+ PREPARATION +
HYMN The Advent of Our King TLH 68
The advent of our King Our prayers must now employ,
And we must hymns of welcome sing In strains of holy joy.
The everlasting Son Incarnate deigns to be;
Himself a servant’s form puts on To set His servants free.
O Zion’s daughter, rise To meet thy lowly King,
Nor let thy faithless heart despise The peace He comes to bring.
As judge, on clouds of light, He soon will come again
And His true members all unite With Him in heav’n to reign.
Before the dawning day Let sin’s dark deeds be gone,
The old man all be put away, The new man all put on.
All glory to the Son, Who comes to set us free,
With Father, Spirit, ever One, Through all eternity.
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Pastor: We light our second Advent candle as we prepare for the arrival of the Savior, who would come to His people in human flesh and who promises to come again. In a world of darkness, a light shines. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
People: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Pastor: The second Advent candle has been known by a few different names, including the Bethlehem candle, the preparation candle, and the candle of peace. As we await the angelic proclamation of “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased,” we rejoice in the present reality of the peace Christ has assured in and through Him until perfect and eternal peace is ushered in upon His return. In this season, and until that day, we find comfort in His assurance: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
People: The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
Pastor: Guided by the light of peace, we respond with the psalmist: “There are many who say, ‘Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of Your face upon us, O Lord!’
People: You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
Pastor: In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
People: for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Two Advent candles are lit.
HYMN O Come, O Come, Emmanuel LSB 357 vs 3 & 4
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: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
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]
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Pastor: Malachi prophesies about and John the Baptist fulfills the call of the one who would prepare the way for the Lord. John the Baptist would preach a Baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. We, too, seek the forgiveness our Lord has promised, and our Savior gives us assurance as we come before Him in humble repentance. Our help is in the name of the Lord,
People: who made heaven and earth.
Pastor: If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
People: But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.
Pastor: Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and prepare again to receive Him who came in our flesh, comes through His Word and in His body and blood given and shed for us, and promises to come again, let us stand before Him in humble and contrite confession.
People: We are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by the things we have done and left undone, and we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition.
Pastor: We have not loved the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength,
People: and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
Pastor: We justly deserve present and eternal punishment, but for the sake of Jesus Christ, we pray:
People: Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Pastor: Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
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 the Word, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. May He who began a good work in you bring it to completion on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
People: Amen.
+ WORD +
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Malachi 3:1–7b (The messenger to prepare the way of the Lord)
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.
EPISTLE Philippians 1:2–11 (Paul’s thanksgiving and prayer)
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 3:1–14 (John the Baptist prepares the way)
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” 7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
HYMN On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry TLH 63
On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Come, then, and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings from the King of kings.
Then cleansed be every Christian breast
And furnished for so great a Guest.
Yea, let us each our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.
For Thou art our Salvation, Lord,
Our Refuge, and our great Reward.
Without Thy grace our souls must fade
And wither like a flower decayed.
Lay on the sick Thy healing hand
And make the fallen strong to stand;
Show us the glory of Thy face
Till beauty springs in every place.
All praise, eternal Son, to Thee
Whose advent sets Thy people free,
Whom, with the Father, we adore
And Holy Ghost forevermore.
SERMON
NICENE CREED
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 Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe 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 of the world to come. Amen.
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Philippians 1:3–11
Pastor: Let us pray for the church, for the people of God, and for all people according to their needs.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gathering of us together around Word and Sacrament, as You call, gather, and enlighten us through Your Spirit. Keep Your church united in truth, as Christ has completed His work for the sake of humanity as we await His return. As You continue to work in us and through us Your grace and mercy, empower us by Your Spirit to live holy lives according to Your will and to live as Your witnesses among our neighbors, coworkers, and community. As we pray to You now, we also pray with Paul upon ourselves and all believers who call upon Your name:
People: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Pastor: Be with all who bear Your Word, including those who serve as missionaries both near and far. Grant open ears and eager hearts to receive the good news of a Savior given, and forgiveness assured. For all who face trials, persecution, and even death for confessing Your name, grant a steadfastness of faith even in the most dire times.
People: “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”
Pastor: For all who are sick, lonely, and in need of comfort, we lift them up to You, [including . . .]. According to Your will, grant healing. According to Your promises, remain with them with the comfort and peace of Your presence in times of affliction. Be with doctors, nurses, and medical staff as they use the gifts and abilities given to them. Help us and others to serve as Your instruments that we may show compassion in times of need, speak words of hope in times of hopelessness, and serve according to needs had in times of helplessness. For all people, as we prepare to receive and rejoice in the Savior given and born for us, keep us prepared for the day of His coming again.
People: “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Pastor: Into Your hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.