRIBUTION:

Of the Father's Love Begotten (ELW 295)

SONG AFTER COMMUNION: Now, Lord (ELW 201)

SENDING SONG:

Joy to the World (ELW 267)

DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Bring good news to the poor.
Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE

Nol

Louis Daquin

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Sunday, December 14, 2014 John of the Cross, renewer of the church,
died 1591 John was a member of the Carmelite monastic order, and worked
to reform it. His writings reflect a deep interest in mystical thought and
meditation.
Tuesday, December 16 Las Posadas (LLC) This celebration, long popular
in Mexico, takes its name from the "posadas," or lodgings, sought by Mary
and Joseph in Bethlehem. Their search is reenacted in a neighborhood,
unsuccessfully, until finally they are welcomed in, and a party commences.
Saturday, December 20 Katharina von Bora Luther, renewer of the
church, died 1552 Born to an impoverished nobleman, Katie eventually
took vows as a nun, but around age twenty-four she and several other nuns
who were influenced by the writings of Martin Luther left the convent. Six
children were born to Katie and Martin.
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26794.

Please stand.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Lord God, we give you thanks that you have fed us even now with the
banquet that is yet to come. Keep us alert for signs of your presence in the
world around us. Send us as healing oil and sheltering comfort to those in
need, and make us bold in testifying to the light of Jesus Christ, our Savior
and Lord. Amen.
BLESSING
God most high, God with us, God poured out on us, Father, + Son, and Holy
Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.

The Altar flowers are administered by the worship committee. The 2015
Altar Flower chart is posted on the bulletin board in the lower lobby and
there is attached to it a tear-off sheet for donors to complete and hand into the
office or place in the offering plate for proper publication in the bulletin.
If you would like to purchase flowers for worship in memory of or in honor
of someone, please sign up. The cost is $35 per arrangement, and checks
should be made out to Trinity Lutheran Church. The contact person is Mary
in the church office (614) 224.6818 or email: oldtrinityoffice@gmail.com