Sunday, December 06, 2015

2nd Sunday of Advent, Isaiah of the Exile Holy Communion

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESSBlessed be the holy Trinity, one God, the Lord ☩

of Israel who comes to set us free, the mighty Savior who comes to show mercy, the Dawn from on high who guides us into peace.

C: Amen.

It is good to remember the whole journey of forgiveness, not merely its end. Let us confess our sins before God and one another.

Glorious One, your people pray.C: We have dwelled in a wilderness of the soul,

and we have become used to roughing it. But we grow weak and weary of the journey alone. Forgive our dangerous tendencies toward self-sufficiency that deny you. Forgive our inconsistent attempts to follow where you lead. Bring us out of the wilderness, now, we pray. Amen.

In whatever wilderness you have found yourself, know that you are not distant from God. In Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. God is preparing a way for you. Thanks be to God.

C: Amen.

PEACEThe peace of Christ be with

you always.C: And also with you. GATHERING SONG: THE GATHERED SHALL

CHOOSE!

GREETINGThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be

with you all.C: And also with you.

KYRIE (Red Hymnal p. 147)In peace, let us pray to the Lord.C: Lord, have mercy. For the peace from above, and for our salvation,

let us pray to the Lord.C: Lord, have mercy.

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. For this holy house, and for all who offer here their

worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.C: Lord, have mercy. Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.C: Amen.

CANTICLE OF PRAISE (Red Hymnal p. 148) This is the feast of victory for our God.Alleluia.C: Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was

slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God. Power and riches and wisdom and strength, and honor and blessing and glory are his. This is the feast of victory for our God.

Alleluia.

Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation:

Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God, for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.

Alleluia. Alleluia.

PRAYER OF THE DAYLet us pray. Maker of every good way, C: Prepare us and lead us in paths of

understanding. Reveal yourself to us this day, offering good tidings of comfort to your people. In the name of the coming Christ we pray, Amen.

NARRATIVE READING: Isaiah 40:1-11A reading from Isaiah.

1Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

3A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every 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. 5Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." 6A voice says, "Cry out!" And I said, "What shall I cry?"

All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. 9Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!"

10See, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

The word of the Lord.C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13  1You have been gracious to your land, O Lord;

  you have restored the good fortune of Jacob. 2 C: You have forgiven the iniquity of your people and blotted out all their sins.

8I will listen to what the Lord God is saying;  for you speak peace to your faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to you.

 9 C: Truly, your salvation is very near to those who fear you, that your glory may dwell in our land.

 10Steadfast love and faithfulness have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11C: Faithfulness shall spring up from the earth,and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

 12The Lord will indeed grant prosperity,  and our land will yield its increase.

 13C: Righteousness shall go before the Lord  and shall prepare for God a pathway.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION - FAITH: Celtic Alleluia (Red Hymnal # 174)

Alleluia, alleluia.Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION - NORTH NEW HOPE (Red Hymnal p. 151)

Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?You have the words of eternal life.Alleluia.

GOSPEL: Mark 1:1-4The holy gospel

according to Mark.C: Glory to you, O

Lord.

1The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.2As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;

3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'"4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

The gospel of the Lord.C: Praise to you, O Christ.

Children’s Sermon

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENTWREATH:

Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah

(Red Hymnal # 240)

2 Light two candles to watch for Messiah:let the light banish darkness.He shall feed the flock like a shepherd,gently lead them homeward.

SERMON

PASTOR MICHAEL PEUSE

HYMN OF THE DAY Comfort, Comfort Now My People (Red Hymnal # 256) 1 "Comfort, comfort now my people;

tell of peace!" So says our God.Comfort those who sit in darknessmourning under sorrow's load.To God's people now proclaimthat God's pardon waits for them!Tell them that their war is over;God will reign in peace forever.

2 For the herald's voice is cryingin the desert far and near,calling us to true repentance,since the reign of God is here.Oh, that warning cry obey!Now prepare for God a way.Valleys, rise to greet the Savior;hills, bow down in humble favor.

