Fourth Sunday of Advent Worship Bulletin
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
12-18-2022 10:00AM Hybrid Worship
+ Gathering +
OPENING SONG: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
- O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.
REJOICE! REJOICE! EMMANUEL SHALL COME TO YOU, O ISRAEL.
- O come, O Wisdom from on high, embracing all things far and nigh:
in strength and beauty come and stay; teach us your will and guide our way.
- O come, O Key of David, come and open wide our heav’nly home;
make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.
- O come, O King of nations, come, O cornerstone that binds in one:
refresh the hearts that long for you; restore the broken, make us new.
GREETING, LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH, AND PRAYER:
L Grace to you and peace from (+) God, our life, mercy, and might;
C And also with you.
L Listen! A virgin is pregnant, a young woman is awaiting a child…
C How can this be?
L The Holy Spirit is responsible.
C But why?
L God promised us a Savior, a deliverer, a liberator, to save us from our sin.
C What is his name?
L Some call him Emmanuel, some Prince of Peace, and others, Jesus our Lord.
C Why would he come down from heaven to share our life and our pain?
L Because our God is a GOOD NEWS God, and God’s Son would willingly die to give us life.
C In Christ we have known a love that will never let us go!
[All four candles are lit on the Advent wreath. Sometimes the first is called the Candle of Hope, the second is called the
Candle of Peace, the third is called the Candle of Joy, and the fourth is called the Candle of Love.]
L Let us pray.
C O Lord, bless us as we light the four candles of this Advent wreath.
May we listen from our hearts and dance from our souls at the miracle of GOD-WITH-US.
Help us to risk yes and to say yes to your birth in our lives and world.
We renounce evil; we claim your love; we choose to be set free and made whole.
Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly! Hallelujah!
+ Holy Word +
FIRST READING: Isaiah 7:10-16 [The promise of security in a little baby born to a young woman – God-with-us!]
7:10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying,
7:11 Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.
7:12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.
7:13 Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also?
7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
7:15 He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
7:16 For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
SONG SELECTION: All Saints Choir
SECOND READING: Romans 1:1-7 [The offer of salvation in the coming of Christ – a promise fulfilled!]
1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
1:2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
1:3 the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
1:4 and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name,
1:6 including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
1:7 To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
GOSPEL VERSE:
“We need to hear from You, we need a word from You.
If we don’t hear from You, what will we do?
Wanting You more each day, show us Your perfect way.
There is no other way that we can live.”
GOSPEL: Matthew 1:18-25 [The mystery of God’s incarnation invitation – a Savior!]
1:18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
1:19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
1:20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
1:21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
1:22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
1:23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”
1:24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,
1:25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
THE SERMON: Rev. Clesha Staten
SONG RESPONSE: “Hush, Hush, Somebody’s Callin’ My Name”
- Hush… hush… Somebody’s callin’ my name. Hush… hush… Somebody’s callin’ my name.
Hush… hush… Somebody’s callin’ my name. O my Lord, O my Lord, what shall I do, what shall I do?
- Sounds like Jesus, Somebody’s callin’…
- Soon one morning, Somebody’s callin…
- I’m so glad, got me religion on time…
- I’m so glad, trouble don’t last always…
- Hush… hush… Somebody’s callin’ my name…
THE PRAYERS… THE GREAT O ANTIPHONS OF ADVENT
[The GREAT O ANTIPHONS are seven brief prayers that are traditionally chanted or sung from December 17 to December 23, one for each day until Christmas Eve. The precise origin of these texts is unknown. However, by the 8th and 9th centuries, the church in Rome and monastic communities throughout western Europe were using them at evening worship services during the season of Advent. These ancient prayers beautifully express the Christian church’s profound longing for her long-expected Savior. Each antiphon begins with the acclamation “O”, addresses Jesus Christ by one of the Messiah titles derived from the Old Testament, and ends with a heartfelt appeal to “come” and save us in some particular way. The sequence of these antiphons is precise, progressing from before the creation of the universe, through the messianic prophecies of Israel, and culminating with the incarnation and birth of Christ in Bethlehem. Around the 12th century the GREAT O ANTIPHONS were collected into a Latin verse hymn, which was later translated by the English hymn writer John Mason Neale, finally becoming the beloved Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”.
(sung at beginning) “OH… HEAR US. OH, HEAR US. OH… HEAR US, LORD. HEAR US, LORD… HEAR US.”
L O Wisdom, (O Sapienta),
holy word of God,
proceeding from the mouth of the Most High,
pervading and permeating all creation,
mightily ordering all things –
C (say) Come and teach us the way of prudence.
