Peace, siblings in Christ!Thanks to our clarinet players, Brittany Anderson and Abbigail Lee for the accompaniment on the opening hymn.
Blessings to you this Advent season.
Pastor Chris Lee
Order of Worship Service: Third Sunday of Advent, December 12, 2021
Prelude: ELW 284- “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meditation
Christ’s presence in our midst in the wonder of the holy supper is cause for singing. The nearness of the God in prayer, in every circumstance, is cause for rejoicing. The coming of one “more powerful” than John, even with a winnowing fork in hand, is good news—and cause for exultation—for us who are being saved. Great joy is the tone for the third Sunday of Advent.
Confession and Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who alone does wonders, who lifts up the lowly, who fills the hungry with good things.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin, trusting in the tender mercy of our God.
God for whom we wait,
in the presence of one another, we confess our sin before you. We fail in believing that your good news is for us. We falter in our call to tend your creation. We find our sense of self in material wealth. We fear those different from ourselves. We forget that we are your children and turn away from your love. Forgive us, Blessed One, and assure us again of your saving grace.
Amen.
God, in Christ Jesus, has looked with favor upon you! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, ☩ your sins are forgiven. You are children of the Most High, inheritors of the eternal promise, and recipients of divine mercy. God strengthens you anew to follow the way of peace.
Amen.
Opening Hymn: ELW 519- “Open Your Ears, O Faithful People,” both verses. Clarinets: Brittany Anderson & Abbigail Lee
Prayer of the Day
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.
Lighting of the Advent Wreath Candles
Third Sunday of Advent
Blessed are you, God of might and majesty, for you promise to make the desert rejoice and blossom, to watch over the strangers, and to set the prisoners free.
As we light these candles, satisfy our hunger with your good gifts, open our eyes to the great things you have done for us, and fill us with patience until the coming of the Lord Jesus.
O ransomed people of the Lord, come,
let us travel on God’s holy way and enter into Zion with singing. Amen
Light the first , second, and third candle
Lighting of the Advent Candle: ELW 249- “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah,” 3rd verse.
First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-20
The prophet Zephaniah’s message is mostly one of judgment for sin. This reading, however, which comes from the conclusion of the book, prophesies joy for Judah and Jerusalem. Judgment has led to repentance, and God’s salvation is at hand.
14Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
15The Lord has taken away the judgments against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
17The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
18as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you,
so that you will not bear reproach for it.
19I will deal with all your oppressors
at that time.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20At that time I will bring you home,
at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes, says the Lord.
Second Reading: Philippians 4:4-7
Despite being in prison, Paul is remarkably upbeat as he writes this letter. Here, he urges his friends in Philippi to trust God with all their worries and concerns with the hope that they will experience God’s joy and peace.
4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Gospel: Luke 3:7-18
John the Baptist heralds the mighty one who is coming. John teaches that preparation for God’s reign is not a matter of identity but of bearing fruits of merciful justice, radical generosity, and vocational integrity.
7John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Sermon: Pastor Chris Lee
Hymn of the Day: ELW 242- “Awake! Awake and Greet the Morn,” all verses.
Prayers of Intercession
In this season of watching and waiting, let us pray for all people and places that yearn for God’s presence.
Holy God, renew your church and raise up leaders who announce your good news. Grant peace to congregations and seminarians in the midst of transition. Guide the work of candidacy and call committees. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Creating God, your Spirit brought forth the earth and all that is in it. Breathe life into us, that we are inspired to live in harmony with one another and the planet. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Shepherding God, you lead your people in paths of righteousness. Raise up prophets in our own day who warn against captivity to greed and point us to the freedom found in generosity. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Nurturing God, you come near in times of worry and need. Cradle us in your arms, that we trust you and are not afraid. Attend to any who are hungry, imprisoned, or ill this day especially Bruce and Sandy Wright; Betty Lee; Paige Wheeler; Julie Prenatt; David Neu; Sheri Stoutt; Nan Hibbs; Britta Maddox; Everett Noah; Libby Hofsas; Noah Stoutt; Shelley Collis; Deb Schafer; Richard Hotchkiss; Nancy and Bob Bosco; Charysse and Adean Heritage and Family; Randy McIntyre; Karen Bemowski; Marilyn Hubbard; Helen Schubert, and all those we name before you now, aloud or in our hearts…
Sarah Scott and Gary Berg.
Give them tangible signs of your steadfast love. Grant them healing and wholeness. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Rejoicing God, you exult over us in singing. Enliven the song of this assembly and bless the ministry of church musicians. With instruments and dance, join our voices to the song of all creation. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We give you thanks for your servants who showed us your goodness and grace especially Rose Reasor; Marijane Cook; and their families. By the power of your Spirit, keep us steadfast in faith until we make our home with you. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
God of new life, you come among us in the places we least expect. Receive these prayers and those of our hearts, in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
Peace
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord’s Prayer
Communion: ACS 905- “We Are Waiting for Jesus.”
Communion: ELW 261- “As the Dark Awaits the Dawn.”
Prayer after Communion
Most High God, you have come among us at this table. By your Spirit’s power, form us to be bearers of your word, sharing gifts of mercy and grace with all, through Christ Jesus, our host and our guest.
Amen.
Blessing
Siblings in God–the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, through Christ Jesus for whom we wait.
Amen.
Sending Hymn: ELW 248- “People, Look East,” all verses.
Dismissal
Go in peace. Christ is near.
Thanks be to God.
Postlude: “Let There Be Peace on Earth,”- Miller/ Jackson
Facebook link to worship service:
https://www.facebook.com/190629367619921/videos/449511026814267
Image credits: Baptism-of-Jesus-anointed, bibleuniverse.com; Christmas Walk at First, Therese Guise; and Do Not Be Anxious Philippians 4, Pinterest
Music credits:
Miriam Anderson: Song Leader.
Pam Edwards: Music Director/ Piano/ Organ
“Twas in the Moon of Wintertime.” Text: Jean de Brebeuf, 1593 – 1649; tr. Jesse E. Middleton, 1872 – 1960, alt.. Music: French folk tune, c. 16th cent.. Text copyright 1927 The Frederick Harris Music Company. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“Open Your Ears, O Faithful People.” Text: Hasidic traditional; Willard F. Jabusch, b. 1930, English version. Music: Hasidic tune. Text copyright 1966, 1982 Willard F. Jabusch, admin. OCP Publications. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah.” Text: Wayne L. Wold, b. 1954. Music: Yiddish folk tune. Text copyright 1984 Fortress Press. Public domain.
“Awake! Awake and Greet the Morn.” Text: Marty Haugen, b. 1950. Music: Marty Haugen. Text and music copyright 1983 GIA Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“We Are Waiting for Jesus.” Text: John Helgen, b. 1957. Music: John Helgen. Text and music copyright 2013 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“As the Dark Awaits the Dawn.” Text: Susan Palo Cherwien, b. 1953. Music: Carl F. Schalk, b. 1929. Text copyright 1996 Susan Palo Cherwien, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Music copyright 1997 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“People, Look East.” Text: Eleanor Farjeon, 1881 – 1965. Music: French carol; arr. Barry Rose, b. 1934. Text copyright Miss E. Farjeon Will Trust, by permission of David Higham Associates. Arr. copyright 1999 Novello & Co. Ltd. London. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Contributors: Sy Miller, Jill Jackson. Tune: © 1955, 1983, Jan-Lee Music (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used with permission. (One License #80436) All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Reprinted/ streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS006904. Duplication in any form is prohibited without permission or valid license from the copyright administrator.