The Lord’s Day, December 20, in the Lord’s Year 2020 – Fourth Sunday of Advent: Peace

Please speak bold words and sing italicized words; * we invite you to stand as able.

Meeting God

Prelude & Quiet Prayer – five minutes before service (9:55-10:00 am)

    In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Spirit and the church cry out:               Come, Lord Jesus.

All those who await his appearance pray:    Come, Lord Jesus.

The whole creation pleads:                        Come, Lord Jesus.

* Hymn 196   Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus                                          HYFRYDOL

* Invocation

Being Reconciled to God and One Another

* Confession of Sin:  Gracious God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have promised to receive us when we come to you. We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you or our neighbors as we should. Forgive us, O God, and grant that in the Holy Spirit we may live and serve you in newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

* Declaration of Forgiveness & New Life in Christ: If you have repented of your sin and turned in faith to Jesus Christ, I can declare through Christ’s atoning death and life-giving resurrection that you are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. If you love God, keep his commandments. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

* Advent Response (Hymn 194, verses 1 and 5)                            VENI 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 thee, O Israel.

O come, thou 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. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O Lord, open our lips, and our mouths shall show forth your praise.

* Gloria Patri (Hymn 735)                                               GLORIA PATRI (GREATOREX)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.

* The Peace of Christ   The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

Welcome & Announcements; Scripture & Catechism – see Bell Ringer

Hearing God by Word and Spirit

Collect for Advent IV:  Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Holy Scriptures  2 Samuel 7:1-16      Luke 1:46b-55 Romans 16:25-27          Luke 1:26-38

     The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Sermon – “Christmas Surprises”

Answering God in Faith, Prayer, and Giving

The Apostles’ Creed – hymnal page 845

Prayers of Thanksgiving, Petition & Intercession, & Lord’s Prayer (debts)

* Offertory (Hymn 729)                                                                       HERR JESU CHRIST

All things are thine; no gift have we, Lord of all gifts, to offer thee; and hence with grateful hearts today, thine own before thy feet we lay.

* Doxology (Hymn 731)                                                                                OLD HUNDREDTH

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

* Offertory Prayer

Being Sent with God’s Blessing into the World

* Hymn 203   Hark! The Herald Angels Sing                                           MENDELSSOHN

Benediction

Postlude