December 18, 2011 ADVENT 4
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PROCESSIONAL HYMN
The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns LSB 348
1 The King shall come when morning dawns
And light triumphant breaks,
When beauty gilds the eastern hills
And life to joy awakes.
2 Not as of old a little child,
To bear and fight and die,
But crowned with glory like the sun
That lights the morning sky.
3 Oh, brighter than the rising morn
When Christ, victorious, rose
And left the lonesome place of death
Despite the rage of foes.
4 Oh, brighter than that glorious morn
Shall dawn upon our race
The day when Christ in splendor comes
And we shall see His face.
5 The King shall come when morning dawns
And light and beauty brings.
Hail, Christ the Lord! Your people pray:
Come quickly, King of kings!
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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.
Stand
O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide LSB 355
1 O Savior, rend the heavens wide;
Come down, come down with mighty stride;
Unlock the gates, the doors break down;
Unbar the way to heaven’s crown.
© 1969 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
HOLY BAPTISM (8:30 Service Only)
592 Dearest Jesus, We Are Here
1 Dearest Jesus, we are here,
Gladly Your command obeying;
With this child we now draw near
In response to Your own saying
That to You it shall be given
As a child and heir of heaven.
5 Now into Your heart we pour
Prayers that from our hearts proceeded.
Our petitions heav’nward soar;
May our hearts’ desires be heeded!
Write the name we now have given;
Write it in the book of heaven!
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P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P Dearly beloved, Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” In the last chapter of Mark our Lord promises, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” And the apostle Peter has written, “Baptism now saves you.”
The Word of God also teaches that we are all conceived and born sinful and are under the power of the devil until Christ claims us as His own. We would be lost forever unless delivered from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation. But the Father of all mercy and grace has sent His Son Jesus Christ, who atoned for the sin of the whole world, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
The pastor addresses each candidate:
P How are you named?
R [Name]
The pastor makes the sign of the holy cross upon the forehead and heart of each candidate while saying:
Sign of the Cross
P [Name], receive the sign of the holy cross both upon your T forehead and upon your T heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.
P Let us pray.
Almighty and eternal God, according to Your strict judgment You condemned the unbelieving world through the flood, yet according to Your great mercy You preserved believing Noah and his family, eight souls in all. You drowned hard-hearted Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea, yet led Your people Israel through the water on dry ground, foreshadowing this washing of Your Holy Baptism. Through the Baptism in the Jordan of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, You sanctified and instituted all waters to be a blessed flood and a lavish washing away of sin.
We pray that You would behold [name(s)] according to Your boundless mercy and bless [him/her/them] with true faith by the Holy Spirit, that through this saving flood all sin in [him/her/them], which has been inherited from Adam and which [he himself / she herself / they themselves] [has/have] committed since, would be drowned and die. Grant that [he/she/they] be kept safe and secure in the holy ark of the Christian Church, being separated from the multitude of unbelievers and serving Your name at all times with a fervent spirit and a joyful hope, so that, with all believers in Your promise, [he/she/they] would be declared worthy of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P From ancient times the Church has observed the custom of appointing sponsors for baptismal candidates and catechumens. In the Evangelical Lutheran Church sponsors are to confess the faith expressed in the Apostles’ Creed and taught in the Small Catechism. They are, whenever possible, to witness the Baptism of those they sponsor. They are to pray for them, support them in their ongoing instruction and nurture in the Christian faith, and encourage them toward the faithful reception of the Lord’s Supper. They are at all times to be examples to them of the holy life of faith in Christ and love for the neighbor.
P Is it your intention to serve name of candidate(s) as sponsors in the Christian faith?
R Yes, with the help of God.
P God enable you both to will and to do this faithful and loving work and with His grace fulfill what we are unable to do.
C Amen.
P Hear the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.
They brought young children to [Jesus] that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.
P This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
The pastor places his hands on the head(s) of the candidate(s).
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;
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.
P The Lord preserve your coming in and your going out from this time forth and even T evermore.
C Amen.
Sit
P [Name(s)], do you renounce the devil?
R Yes, I renounce him.
P Do you renounce all his works?
R Yes, I renounce them.
P Do you renounce all his ways?
R Yes, I renounce them.
P Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth?
R Yes, I believe.
P Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He will come to judge the living and the dead?
R Yes, I believe.
P Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting?
