December 23rd, 2018
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Holy Communion (ELW 5)
INTRODUCTION
Cradle and cross are inextricably connected on the fourth Sunday of
Advent. The scriptures today present a lovely tribute to the little town of
Bethlehem and the blessed virgin Mary’s magnificent song of praise. And
with the hymn, we sing:
Nails, spear shall pierce him through, the cross be born for me and you;
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the babe, the son of Mary!
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
God Almighty, you sent our Savior, Jesus Christ to be born into the world
in order to give us light and life and joy. Grant us, we pray, to be grounded
and settled in your truth by the coming of the Holy Spirit into our
hearts. Grant that we who are reborn to new life in him may live in
righteousness and holiness all our days, through your Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Amen.
THE ORDER OF WORSHIP
PRELUDE Chorale Prelude on Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen Brahms
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.
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 tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high has shined
upon us. Jesus Christ has come to be born among us and to die for us, all to
reconcile us to God. In Christ’s name and for his sake I declare to you: God
forgives you all your sins. Almighty God grant unto us the grace and
comfort of the Holy Spirit, true repentance, and time for the amendment of
life.
Amen.
 The congregation stands to face the cross as it processes in.

PROCESSIONAL HYMN: Canticle of the Turning (ELW 723)

GREETING

Behold, now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation. 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

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and
might, free us from the sin that binds us, that we may receive you in joy
and serve you always, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Please be seated.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE AND LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH

BLESSING THE ADVENT WREATH

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe. In your Son,
Emmanuel, you have shown us your light and saved us from the power of
sin. Bless us as we light the candles on this wreath. Increase our longing for
your presence, that at the celebration of your Son’s birth his Spirit might
dwell anew in our midst, for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever. Amen.
 4
VERSE Come Now, O Prince of Peace (ELW 247, vv. 1-4) And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth;
5a
and he shall be the one of peace.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

PSALMODY Luke 1:46b-55

Refrain:

Tone:

46b
My soul proclaims the greatness | of the Lord,
47
FIRST READING: Micah 5:2-5a my spirit rejoices in | God my Savior,
48
for you, Lord, have looked with favor on your | lowly servant.
The prophet Micah, having pronounced judgment upon Judah, speaks of a From this day all generations will | call me blessed:
future shepherd-king who, like David, will come from the small town of 49
you, the Almighty, have done great | things for me
Bethlehem. (Ephrathah refers to the area around Bethlehem.) This king will and holy | is your name.
50
restore Israel and bring peace. New Testament writers understood this You have mercy on | those who fear you,
passage to be referring to Jesus. from generation to | generation. R
2 51
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, You have shown strength | with your arm
who are one of the little clans of Judah, and scattered the proud in | their conceit,
52
from you shall come forth for me casting down the mighty | from their thrones
one who is to rule in Israel, and lifting | up the lowly.
whose origin is from of old, 53
You have filled the hungry | with good things
from ancient days. and sent the rich | away empty.
3 54
Therefore he shall give them up until the time You have come to the aid of your | servant Israel,
when she who is in labor has brought forth; to remember the prom- | ise of mercy,
55
then the rest of his kindred shall return the promise made | to our forbears,
to the people of Israel. to Abraham and his chil- | dren forever. R
SECOND READING: Hebrews 10:5-10
The holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke
The author of Hebrews uses the image of religious sacrifice to convey the Glory to you, O Lord!
significance of Christ’s coming. Through obedient acceptance of God’s
will, Christ allows his own body to become the greatest sacrifice of all, one
We are presented with Elizabeth, John’s mother, and Mary, the mother of
through which we are made a holy people.
Jesus, two women filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. In Elizabeth’s
5
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, inspired greeting and Mary’s song of praise we hear of a saving God who
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, remembers, scatters, lifts up, and fulfills all things.
but a body you have prepared for me; 39
6 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the
in burnt offerings and sin offerings
hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted
you have taken no pleasure.
Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her
7
Then I said, ‘See, God, I have come to do your will, O God’
womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with
(in the scroll of the book it is written of me).”
a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your
8
When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in
womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord
sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are
comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child
offered according to the law), 9then he added, “See, I have come to do your
in my womb leaped for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there
will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10And it is by
would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of
Jesus Christ once for all.
The gospel of the Lord!
Praise to you, O Christ!
The word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!
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 Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (ELW 272)

CREED
As they recite the creed, worshippers are invited to bow beginning with the
words “the virgin Mary,” until the words “he suffered death and was
buried.”

