PRELUDE
GATHERING
GREETING & WELCOME
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All: And also with you.
OPENING MUSIC--“Lost in the Night,” ELW #243, vs 1, 3-4
CALL TO WORSHIP
L: John the Baptist said, “Prepare the way.” So family of faith, how do we prepare our minds for worship?
All: We silence the inner critic. We let go of busy thoughts. We make space for God to speak.
L: How do we prepare our hearts for worship?
All: We bless all emotions. We feel what we feel. We open ourselves up to be moved.
L: How do we prepare our bodies for worship?
All: We take in the scent, sight, and feel of the space in which we worship. We breathe in God’s mercy. We exhale God’s love.
L: How do we prepare our souls for worship?
All: We bring our full selves into this space. We wear our hearts on our sleeves. We trust that even now, God is here.
L: Family of faith, what we practice in worship, we must live out in our daily lives. So prepare the way. Let us worship Holy God.
LIGHTING OF ADVENT CANDLE
A: I dream of the first pitch of opening season.
B: I dream of a laundry day, where each sock finds its mate.
A: I dream of family home for the holidays.
B: I dream of good books and homemade meals.
A: I dream of sunset drives with the windows down.
B: These are beautiful dreams, but I also have urgent dreams.
A: I dream of conversations across party lines.
B: I dream of more bridges and less walls.
A: I dream of more laughter and less fear.
B: I dream of more listening and less tears.
A: But most of all, I dream of peace like a river.
B: Today we light the candle of peace. May it remind us that there is another way. Amen.
Candle is lit as we sing:
“Creator of the Stars of Night,” ELW #245, vs. 2
L: John the Baptist said, “Prepare the way.” So family of faith, how do we prepare our minds for worship?
All: We silence the inner critic. We let go of busy thoughts. We make space for God to speak.
L: How do we prepare our hearts for worship?
All: We bless all emotions. We feel what we feel. We open ourselves up to be moved.
L: How do we prepare our bodies for worship?
All: We take in the scent, sight, and feel of the space in which we worship. We breathe in God’s mercy. We exhale God’s love.
L: How do we prepare our souls for worship?
All: We bring our full selves into this space. We wear our hearts on our sleeves. We trust that even now, God is here.
L: Family of faith, what we practice in worship, we must live out in our daily lives. So prepare the way. Let us worship Holy God.
LIGHTING OF ADVENT CANDLE
A: I dream of the first pitch of opening season.
B: I dream of a laundry day, where each sock finds its mate.
A: I dream of family home for the holidays.
B: I dream of good books and homemade meals.
A: I dream of sunset drives with the windows down.
B: These are beautiful dreams, but I also have urgent dreams.
A: I dream of conversations across party lines.
B: I dream of more bridges and less walls.
A: I dream of more laughter and less fear.
B: I dream of more listening and less tears.
A: But most of all, I dream of peace like a river.
B: Today we light the candle of peace. May it remind us that there is another way. Amen.
Candle is lit as we sing:
“Creator of the Stars of Night,” ELW #245, vs. 2
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
L: Let us confess our sins before God and one another. Holy God,
All: We wish that peace was something we could buy. We wish that peace could be ordered in a subscription service, found on a map, downloaded in an app, or voted for in a ballot. We wish that peace was as easy as a one-time choice when we are feeling our best. However, what we have found is that peace involves everyday decisions over and over, whether or not we are feeling our best. So today I confess, in front of this community of faith, that I need your help in this Advent season. Prepare the way for greater peace, and teach me how to be a part of it.
L: May God forgive you. May God’s guiding hand surround you. May you know comfort. May you know peace.
All: Thanks be to God. Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
L: God of Peace, We must admit, there are a million things on our minds.
We would like to be as focused as John the Baptist—preparing the way, gathering the crowd, spreading the word of your arrival.
Maybe then we’d know peace.
However, more often than not, we are a swirling compilation of grocery lists, text messages, e-mails, and over-referenced to-do lists.
So today, we ask for your help in preparing the way.
Could you start with our ears, and then maybe move to our hearts?
We’d like to hear you more clearly.
Maybe then we’ll know peace.
Gratefully we pray,
Amen.
Receiving New Bibles (video)
WORD
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 40:1-11
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.
Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
Word of God; Word of Life.
Thanks be to God.
Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE
HYMN OF THE DAY “Come Now, O Prince of Peace,” ELW #247
L: Let us confess our sins before God and one another. Holy God,
All: We wish that peace was something we could buy. We wish that peace could be ordered in a subscription service, found on a map, downloaded in an app, or voted for in a ballot. We wish that peace was as easy as a one-time choice when we are feeling our best. However, what we have found is that peace involves everyday decisions over and over, whether or not we are feeling our best. So today I confess, in front of this community of faith, that I need your help in this Advent season. Prepare the way for greater peace, and teach me how to be a part of it.
L: May God forgive you. May God’s guiding hand surround you. May you know comfort. May you know peace.