R Yes, I believe.
P [Name,] do you desire to be baptized?
R Yes, I do.
The pastor pours water three times on the head of each candidate while saying:
P [Name,] I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
The pastor places his hands on the head of the newly baptized while saying:
P The almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you the new birth of water and of the Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with His grace to life T everlasting.
C Amen.
A deacon lights a baptismal candle from the paschal candle and gives it to the newly baptized while saying:
P Receive this burning light to show that you have received Christ who is the Light of the world. Live always in the light of Christ, and be ever watchful for His coming, that you may meet Him with joy and enter with Him into the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which shall have no end.
A In Holy Baptism God the Father has made you [a member / members] of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and [an heir / heirs] with us of all the treasures of heaven in the one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We receive you in Jesus’ name as our [brother(s)/sister(s)] in Christ, that together we might hear His Word, receive His gifts, and proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
C Amen. We welcome you in the name of the Lord.
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P Let us pray.
Almighty and most merciful God and Father, we thank and praise You that You graciously preserve and enlarge Your family and have granted [name(s)] the new birth in Holy Baptism and made [him/her/them] [a member / members] of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and [an heir / heirs] of Your heavenly kingdom. We humbly implore You that, as [he/she/they] [has/have] now become Your [child/children], You would keep [him/her/them] in [his/her/their] baptismal grace, that according to Your good pleasure [he/she/they] may faithfully grow to lead a godly life to the praise and honor of Your holy name and finally, with all Your saints, obtain the promised inheritance in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Almighty and everlasting God, since You govern and sanctify the whole Christian Church by Your Holy Spirit, hear our prayers for all her members, and mercifully grant that by Your grace we may serve You in true faith; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Peace be with you.
C Amen.
INTROIT Ps. 19:1, 4c, 5–6; antiphon: Is. 45:8a, b
Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down | righteousness;*
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may | bear fruit.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his | handiwork.*
In them he has set a tent | for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his | chamber,*
and, like a strong man, runs its | course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the | end of them,*
and there is nothing hidden | from its heat.
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.
Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down | righteousness;*
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may | bear fruit.
KYRIE
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 Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Sit
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16
1Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,
2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.”
3And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”
4But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan,
5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in?
6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day,
but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.
7In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel,
did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel,
whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying,
“Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’
8Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David,
‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture,
from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.
9And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you.
And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them,
so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more.
And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel.
And I will give you rest from all your enemies.
Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.
16And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.
Your throne shall be established forever.’”
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 Romans 16:25–27
25Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
26but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations,
according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
27to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
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 Luke 1:26–38
P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the first chapter.
C Glory to You, O Lord.
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.
And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said,
“Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
29But she was greatly troubled at the saying,
and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
30And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God. 31And behold,
you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall call his name Jesus.
32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.
And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son,
and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord;
let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
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.
Sit
CHILDREN’S SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY
357 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear. Refrain
ref Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
2 O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who ord’rest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go. Refrain
3 O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times didst give the Law
In cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain
4 O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree,
Free them from Satan’s tyranny
That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save,
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave. Refrain
5 O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery. Refrain
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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.
Sit
Distribution
Communion Hymns
349 Hark the Glad Sound LSB 349
1 Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes,
The Savior promised long;
Let ev’ry heart prepare a throne
And ev’ry voice a song.
2 He comes the pris’ners to release,
In Satan’s bondage held.
The gates of brass before Him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
3 He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasures of His grace
To enrich the humble poor.
4 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim,
And heav’n’s eternal arches ring
With Thy belovèd name.
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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.
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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
353 Jesus Came, the Heavens Adoring LSB 353
1 Jesus came, the heav’ns adoring,
Came with peace from realms on high;
Jesus came to win redemption,
Lowly came on earth to die;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Came in deep humility.
2 Jesus comes again in mercy
When our hearts are worn with care;
Jesus comes again in answer
To an earnest, heartfelt prayer;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Comes to save us from despair.
3 Jesus comes to hearts rejoicing,
Bringing news of sins forgiv’n;
Jesus comes with words of gladness,
Leading souls redeemed to heav’n.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Hope to all the world is giv’n.
4 Jesus comes in joy and sorrow,
Shares alike our hopes and fears;
Jesus comes, whate’er befalls us,
Cheers our hearts and dries our tears;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Comforts us in failing years.
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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.
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