GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH (Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS December 15, 2010

Prelude

Fugue on the Magnificat (Third Tone) - Johann Pachelbel

Ringing of the Church Bell

THE ORDER OF EVENING PRAYER FOR THE WEEK OF THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT
PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE CHURCH Almighty God, You give comfort to me through the forgiveness of my sins and the promise of eternal life. Grant that I might share that comfort and hope with others, pointing them to Jesus, the Good Shepherd of the sheep. He is the fulfillment of Your Word even as He is Your Word incarnate. I pray this in His holy name. Amen AS WE GATHER In 1852 a Lutheran pastor, August Rische, wrote the hymn God Loves Me Dearly. While it may be best known as a childrens hymn, we are all Gods children and so it is a hymn that speaks to all of us who by grace have been made Gods heirs, adopted by Him in the waters of Holy Baptism. Pastor Rische wrote this hymn for youth who were basically abandoned to the streets. He wanted to establish a rescue home for them. Above all he wanted to comfort them with the beautiful Gospel promise that God loves me dearly, loves even me. During this season of Advent our mid-week theme is God Loves Me Dearly. The Scriptures declare that God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Theologically we call this objective justification. This is what God has done for all. This becomes our personally, subjective justification, as the Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit makes our hearts His home. So we look to the Gospel and its promises applied to our lives through His Word, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion (the Means of Grace) to see how the Lord makes this personal for each one of us. We personally rejoice in what He has done for us and then collectively we gather together to sing praises to God, offering Him our thanks, seeking to grow in His grace and walking in His ways to the glory of His holy name.

Service of Light
Stand

Versicles
P The Spirit and the Church cry out: C Come, Lord Jesus. P All those who await His appearance pray: C Come, Lord Jesus. P The whole creation pleads: C Come, Lord Jesus.

Phos Hilaron: O Light Whose Splendor

LSB 891

1989 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no. 100011479.

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Thanksgiving For Light

P Blessed are You, O Lord, our God, king of the universe, who led Your people Israel by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Enlighten our darkness by the light of Your Christ; may His Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; for You are merciful, and You love Your whole creation and we, Your creatures, glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. C Amen

P Yes, the LORD will give what is good, C and our land will yield its increase. P Righteousness will go before him C and make his footsteps a way. C Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
Sit

Psalmody
Psalm
P LORD, you were favorable to your land; C you restored the fortunes of Jacob. P You forgave the iniquity of your people; C you covered all their sin. P You withdrew all your wrath; C you turned from your hot anger. P Restore us again, O God of our salvation, C and put away your indignation toward us! P Will you be angry with us forever? C Will you prolong your anger to all generations? P Will you not revive us again, C that your people may rejoice in you? P Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, C and grant us your salvation. P Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, C for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. P Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, C that glory may dwell in our land. P Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; C righteousness and peace kiss each other. P Faithfulness springs up from the ground, C and righteousness looks down from the sky.
Psalm 85:113

Readings
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 40:111

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORDs hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. A voice says, Cry! And I said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Get you up to a high mountain,

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O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. P O Lord, have mercy on us. C Thanks be to God.
Stand

and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever. And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. P O Lord, have mercy on us. C Thanks be to God.
Sit

Hymn: Comfort, Comfort Ye My People

LSB 347

The Holy Gospel

Luke 1:3956

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things,

Public domain

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Sermon

Isaiah 40:111 Gods Saving Love Speaks Comfort and Joy

Canticle
Magnificat: My Soul Rejoices LSB 933

Catechesis
P What is the Sacrament of the Altar? C It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.

P Where is this written? C The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: 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."

Offering

Comfort, Comfort Ye My People - Johann Pachelbel

Stand

1991 Stephen P. Starke. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no. 100011479. Public domain

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Prayer
Litany
Service Note: The congregation's response may begin just as the leader's petition ends so that the word "Lord" is sung simultaneously by both leader and congregation.

P For those who bring offerings, those who do good works in this congregation, those who toil, those who sing, and all the people here present who await from the Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy.

The prayers then continue:

P For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For our Synodical and District Presidents, for all pastors in Christ, for all servants of the Church, and for all the people, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For our President, for all public servants, for the government and those who protect us, that they may be upheld and strengthened in every good deed, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. P For those who work to bring peace, justice, health, and protection in this and every place, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy.

Silence for individual prayer may follow.

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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

Benedicamus

Collect For Peace

P O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen

Benediction

Luther's Evening Prayer

C I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen

Closing Hymn: Now Rest beneath Night's Shadow Postlude

Printed on the next page

Lord's Prayer
C 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;
Now Rest beneath Night's Shadow - Paul Manz

Acknowledgments Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

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Closing Hymn: Now Rest beneath Night's Shadow

LSB 880

THE ALTAR FLOWERS The Altar Flowers are given to the glory of God and the beautification of His House by Richard and Beverly Sanders and Eric and Leah in loving memory of our dear friend John Mason and in thanksgiving for the Lords many blessings.

THOSE WHO SERVE Pastor: Rev. James C. Walter Director of Parish Music: Nathan Beethe Acolyte: Elisabeth Graf Handbell Choir: Anna Junkans, Christina Junkans Emily Junkans, Gina Junkans, Joel Junkans Susan Mahnken, Debbie Craig, Linnea Weed Randy Middaugh, Riley Middaugh Ushers: Terry Bradshaw, Mark Cate Gary Goldsby, Jim Marvin Nursery Attendant: Mary Ann Dyer Altar Guild: Suzanne Raddle and Wilma Richter Our thanks to the Grace Youth for serving our Advent dinner this evening. - 13 - 14 -

My loved ones, rest securely, For God this night will surely From peril guard your heads. Sweet slumbers may He send you And bid His hosts attend you And through the night watch oer your beds.
Public domain

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