Prelude On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry
Trier ms 15th c./Michael Praetorius/Robert Lau
Welcome & Announcements
Opening Prayer & Gathering #2095 Star-Child vs. 1
Star-Child, earth Child, go-between of God,
love Child, Christ Child, heaven's lightning rod,
This year, this year, let the day arrive when
Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!
Lighting of the Advent Candle Karl, Kathryn, & Christine Guthjahr
Sung Response O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, thou Wisdom from on high, who orderst
all things mightily: to us the path of knowledge show;
and teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
Call to Worship (Luke 1:76-79)
Zechariah sang to his newborn son:
“You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
You will tell his people how to be saved
through the forgiveness of their sins.
Because of our God’s deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us,
to give light to those who are sitting in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide us on the path of peace.”
Opening Hymn #10 On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Holy God, we confess we prefer the crooked paths where we think we can hide from you. We’d rather you didn’t examine us too closely, or all we do and fail to do. Yet you are coming not to judge, but to save us from our sin and our love of sinning. So come, Lord, by crooked path or straight, to enter our aching hearts. In the certainty of your grace we make our prayer. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news! Through Christ we have forgiveness and new hope.
He comes to break the power of sin and set us free again. Alleluia! Amen.
Sung Response Angels We Have Heard on High (Refrain Only)
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Sermon for Faith Builders
Children are invited to go to Children’s Worship with our Children’s Worship Leader, Ms. Marisa. Children will return to their parents during the final hymn.
Cents-Ability
Prayers of the People & Lord's Prayer
Call to Offering
Offertory Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
Genevan Psalter/Robert Lau
Sung Response #36 In the Bleak Midwinter vs. 4
What can I give Him, Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wiseman, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: Give my heart.
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn #2 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Scripture Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
Anthem Wild and Lone the Prophet's Voice
Carl P Daw Jr/David Ashely White
1 Wild and lone the prophet's voice
echoes through the desert still,
calling us to make a choice,
bidding us to do God's will:
"Turn from sin and be baptized;
cleanse your heart and mind and soul.
Quitting all the sins you prized,
yield your life to God's control.
2 "Bear the fruit repentance sows:
lives of justice, truth, and love.
Trust no other claim than those;
set your heart on things above.
Soon the Lord will come in power,
burning clean the threshing floor:
then will flames the chaff devour;
wheat alone shall fill God's store."
3 With such preaching stark and bold
John proclaimed salvation near,
and his timeless warnings hold
words of hope to all who hear.
So we dare to journey on,
led by faith through ways untrod,
till we come at last like John -
to behold the Lamb of God.
Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-6
Sermon Are You Preparing?
Apostles’ Creed (Traditional)- Page 14 in Blue Hymnal
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
Closing Hymn #15 Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers
Benediction
Postlude Prepare the Way, O Zion
Then Swenska Psalmboken/Robert Lau