(sing) “HEAR US, LORD… HEAR US.”
L O Lord, (O Adonai),
and ruler of the House of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the burning bush
and gave him the Law on Sinai –
C (say) Come with an outstretched arm and redeem us.
(sing) “HEAR US, LORD… HEAR US.”
L O Root of Jesse, (O Radix Jesse),
standing as an Ensign before the peoples,
before whom all kings are mute,
to whom nations will do homage –
C (say) Come quickly to deliver us.
(sing) “HEAR US, LORD… HEAR US.”
L O Key of David, (O Clavis David),
and Scepter of the house of Israel,
you open and no one can close,
you close and no one can open –
C (say) Come and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and the shadow of death.
(sing) “HEAR US, LORD… HEAR US.”
L O Dayspring, (O Oriens),
Splendor of light everlasting –
C (say) Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
(sing) “HEAR US, LORD… HEAR US.”
L O King of the nations, (O Rex Genitum),
the Ruler they long for,
the Cornerstone uniting all people –
C (say) Come and save us all, whom you formed out of clay.
(sing) “HEAR US, LORD… HEAR US.”
L O God-with-us, (O Emmanuel),
our King and our Lawgiver,
the Anointed of the nations and their Savior –
C (say) Come and save us, O Lord our God.
(sing) “HEAR US, LORD… HEAR US.”
L Hear your church, O God, as we pray for the faith and the faithfulness of all who bear the name of Jesus.
C (sing) “HEAR US, LORD… HEAR US.”
L Hear your earth, O God, as it longs for healing and for care.
C (sing) “HEAR US, LORD… HEAR US.”
L Hear the nations, O God, as we pray for those who hold power, as we long for justice and for peace.
C (sing) “HEAR US, LORD… HEAR US.”
L Hear those in need, O God, as we lift up all who suffer, who struggle, who search for healing and hope.
C (sing) “HEAR US, LORD… HEAR US.”
L Hear this community of faith, O God, as we pray for families and friends who gather in this season… for
those who travel and those who host… for those who are alone and those who feel lonely… and for all
who will offer themselves in service to others this Christmas.
C (sing) “HEAR US, LORD… HEAR US.”
L Come to us in Christ, O God, and give us the gift of your Word of love in flesh and blood!
C (say) Amen and Amen! Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly, and dwell in our hearts and our hands!
(sing) “OH… HEAR US. OH, HEAR US. OH… HEAR US, LORD. HEAR US, LORD, HEAR US.”
+ Holy Meal +
TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS… We faithfully undertake GOD’S MISSION with our money and our lives!
SONG SELECTION: All Saints Choir
OFFERTORY:
“Come by here, my Lord, come by here; come by here, my Lord, come by here;
Come by here, my Lord, come by here. O LORD, COME BY HERE!
(2) Someone needs You, Lord, come by here…
(3) Send a blessing, Lord, come by here… ”
OFFERING PRAYER by the Communion Assistant:
O Lord, we open our hearts and our lives to your presence and your promises! Give us the spirit and the patience, we pray, to bear your light to all who sit in the shadows of despair and darkness. Amen.
THE PREFACE:
L Sisters and brothers, the Lord be with you! C AND ALSO WITH YOU!
L Lift up your hearts! C WE LIFT THEM UP IN LOVE FOR GOD!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God! C IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE GOD OUR THANKS AND PRAISE!
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (spoken)
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! We will have “continuous distribution” with wafers and either wine or grape juice. CHRIST COMES TO US IN BREAD AND WINE AND BLESSING, BRINGING US PEACE, UNITY, STRENGTH, AND HOPE!
[During the Advent Season we will not have any Communion Songs. Instead, we invite you to spend the time in quiet reflection and prayer. Without God our lives are empty and barren, without hope! Sometimes troubles surround us and turmoil makes our hearts shudder and grow weary. And sometimes temptation leads us astray. Can we recognize our deep need and look for those signs of God’s saving grace?]
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ Sending +
BENEDICTION by the Pastor… God sends us TO SHINE with the Light of Jesus Christ in a shadowy world!
CLOSING SONG: “Joy to the World”
- Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her king;
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room
and heav’n and nature sing… and heav’n and nature sing… and heav’n and heav’n and nature sing.
- Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy… repeart the sounding joy… repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
- No more let sin and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found… far as the curse is found… far as, far as the curse is found.
- He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love… and wonders of his love… and wonders, wonders of his love.
Join us in person or online this Saturday at 7:00PM for the joyous celebration of the wonder and mystery of Jesus Christ born among us!