Verse: Here I am, the servant | of the Lord;* We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and
let it be with me according | to your word. (Luke 1:38) earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

GOSPEL: Luke 1:39-45
As the Gospel is announced, worshippers are invited to trace a cross upon
their forehead, then over their lips, and then over their hearts, silently
praying, “May the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ be ever on my mind, on
my lips, and in my heart.”
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally
begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God
from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father;
through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he
came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Please stand and sing:
virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third OFFERTORY HYMN: Create in Me a Clean Heart (ELW 188)
day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into
heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come
again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will
have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds
from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is
worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We
believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one
baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the
dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

As we await the coming of Christ, we pray in hope for the church, the
world, and all of creation.
Please sit or kneel as you are able.
Each petition ends with:
Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

Confident that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, we bring to you these
prayers and those unspoken, in the name of Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

Please stand and greet one another in the peace of the risen Christ.

PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

Please be seated.
ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANTHEM AT THE OFFERING

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence arr. Gustav Holst
OFFERING PRAYER

God of abundance, you have entrusted us with the precious fruits of your
creation. We return a portion of them to you in thanksgiving, a sign that all
we have, and all we are, and all that there is belongs to you. Give us
patience, hope, and joy in being as good to all people and to your world as
you have been to us, until the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior
and Lord.
Amen.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
DIALOGUE Worshippers are invited to bow with the consecration of the Lord’s body
and blood, each time the words “Do this for the remembrance of me,” are
spoken.

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.

PREFACE Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to
drink, saying:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY 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 God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Holy One of Israel, the Word of God incarnate, the Power of the Most
High. Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all
honor and glory are yours, almighty Father, now and forever.
Amen.
LORD'S PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, for whom all creation waits, remember us in your
kingdom, and teach us to pray:
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
The coming of the Lord Jesus is a consuming fire. All who desire their old
life to pass away and to live a new life in Christ, 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.
Lutherans believe, teach and confess that we receive the true Body and
Blood of Christ in Holy Communion. If you desire to pick up the cross and
live in Christ, we hope you will receive with us. Even if you do not feel
prepared to receive the sacrament today we hope you will join us at the
table. Simply hold your hands over your heart and the pastor will give you
a blessing. Pastor will be glad to discuss Holy Communion and Holy
Baptism with you!
LAMB OF GOD
HYMN DURING DISTRIBUTION: What Child is This (ELW 296)
The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you
may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

The God of all grace: Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and
forever.
Amen.

SENDING SONG: It Came upon the Midnight Clear (ELW 282)

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Bring good news to the poor.

Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE Joseph est bien marié Jean-François Dandrieu

The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God and in
memory of my husband Paul.

Presented by Nora Wiegerig

Upcoming Commemorations
Please stand.
Stephen, Deacon and Martyr
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Stephen was a deacon and the first martyr of the church. He was one of
Lord God, we give you thanks that you have fed us even now with the those seven upon whom the apostles laid hands after they had been chosen
banquet that is yet to come. Keep us alert for signs of your presence in the to serve widows and others in need. Later, Stephen's preaching angered the
world around us. Send us as healing oil and sheltering comfort to those in temple authorities, and they ordered him to be put to death by stoning.
need, and make us bold in testifying to the light of Jesus Christ, our Savior
and Lord. John, Apostle and Evangelist
Amen. Thursday, December 27, 2018
The son of Zebedee and brother of James, John was one of the twelve
BLESSING disciples and witness to the transfiguration. Tradition has named him also
the writer of the Gospel of John, the three New Testament letters bearing
The God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony his name, as well as Revelation.
with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus.
Amen.