3 Straight shall be what long was crooked,and the rougher places plain.Let your hearts be true and humble,as befits God's holy reign.For the glory of the Lordnow on earth is shed abroad,and all flesh shall see the tokenthat God's word is never broken.

PRESENTATION OF NEW MEMBERSDear friends, we give thanks for the gift of

baptism and for these people, one with us in the body of Christ, whom we welcome as new members into the life and ministry of this congregation.

NICENE CREEDWith the whole church, let us confess our faith. C: We believe in one God, the Father, the

Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. 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 virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.

On the third 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.

In baptism, we are welcomed into the body of Christ and sent to share in the mission of God. We are called to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.

Sisters and brothers in Christ,do you intend to continue in the covenant of

your baptismamong God’s people in this place? I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.

People of God,do you promise to support and pray

for these new members in their life in Christ?C: We do, and we ask God to help and guide us. Let us welcome these sisters and brothers in

Christ to this community of faith.C: We rejoice with you in the life of baptism.Together we will give thanks and praise to Godand proclaim the good news to all the world.

Announcements

INTERCESSORY RESPONSE Wait for the Lord (Red Hymnal # 262) C:Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.

Wait for the Lord: be strong, take heart!

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

OFFERINGThe work and witness of the church is

to offer good tidings. Heralds of good tidings, we declare abundance, enough and more than enough to meet the needs of God’s people. Let us share from our abundance. Today’s offering will now be received.

OFFERING RESPONSE

Create in me a clean heart, O God,and renew a right spirit within me.Cast me not away from your presence,and take not your Holy Spirit from me.Restore unto me the joy of your salvation,and uphold me with your free Spirit.

OFFERING PRAYERGod of abundance,C: 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 (Red Hymnal p. 152)

The Lord be with you.C: And also with you.Lift up your hearts.C: We lift them to the Lord.Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

PREFACE It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and

merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. You comforted your people with the promise of the

Redeemer, through whom you will also make all things new in the day when he comes to judge the world in righteousness.

And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (Red Hymnal p. 153)

Holy, holy, holy Lord,Lord God of pow’r and might:Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.Hosanna in the highest.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.Hosanna in the highest.

THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLEHoly God, the Beginning and the End, our

Salvation and our Hope, we praise you for creating a world of order and beauty.

When we brought on chaos, cruelty and despair, you sent the prophets to proclaim your justice and mercy.

At this end of the ages your Son Jesus came to bring us your love and to heal all the suffering world.

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.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:

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.

Remembering, therefore, his life, death, and resurrection, we await his coming again in righteousness and peace. Send your Spirit on us and on this bread and wine we share:

strengthen our faith, increase our hope, and bring to birth the justice and joy of your Son.

Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever.

C: Amen

LORD’S PRAYERLord, remember us in your

kingdom and teach us to pray.

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; 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.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

God fills the hungry with good things.Taste and see that the Lord is good.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNIONHoly One, we give you thanks that in this bread and cup we

have feasted again on your endless love.C: Let that love overflow more and more in our lives, that

we may be messengers to prepare your way,harvesters of justice and righteousness, and bearers of your

eternal Word, our Savior Jesus Christ.Amen.

BLESSINGMay God direct your ways in peace, make you

abound in love for one another and for all,and strengthen your hearts until the coming of

our Lord Jesus. Almighty God, Father, Son, ☩and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.

C: Amen.

SENDING SONG:On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry (Red Hymnal # 249) 1 On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry

announces that the Lord is nigh;awake and hearken, for he bringsglad tidings of the King of kings!

2 Then cleansed be ev'ry life from sin;make straight the way for God within,

and let us all our hearts preparefor Christ to come and enter there.

3 We hail you as our Savior, Lord,our refuge and our great reward;

without your grace we waste awaylike flow'rs that wither and decay.

4 Stretch forth your hand, our health restore,and make us rise to fall no more;

oh, let your face upon us shineand fill the world with love divine.

5 All praise to you, eternal Son,whose advent has our freedom won,

whom with the Father we adore,and Holy Spirit, evermore.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Christ is with you.C: Thanks be to God.