All: Thanks be to God. Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
L: God of Peace, We must admit, there are a million things on our minds.
We would like to be as focused as John the Baptist—preparing the way, gathering the crowd, spreading the word of your arrival.
Maybe then we’d know peace.
However, more often than not, we are a swirling compilation of grocery lists, text messages, e-mails, and over-referenced to-do lists.
So today, we ask for your help in preparing the way.
Could you start with our ears, and then maybe move to our hearts?
We’d like to hear you more clearly.
Maybe then we’ll know peace.
Gratefully we pray,
Amen.
Receiving New Bibles (video)
WORD
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 40:1-11
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.
Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
Word of God; Word of Life.
Thanks be to God.
Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE
HYMN OF THE DAY “Come Now, O Prince of Peace,” ELW #247
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
L: Let us confess our faith together:
All: We believe that God has come to us;
That this God gave us breath and purpose and dreamed us into existence;
That we have been blessed to be a blessing to others,
That we have fallen short of God’s dream and struggle to wake up to God’s promise and purpose for us.
We believe that God is coming to us;
That God will not abandon us in our sin;
That God will come in flesh and bone to prepare the way for our restoration and wholeness
That God’s path will show us the extent of God’s love.
We believe that God will come to us;
That God will have the final word, and that Word will be good;
That in the coming, God’s dreams for us will be renewed;
That with God’s help, we are sent out to sow joy in the world,
To dream of what could be,
And to proclaim the good news of what already is.
Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Prayer Wreaths: Blue for our hopes; Purple for our lament; Pink for our intercessions; Gold for our blessings.
MEAL
PASSING THE PEACE
L: The peace of Christ be with you always.
All: And also with you.
PRAYER OF OFFERING DEDICATION
L: God of our wildest dreams, you have given us the imagination and inspiration to dream of a world that is so much better than what it is today. With the offerings we make, give us the courage and strength to work toward these dreams, placing our trust in one who began as a dream in a mother’s eye, the Word that spoke in the beginning, the hope of future resurrection and restoration, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
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 us 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.
PARTAKING OF COMMUNION
POST-COMMUNION BLESSING & PRAYER
L: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
All: Amen.
L: Holy God, as we open our eyes to the world around us, let our hands continue to set your table for those without bread to eat; let our feet walk alongside those whose journeys seem too long and lonely; and let our hearts go out to all of your children, telling the world of your great love, placed in a manger, murdered on a cross, and sprung from the tomb to reorient the hearts of all.
All: Amen.
BENEDICTION
L: The Creator of the stars bless your Advent waiting,
the long-expected Savior fill you with love,
the unexpected Spirit guide your journey,
☩ now and forever.
All: Amen.
SENDING
ANNOUNCEMENTS & MILESTONES
SENDING MUSIC “Prepare the Royal Highway,” ELW #264, vs. 1, 3-4
L: Let us confess our faith together:
All: We believe that God has come to us;
That this God gave us breath and purpose and dreamed us into existence;
That we have been blessed to be a blessing to others,
That we have fallen short of God’s dream and struggle to wake up to God’s promise and purpose for us.
We believe that God is coming to us;
That God will not abandon us in our sin;
That God will come in flesh and bone to prepare the way for our restoration and wholeness
That God’s path will show us the extent of God’s love.
We believe that God will come to us;
That God will have the final word, and that Word will be good;
That in the coming, God’s dreams for us will be renewed;
That with God’s help, we are sent out to sow joy in the world,
To dream of what could be,
And to proclaim the good news of what already is.
Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Prayer Wreaths: Blue for our hopes; Purple for our lament; Pink for our intercessions; Gold for our blessings.
MEAL
PASSING THE PEACE
L: The peace of Christ be with you always.
All: And also with you.
PRAYER OF OFFERING DEDICATION
L: God of our wildest dreams, you have given us the imagination and inspiration to dream of a world that is so much better than what it is today. With the offerings we make, give us the courage and strength to work toward these dreams, placing our trust in one who began as a dream in a mother’s eye, the Word that spoke in the beginning, the hope of future resurrection and restoration, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
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 us 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.
PARTAKING OF COMMUNION
POST-COMMUNION BLESSING & PRAYER
L: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
All: Amen.
L: Holy God, as we open our eyes to the world around us, let our hands continue to set your table for those without bread to eat; let our feet walk alongside those whose journeys seem too long and lonely; and let our hearts go out to all of your children, telling the world of your great love, placed in a manger, murdered on a cross, and sprung from the tomb to reorient the hearts of all.
All: Amen.
BENEDICTION
L: The Creator of the stars bless your Advent waiting,
the long-expected Savior fill you with love,
the unexpected Spirit guide your journey,
☩ now and forever.
All: Amen.
SENDING
ANNOUNCEMENTS & MILESTONES
SENDING MUSIC “Prepare the Royal Highway,” ELW #264, vs. 1, 3-4
DISMISSAL
L: Go in peace. Prepare the way of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
L: Go in peace. Prepare the way of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
RSS Feed