Advent 2 – December 4, 2011

December 4, 2011                                                    ADVENT 2

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PROCESSIONAL HYMN

333 Once He Came in Blessing                                                                                                                  LSB 333

1              Once He came in blessing,
All our sins redressing;
Came in likeness lowly,
Son of God most holy;
Bore the cross to save us;
Hope and freedom gave us.

2              Now He gently leads us;
With Himself He feeds us
Precious food from heaven,
Pledge of peace here given,
Manna that will nourish
Souls that they may flourish.

3              Soon will come that hour
When with mighty power
Christ will come in splendor
And will judgment render,
With the faithful sharing
Joy beyond comparing.

4              Come, then, O Lord Jesus,
From our sins release us.
Keep our hearts believing,
That we, grace receiving,
Ever may confess You
Till in heav’n we bless You.
© 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.
Public domain

INVOCATION & CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

P      In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C     Amen.

P      Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C     who made heaven and earth.

P      If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C     But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P      Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

C     Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

P      Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C     Amen.

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343 Prepare the Royal Highway                                                                                                                  LSB 343

1              Prepare the royal highway;
The King of kings is near!
Let ev’ry hill and valley
A level road appear!
Then greet the King of Glory
Foretold in sacred story:

refrain

Hosanna to the Lord,
For He fulfills God’s Word!

© 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission.

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

INTROIT Ps. 80:1, 8a, 9b, 7; antiphon: Ps. 80:3

Restore us, | O God;*

let your face shine, that we | may be saved!

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph | like a flock!*

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, | shine forth.

You brought a vine out of | Egypt;*

it took deep root and | filled the land.

Restore us, O | God of hosts;*

let your face shine, that we | may be saved!

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Restore us, | O God;*

let your face shine, that we | may be saved!

KYRIE LSB 204

C     Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

SALUTATION and COLLECT OF THE DAY

P      The Lord be with you.

C     And also with you.

P      Let us pray.

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C     Amen.

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OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 40:1–11

1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and cry to her

that her warfare is ended,

that her iniquity is pardoned,

that she has received from the Lord’s hand

double for all her sins.

3A voice cries:

“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.

5And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

and all flesh shall see it together,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

6A 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.

7The grass withers, the flower fades

when the breath of the Lord blows on 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 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!”

10Behold, the Lord God comes with might,

and his arm rules for him;

behold, his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him.

11He 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.

A     This is the Word of the Lord.

C     Thanks be to God.

GRADUAL Zech. 9:9; Ps. 118:26, alt.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of | Zion.*

Shout aloud, O daughter of Je- | rusalem.

Behold, your king is com- | ing to you;*

righteous and having sal- | vation.

Blessèd is he who comes in the name | of the Lord.*

From the house of the Lord we | bless you.

EPISTLE 2 Peter 3:8–14

8But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

14Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

A     This is the Word of the Lord.

C     Thanks be to God.

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ALLELUIA AND VERSE

C     Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

C     These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

C     Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL Mark 1:1–8

P      The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the first chapter.

C     Glory to You, O Lord.

1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way,

3the voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight,’”

4John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

P      This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C     Praise to You, O Christ.

Children’s Sermon

NICENE CREED LSB 206

C     I believe in one God,

the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth

and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the only-begotten Son of God,

begotten of His Father before all worlds,

God of God, Light of Light,

very God of very God,

begotten, not made,

being of one substance with the Father,

by whom all things were made;

who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

and was made man;

and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

He suffered and was buried.

And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

and ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of the Father.

And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord and giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

and I look for the resurrection of the dead

and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

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CHILDREN’S SERMON

HYMN OF THE DAY

344 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry                                                                                                    LSB 344

1              On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Awake and hearken, for he brings
Glad 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 prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.

3              We hail Thee as our Savior, Lord,

Our refuge and our great reward;
Without Thy grace we waste away
Like flow’rs that wither and decay.

4              Lay on the sick Thy healing hand

And make the fallen strong to stand;
Show us the glory of Thy face
Till beauty springs in ev’ry place.

5              All praise, eternal Son, to Thee

Whose advent sets Thy people free,
Whom with the Father we adore
And Holy Spirit evermore.
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SERMON

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PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

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OFFERING

SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT

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PREFACE LSB 208

P      The Lord be with you.

C     And also with you.

P      Lift up your hearts.

C     We lift them to the Lord.

