21 Dec BULLETIN – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2024
WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES
The Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor
Greta Wright, Organist
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Advent
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
Holy are you, God of steadfast love and faithfulness; you made a covenant with your chosen ones to establish the throne of your servant David forever. As we light these candles, open our hearts to the mystery of the incarnation revealed to your servant Mary and plant your word in us that it may grow and prosper.
Show us your favor and reveal your love to us so that we may be strengthen for service in your name. Amen. Light four candles.
RESPONSIVE READING
Lord, break into our world with your light, we pray.
Come stir up power able to light the whole world, O Lord.
Lord, break into our world with your joy, we pray,
Come stir up power which brings joy to the world, O Lord.
Lord, break into our world with your peace, we pray,
Come stir up your power and give peace to our world, O Lord.
Lord, break into our world with your comfort, we pray,
Come stir up your power to provide comfort for all, O Lord.
Lord, break into our world with your love, we pray,
Come stir up your power so the world feels loved, O Lord.
BRIEF ORDER OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, whose steadfast love is everlasting.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Silence is kept for reflection.
God-with-us, we confess that we turn away those seeking shelter and claim there is no room when actually, we could help find solutions. We make wealth our idol while you show us the richness of simplicity: a glorious babe born in a humble manger. We overlook those deemed unclean, scruffy or smelly and prefer good news in prettier packaging. Too often, we value power instead of peace. Turn us from our ways to your ways. Grant us grace and free us from all that keeps us stuck. Forgive our every sin, through Jesus Christ, born to give himself for us. Amen.
Did you hear the good news first proclaimed by John the Baptist? Rejoice! You are among God’s chosen people, who through Jesus Christ are deemed holy and beloved, ☩ forgiven and freed to receive God’s promise of forgiveness with joy. How about it?
Amen.
GATHERING HYMN
Once in Royal David’s City #643 (WOV)
KYRIE
🎶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
🎶Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
🎶Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father: we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God: You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
🎶The Lord be with you.
🎶And Also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
We wish for the world to experience the power of love brought forth in your dear Son, a sweet baby born of the Virgin Mary named Jesus given to us as Lord of all. With abundant grace and might, free us from thinking only of ourselves so we are better able to receive the fullness of you in joy and to serve you always as you live and reign with the Father and Holy Spirit, as one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING MICAH 5:2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.
RESPONSIVE SCRIPTURE READING LUKE 1:46b-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for you, Lord, have looked with favor on your lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed:
you, the Almighty, have done great things for me and holy is your name.
You have mercy on those who fear you, from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with your arm and scattered the proud in their conceit,
casting down the mighty from their thrones and lifting up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.
You have come to the aid of your servant Israel, to remember the promise of mercy,
the promise made to our forebears, to Abraham and his children forever.
SECOND READING HEBREWS 10:5-10
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘See, God, I have come to do your will, O God’ (in the scroll of the book it is written of me).” When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “See, I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
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 Luke, the 1st chapter.
🎶Glory to you, O Lord.
GOSPEL LUKE 1:39-45 (46-55)
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” [And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY
My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness #730 (WOV)
PROFESSION of FAITH Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He decended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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
As we prepare for Emmanuel, God-with-us, we pray for all people and places longing to experience God’s presence. A brief silence.
God of unity, increase communication and cooperation among different religious traditions. Help the church embody the radical message of your incarnation so that people everywhere experience your presence. You, the Almighty, have done great things and holy is your name. Come to the aid of your church and remember your promise of mercy.
God of creation, we praise you for all that is naturally awe-inspiring and life sustaining. Awaken in the human race a renewed sense of care for wildlife, the earth and its atmosphere. Make us faithful stewards of what you have made. You, the Almighty, have done great things and holy is your name. Come to the aid of our planet and remember your promise of mercy.
God of sovereignty, Mary proclaims a new way of life that lifts up the lowly and fills the hungry with good things. Nurture in local governments and municipalities a desire to care for all who are overlooked and ignored. You, the Almighty, do great things and holy is your name. Come to the aid of people in need and remember your promise of mercy.
God of light, as the northern hemisphere begins its slow turn toward more daylight, remind us that even in the deepest nights, you are there. Comfort the lonely and bereaved. Hold closely the frightened, anxious, depressed, and ill (especially those on our prayer list). You, the Almighty, do great things and holy is your name. Come to the aid of hurting people and remember your promise of mercy.
God of guidance, bless and shepherd the leadership of our two congregations: the councils, staff and laypersons involved in discerning our churches’ futures. Open everyone’s ears and hearts to voices of the community who might benefit from ministry. You, the Almighty, do great things and holy is your name. Come to the aid of local and global communities. Remember your promise of mercy.
God of life, you do remember the promises you’ve made to your people. In gratitude for those who have died, we praise you for your faithfulness throughout history. You, the Almighty, do great things through the power of your holy name. Though we may not know how, your promise of mercy is always being fulfilled.
We proclaim the greatness of the Lord and rejoice in the presence of a holy God who became incarnate to save all nations. From generation to generation we turn toward heaven with the pleas of our hearts and continue to trust in God’s tender mercies and lovingkindness. We call upon the powerful name of your Son, Jesus Christ, per his very own spoken words. Amen.
EXCHANGE OF PEACE
OFFERING
OFFERATORY
🎶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
CLOSING HYMN
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear #54
DISMISSAL Page 74
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.