16 Dec BULLETIN – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023
WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES
The Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor
Greta Wright, Music Director
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Third Sunday of Advent
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
Holy are you, God of the brokenhearted and oppressed; you sent your chosen one to heal and deliver; you give an evergreen garland instead of ashes to those who mourn; you bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly. As we light another candle, open our lips in confession; open us up to the Spirit so we may testify with one voice that your light has come into the world to enliven everyone. Restore our fortunes like streams in the desert. Reveal your truth; fill our mouths with shouts of joy to declare the great things you have done and are still doing for us all. Amen.
For those we love and others we’ve hurt, apply your mercy and forgiveness, Lord,
Come stir up our hearts to do your will.
From sin and other suffering that causes trouble, deliver us, Lord,
Come stir up our hearts to do your will.
For those transitioning, traveling, or preparing for change; we pray, O Lord,
Come stir up our hearts to do your will.
For those untouched by the joy of this season; we pray, O Lord,
Come stir up our hearts to do your will.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, renew us, and lead us so we may delight and walk in your ways to the glory of your holy name.
Come stir up our hearts to do your will.
CONFESSION
According to the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ lived, died and rose among humanity to heal all of us from sin. For his sake all sin is forgiven. To those who believe in Jesus Christ God gives the power to become children and bestows his life-giving Holy Spirit empowering our hearts and minds to do his will. Amen.
ENTRANCE HYMN
Prepare the Royal Highway #26
APOSTOLIC GREETING Page 57
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
KYRIE Pages 57-59
🎶In peace let us pray to the Lord.
🎶Lord have mercy.
🎶For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
🎶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.
🎶Lord have mercy.
🎶For this holy house, and for all who offer here and online their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
🎶Lord have mercy.
🎶Help, save, comfort, and defend us gracious Lord.
🎶Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE Pages 58-59
🎶This is the feast of victory for our God. Aleluia, aleluia, aleluia. Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
🎶This is the feast of victory for our God. Aleluia, aleluia, aleluia. Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessings and glory are his.
🎶This is the feast of victory for our God. Aleluia, aleluia, aleluia. Sing with all the people of God, join in the hymn of creation: Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever, Amen.
🎶This is the feast of victory for our God. Aleluia, aleluia, aleluia. For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign, Aleluia.
🎶This is the feast of victory for our God. Aleluia, aleluia, aleluia.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the words of your prophets, that, anointed by your Spirit, we may testify to your light; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING ISAIAH 61:1-4; 8-11
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the op-pressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of glad-ness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descend-ants shall be known among the nations, and their off-spring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. I will great-ly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
ADULT CHOIR
Cantique de Noel
PSALM 126
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then were we like those who dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed.
Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the water-courses of the Negeb.
Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
SECOND READING 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-24
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Page 62
🎶Alleluia, Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia. Alleluia.
The Holy Gospel according to Saint John, the 1st chapter.
🎶Glory to you, oh Lord.
GOSPEL JOHN 1:6-8, 19-28
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ ”as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
The Gospel of the Lord.
🎶Praise to you, o Christ.
SERMON
HYMN of the DAY
On Jordan’s Banks the Baptist’s Cry #36
PROFESSION of FAITH Apostles’ Creed Page 65
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I 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; On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life-everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS of INTERCESSION
With hope and expectation, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all who await God’s restoration. A brief silence.
Fill our mouths with laughter and our tongues with shouts of joy as we bear witness to great things you have done. Give your church a spirit of awe and gladness as we gather here today and are sent into the world. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Let the trees of the field sing your praise. Protect forests, orchards, rainforests, and all wooded areas from disease and deforestation. Keep us grateful for their gifts of oxygen, food, shade, and shelter. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
You love justice and promise favor to those who are oppressed, brokenhearted, and incarcerated. Grant wisdom and compassion to those who work for public safety and all who work within prisons, jails, and courts, that mercy may increase and violence wither away. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Give us strength to pray for without ceasing. Provoke us toward love and good deeds for all who are in need (especially those on our prayer list). Provide for all without adequate housing, food, employment, or access to health care. Empower us as helpers and advocates. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Open our hearts to those who serve as truth-tellers in our society, including comics and clowns. Bless leaders in church and society in their task of proclamation. Amplify voices of peacemakers, advocates, and especially those whose voices are ignored or marginalized. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
With gratitude we rejoice in the saints who witnessed to you in their life’s circumstances, in whom your Spirit was not quenched, even in death. Through them, teach us always to hold fast to what is good and find humor in times of fear or trepidation. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Listen to these and all our prayers, O God of hosts. Renew and restore us with your great everlasting mercy and steadfast lovingkindness. Amen.
EXCHANGE of PEACE
OFFERING
OFFERTORY Page 75
🎶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 to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit.
LORD’S PRAYER
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 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.
BENEDICTION Page 74
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
Amen.
CLOSING HYMN
O Come, All Ye Faithful #45
DISMISSAL Page 74
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission. Prayers adapted from Sundays and Seasons, copyright © 2019, Augsburg Fortress. Used with permission. Psalm readings from Lutheran Book of Worship, copyright © 1978. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual Subscription #SB160715 Other quotations from Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, National Council of Churches in Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Altar flowers at St. Peter’s have been presented by Salliane Bechtel in memory of loved ones.
Altar flowers at Messiah have been presented by Erin Kerstetter in memory of loved ones.