P      Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C     It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P      It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, for the countless blessings You so freely bestow on us and all creation. Above all, we give thanks for Your boundless love shown to us when You sent Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into our flesh and laid on Him our sin, giving Him into death that we might not die eternally. Because He is now risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity, all who believe in Him will overcome sin and death and will rise again to new life. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

SANCTUS LSB 208

C     Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth adored;

Heav’n and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name.

Sing hosanna in the highest, sing hosanna to the Lord;

Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

P      Blessed are You, O Lord our God, king of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and given Your only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

In Your boundless mercy You sent Your servant, John the Baptist, to proclaim that in Christ the kingdom of heaven draws near.

With thankful hearts we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus,” confident that in His body and blood, given us to eat and drink, we receive the forgiveness of sins and so proclaim His death until He comes again in glory.

Hear us as we pray in His name and as He has taught us:

LORD’S PRAYER LSB 209

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.

THE WORD’S OF OUR LORD

P      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 T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

P      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 T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

PAX DOMINI LSB 209

P      The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C     Amen.

AGNUS DEI LSB 210

C     O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, You take the sin of the world away;

O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, Have mercy on us, Lord, we pray.

O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, You take the sin of the world away;

Have mercy on us, Jesus Christ, And grant us peace, O Lord, we pray.

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Distribution

Communion Hymns

350 Come, Thou Precious Ransom, Come                                                                                                LSB 350

1              Come, Thou precious Ransom, come,
Only hope for sinful mortals!
Come, O Savior of the world!
Open are to Thee all portals.
Come, Thy beauty let us see;
Anxiously we wait for Thee.

2              Enter now my waiting heart,

Glorious King and Lord most holy.
Dwell in me and ne’er depart,
Though I am but poor and lowly.
Ah, what riches will be mine
When Thou art my guest divine!

3              My hosannas and my palms

Graciously receive, I pray Thee;
Evermore, as best I can,
Savior, I will homage pay Thee,
And in faith I will embrace,
Lord, Thy merit through Thy grace.

4              Hail! Hosanna, David’s Son!

Jesus, hear our supplication!
Let Thy kingdom, scepter, crown,
Bring us blessing and salvation,
That forever we may sing:
Hail! Hosanna to our King.
Public domain

352 Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord LSB 352

1              Let the earth now praise the Lord,
Who has truly kept His word
And at last to us did send
Christ, the sinner’s help and friend.

2              What the fathers most desired,

What the prophets’ heart inspired,
What they longed for many_a year,
Stands fulfilled in glory here.

3              Abram’s promised great reward,

Zion’s helper, Jacob’s Lord—
Him of twofold race behold—
Truly came, as long foretold.

4              As Your coming was in peace,

Quiet, full of gentleness,
Let the same mind dwell in me
Which is Yours eternally.

5              Bruise for me the serpent’s head

That, set free from doubt and dread,
I may cling to You in faith,
Safely kept through life and death.

6              Then when You will come again

As the glorious king to reign,
I with joy will see Your face,
Freely ransomed by Your grace.
Public domain

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NUNC DIMITTIS LSB 211

C     O Lord, now let Your servant Depart in heav’nly peace,

For I have seen the glory Of Your redeeming grace:

A light to lead the Gentiles Unto Your holy hill,

The glory of Your people, Your chosen Israel.

All glory to the Father, All glory to the Son,

All glory to the Spirit, Forever Three in One;

For as in the beginning, Is now, shall ever be,

God’s triune name resounding Through all eternity.


POST-COMMUNION COLLECT

A     Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C     Amen.

BENEDICAMUS and BENEDICTION

A     Let us bless the Lord.

C     Thanks be to God.

P      The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

C     Amen.


CLOSING HYMN

347 Comfort, Comfort Ye My People LSB 347

1              “Comfort, comfort ye My people,
Speak ye peace,” thus saith our God;
“Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ’neath their sorrows’ load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover
And her warfare now is over.”

2              Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He no more will see or heed.
She hath suffered many_a day,
Now her griefs have passed away;
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever-springing gladness.

3              Hark, the herald’s voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Calling sinners to repentance,
Since the Kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
Let the valleys rise to meet Him
And the hills bow down to greet Him.

4              Make ye straight what long was crooked;
Make the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.
Public domain

Silent Prayer                                                                                                                                                             

Following the service, the people may greet one another in the name of the Lord, saying, “Peace be with you,” as a sign of reconciliation and of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Matt. 5:22–24; Eph. 4:1–3).

Acknowledgments

Divine Service, Setting Four from Lutheran Service Book

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.