04 Dec BULLETIN – SUNDAY, DECEMEBER 4, 2022
WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES
The Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor
Greta Wright, Music Director
Sunday, December 4, 2022
Second Sunday of Advent
GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
THE LIGHTING OF THE 2ND ADVENT CANDLE
Holy are you, God of righteousness and peace; you promised to wait with patience for all to come to repentance, and to send your prophet to cry in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord. As we light these candles, open our ears to hear you speak tenderly to your people, and open our hearts to welcome you as a shepherd who gently leads his flock.
Comfort us, O God, and forgive the sin of your people.
Reveal your glory to us, and speak to us your word of peace. Amen. [Light two candles.]
With hope when we might have given up; we pray, O Lord, Stir up our hearts and come.
With love when we might turn cold or hard; we pray, O Lord, Stir up our hearts and come.
To thankfulness when we might simply complain; we pray, O Lord; Stir up our hearts and come.
To action when we might simply watch; we pray, O Lord, Stir up our hearts and come.
For joy when we are tired and forgiveness when we are hurt; we pray, O Lord, Stir up our hearts and come.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be God’s name forever. Amen.
Beloved, now is the time to wake from sleep. Let us confront our sins, and confess them to the one who is merciful and just.
Silence is kept for reflection.
God of new beginnings, we confess that we have not welcomed your holy reign. We have strayed from your paths. We prepare for war instead of peace. We dishonor one another and your creation. Purify us with your refining fire and set us again on your way of love, that we may bear fruit worthy of repentance, and welcome your coming among us. Amen.
People of God, a new thing is growing in our midst, a tender branch, a living sign. By water and the Spirit you are joined to this wonder. You have put on ☩ Christ, and your sins have been washed away. Rejoice in the way of the Lord. Amen.
ENTRANCE HYMN On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry #36
KYRIE and HYMN OF PRAISE Pages 57-58
This Is the Feast… Page 60
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming nurture our growth as people of repentance and peace; 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 11:1-10
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
PSALM 72:1-7, 18-19
Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the king’s son; that he may rule your people righteously and the poor with justice;
that the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, and the hills, in righteousness.
Let him defend the needy among the people, rescue the poor, and crush the oppressor.
May the righteous flourish; let there be an abundance of peace. May he live as long as the sun and moon endure, from one generation to another.
Let him come down like rain upon the mown field, like showers that water the earth.
In his time may the righteous flourish; and let there be an abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.
Blessed are you, Lord God, the God of Israel; you alone do wondrous deeds!
And blessed be your glorious name forever, and may all the earth be filled with your glory. Amen.
May the righteous flourish; let there be an abundance of peace.
SPECIAL MUSIC Carol of the Bells The Joyful Ringers
SECOND READING ROMANS 15:4-13
Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name”; and again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”; and again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”; and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Page 62
GOSPEL MATTHEW 3:1-12
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ” Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
SERMON
HYMN of the DAY Prepare the Royal Highway #26
PROFESSION of FAITH/APOSTLE’S CREED Page 65
PRAYERS of INTERCESSION
As we prepare for the fullness of Christ’s presence, let us pray for a world that yearns for new hope while employing the means of God. A brief silence.
God, you renew the church in every age. We give thanks for hymn writers and truth tellers who inspire, for theologians like John of Damascus whom we commemorate today and others who expound upon your word. Reward and renew all who instruct and spread delight while giving glory to you. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God, you give us visions of creation in harmony, where everything has what it needs, not too much or too little. Teach us to be better stewards of the earth and companions to its creatures. Restore to balance and wholeness what human greed harms or destroys. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God, you defend the cause of all who are poor and disadvantaged, suffering from oppression. Raise up just, compassionate leaders who manage their own lives well, who show mercy, deal honestly, demonstrate generosity and work to establish equity while serving the common good. Guide all public officials to protect the rights of those who cannot advocate for themselves or improve without intervention. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God, you deliver those in need who suffer from fear. Come to the aid of those on our prayer list and any who are exploited or abused, especially children, elders, and victims of human trafficking. Provide safety and help to our neighbors without food, warmth, safety or shelter, to refugees, and anyone fleeing violence. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God, you urge your people to welcome others as you have welcomed us. Nurture ministries of hospitality and care in this and every congregation. We pray for people who are homebound, hospitalized, or separated from loved ones due to illness, infirmity, deployment, emotional or physical distance. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God, you embrace all who are dying or have died trusting in your promises. We give thanks for their courage and faithful witness. Comfort our grief and sustain us in hope until we are united with them as saints, prepared for the joy of being in your eternal presence. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of our hopes and longings, you know our deepest needs. By your Spirit, gather and join us in prayer for all the world’s people, your children in many lands. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
PEACE
OFFERING
OFFERTORY
Let the vineyards… Page 66
Prayer Blessed are You… Page 68
LITURGY of HOLY COMMUNION Pages 68-72
THE LORD’S PRAYER Page 71
POST COMMUNION CANTICLE Pages 72-73
POST COMMUNION PRAYER Page 74
BENEDICTION Page 74
CLOSING HYMN Infant Holy, Infant Lowly #44
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Love your neighbor.
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 have been presented by Linda Lucas in memory of Ralph and Evelyn Noblit.
Altar flowers at Messiah have been presented by Dave and Dianna Reed in memory of loved ones.