The Virtual Service for December 13, 2020

Worship for the 3rd Sunday of Advent  

Introduction of the Day

“Rejoice always,” begins the reading from 1 Thessalonians. Isaiah and the psalmist make clear that God is turning our mourning into laughter and shouts of joy. “All God’s children got a robe,” go the words of a spiritual. It is not so much a stately, formal, pressed outfit as it is a set of party clothes, clothes we are happy to wear. We receive that robe in baptism, and in worship we gather for a foretaste of God’s party.

Prepare the Royal Highway (ELW 264)
Nanette Lutz and Bev Haines

 1    Prepare the royal highway;
      the King of kings is near!
      Let ev'ry hill and valley
      a level road appear!
      Then greet the King of glory,
      foretold in sacred story:
Refrain
      Hosanna to the Lord,
      for he fulfills God's word!

2    God's people, see him coming:
      your own eternal king!
      Palm branches strew before him!
      Spread garments! Shout and sing!
      God's promise will not fail you!
      No more shall doubt assail you!  Refrain

3    Then fling the gates wide open
      to greet your promised king!
      Your king, yet ev'ry nation
      its tribute too may bring.
      All lands will bow before him;
      their voices join your singing:  Refrain

4    His is no earthly kingdom;
      it comes from heav'n above.
      His rule is peace and freedom
      and justice, truth, and love.
      So let your praise be sounding
      for kindness so abounding:  Refrain

Text: Frans Mikael Franzén, 1772-1847; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship
Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH

O come, O come, O Lord of might,
as to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times you gave the law
in cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel. 

We praise you, O God, for this victory wreath
that marks our days of preparation for Christ’s advent.
As we light the candles on this wreath,
strengthen our hearts
as we await the Lord’s coming in glory.
Enlighten us with your grace,
that we may serve our neighbors in need.
Grant this through Christ our Lord,
whose coming is certain and whose day draws near.
Amen.

O come, O Branch of Jesse, free
your own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell your people save,
and give them vict'ry o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the words of your prophets, that, anointed by your Spirit, we may testify to your light; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WORD

THE READING
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

A reading from 1 Thessalonians.

16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise the words of prophets, 21but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22abstain from every form of evil.
23May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL
John 1:6-8, 19-28

The holy gospel according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

19This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23He said, 
 “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
 ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ ”
as the prophet Isaiah said.
24Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON
The Importance of No!
Pastor Carlson 

HYMN OF THE DAY
On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry (ELW 249)
Nanette Lutz and Bev Haines

On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
announces that the Lord is nigh;
awake and hearken, for he brings
glad tidings of the King of kings!

Then cleansed be ev'ry life from sin;
make straight the way for God within,
and let us all our hearts prepare
for Christ to come and enter there.

All praise to you, eternal Son,
whose advent has our freedom won,
whom with the Father we adore,
and Holy Spirit, evermore.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

God of power and might, tear open the heavens and come quickly to this weary world. Hear our prayers for everyone in need.

A brief silence.

The response to “Lord in your mercy” is “hear our prayer.”

The prayers conclude:
Draw near to us, O God, and receive our prayers for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

OFFERING 
ANTHEM
Advent Meditation
arr. Wagner
Handbell Choir

OFFERING PRAYER

Generous God,
you have created all that is,
and you provide for us in every season.
Bless all that we offer,
that through these gifts the world will receive your blessing.
In the name of Jesus, Emmanuel, we pray.
Amen. 

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.

SENDING

BLESSING

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.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Prepare the way of the Lord.
Thanks be to God

SENDING SONG
People Look East! (ELW 248)
Nanette Lutz and Bev Haines

1     People, look east. The time is near 
of the crowning of the year.
      Make your house fair as you are able,
      trim the hearth and set the table.
      People, look east, and sing today—
      Love, the Guest, is on the way.

2    Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
      one more seed is planted there.
      Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
      that in course the flow'r may flourish.
      People, look east, and sing today—
      Love, the Rose, is on the way.

3    Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim,
      one more light the bowl shall brim,
      shining beyond the frosty weather,
      bright as sun and moon together.
      People, look east, and sing today—
      Love, the Star, is on the way.

4    Angels announce with shouts of mirth
      him who brings new life to earth.
      Set ev'ry peak and valley humming
      with the word, the Lord is coming.
      People, look east, and sing today—
      Love, the Lord, is on the way.

Text: Eleanor E. Farjeon, 1881-1965
Text © Miss E. Farjeon Will Trust, by permission of David Higham Associates.Postlude

 From sundaysandseasons.com.
Copyright © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

 Postlude
_____

From sundaysandseasons.com. 

Copyright © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.