Connect to Zoom on your computer and keep this open on your phone to join in the service.

Gathering

Prepare your space with candles, a lighter or matches, bread and wine.
Begin with your Advent candles unlit.

Advent Litany

My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
God has looked with favor on the lowly ones.

God has done great things for me. Holy is God’s name.
God has looked with favor on the lowly ones.

God has kept God’s promise forever.
God has looked with favor on the lowly ones.

Gathering Song – ELW 247 – “Come Now, O Prince of Peace”

Light four candles while singing.

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,

A period of silence for individual prayer.

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that would obstruct your mercy, that willingly we may bear your redeeming love to all the world, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Word

First Reading – 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

A reading from 2 Samuel.

¹Now when David the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, ²the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” ³Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.”
  ⁴But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: ⁵Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? ⁶I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. ⁷Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ⁸Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; ⁹and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. ¹⁰And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, ¹¹from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. ¹⁶Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm – Luke 1:46b-55

Refrain – Sung twice at the beginning and once at the ℟

You, Lord, have lifted up the lowly.

^46bMy soul proclaims the greatness | of the Lord,
 ⁴⁷my spirit rejoices in | God my Savior,
⁴⁸for you, Lord, have looked with favor on your | lowly servant.
  From this day all generations will | call me blessed:
⁴⁹you, the Almighty, have done great | things for me
  and holy | is your name.
⁵⁰You have mercy on | those who fear you,
  from generation to | generation. ℟
⁵¹You have shown strength | with your arm
  and scattered the proud in | their conceit,
⁵²casting down the mighty | from their thrones
  and lifting | up the lowly.
⁵³You have filled the hungry | with good things
  and sent the rich | away empty.
⁵⁴You have come to the aid of your | servant Israel,
  to remember the prom- | ise of mercy,
⁵⁵the promise made | to our forbears,
  to Abraham and his chil- | dren forever. ℟

Second Reading – Romans 16:25-27

^{25Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever! Amen.}

Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

All say this together to welcome the gospel.

Alleluia, Alleluia.
We prepare for you, O Lord
Your words give us hope for life with you.
Alleluia

Gospel – Luke 1:26-38

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

²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin woman engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹But she was much perplexed by the angel’s words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his dominion there will be no end.” ³⁴Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. ³⁶And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

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

Homily

Hymn of the Day – ELW 574- Here I Am Lord

Prayers of Intercession

Please unmute your Zoom so that we all hear the responses.

God of power and might, fulfill your promise and come quickly to this weary world. Hear our prayers for everyone in need.

Prayers are offered for the church, the world, and all in need.
Each petition concludes:

Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

After all petitions:

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

Peace

Meal

Announcements

Offertory – ELW 487, vs. 1 – “What Feast of Love”

Offering Prayer

God of abundance, we bring before you the precious fruits of your creation, and with them our very lives. Teach us patience and hope as we care for all those in need until the coming of your Son, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

Please unmute your Zoom so that we all hear the responses.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,
through our Savior Jesus Christ.

You comforted your people with the promise of the Redeemer,
through whom you will also make all things new
in the day when he comes to judge the world in righteousness.

And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life:
Blessed are you for the birth of creation.
Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light.
Blessed are you for your promise to your people.
Blessed are you in the prophets’ hopes and dreams.
Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will.
Blessed are you for your Son Jesus,
the Word made flesh.

In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

With this bread and cup
we remember your Word dwelling among us,
full of grace and truth.
We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection.
We look with hope for his coming.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Holy God, we long for your Spirit.
Come among us.
Bless this meal.
May your Word take flesh in us.
Awaken your people.
Fill us with your light.
Bring the gift of peace on earth.

Come, Holy Spirit.

All praise and glory are yours,
Holy One of Israel,
Word of God incarnate,
Power of the Most High,
one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

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.

Invitation to the Table

These are indeed the gifts of God, for you, the very much beloved people of God. Taste and see that God is good.

Communion Distribution.

If you are alone in worship, the pastor will distribute to you momentarily.

If you are gathered with multiple people, please distribute communion to one another with these words:

The body of Christ given for you.
The blood of Christ shed for you.

Post-Communion Prayer

God for whom we wait, in this meal you give us a foretaste of that day when the hungry will be fed with good things. Send us forth to make known your deeds and to proclaim the greatness of your name, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Sending

Sending of Communion

Gracious God, as we gather as one body this day and feast at your table, our assembly is incomplete for there are many unable to join us today. We long for the day when we are reunited as one body around a common table and we pray that you extend our gathering into homes and campsites, yards and porches, and strengthen all who hear your Word and feast at your table with the abiding presence of your son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

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.

Sending Song – ELW 267 – “Joy to the World”

The presentation of this hymn is a collaboration of singers from 5 congregations of the Buffalo Valley Conference of the Upper Susquehanna Synod of the ELCA.

Dismissal

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

Stay right here for Coffee Hour.

Liturgy, except the Gospel Acclamation and Advent Litany, Evangelical Lutheran Worship and Sundays and Seasons © Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under Augsburg Fortress Annual Liturgies License SBT002156. Gospel Acclamation is © Disrupt Worship Project. Used by permission. Advent Litany by Lowell Chilton. Music is used by permission under OneLicense.net # A-715196.