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
Based on Isaiah 40:1-11
A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord.”
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain be made low.
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
See, the Lord God comes with might.
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
Gathering Song – ELW 247 – “Come Now, O Prince of Peace”
Light two candles while singing.
Come now, O Prince of peace, make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile your people.
Come now, O God of love, make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile your people.
Text: Geon-yong Lee, b. 1947; tr. Marion Pope
Text © Geonyong Lee.
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 our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming strengthen us to serve you with purified lives; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Word
First Reading – Isaiah 40:1-11
A reading from Isaiah.
1Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to the city
that it has served its term,
that its penalty is paid,
that it has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all its sins.
3A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4Every 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.
5Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6A voice says, “Cry out!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All people are grass,
their constancy is like the flower of the field.
7The grass withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
8The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.
9 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!”
10See, the Lord God comes with might,
with an arm to rule;
God comes bearing the reward,
preceded by the recompense.
11The Lord will feed the chosen flock like a shepherd;
God’s arms will gather the lambs,
God’s bosom will carry them,
and the Lord will gently lead the mother sheep.
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm – Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
Refrain – Sung twice at the beginning and once at the ℟
Righteousness shall prepare a pathway for God.
1You have been gracious to your | land, O Lord;
you have restored the good for- | tune of Jacob.
2You have forgiven the iniquity | of your people
and blotted out | all their sins.
8I will listen to what the Lord| God is saying;
for you speak peace to your faithful people
and to those who turn their | hearts to you.
9Truly, your salvation is very near to | those who fear you,
that your glory may dwell | in our land. ℟
10Steadfast love and faithfulness have | met together;
righteousness and peace have | kissed each other.
11Faithfulness shall spring up | from the earth,
and righteousness shall look | down from heaven.
12The Lord will indeed | grant prosperity,
and our land will | yield its increase.
13Righteousness shall go be- | fore the Lord
and shall prepare for | God a pathway. ℟
Second Reading – 2 Peter 3:8-15A
A reading from 2 Peter.
8Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9The Lord is not slow concerning the promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
11Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 13But, in accordance with God’s promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
14Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by God at peace, without spot or blemish; 15aand regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.
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 – Mark 1:1-8
The holy gospel according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.
1The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight the paths of the Lord,’ ”
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And 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. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “After me one who is more powerful than I is coming; the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I have baptized you with water; but the one who is coming will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Homily
Hymn of the Day – ELW 266 – All Earth Is Hopeful
All earth is hopeful, the Savior comes at last!
Furrows lie open for God’s creative task:
this, the labor of people who struggle to see
how God’s truth and justice set ev’rybody free.
People of Israel, you heard the prophet tell:
“A virgin mother will bear Emmanuel”;
she conceived him, “God with us,” our brother, whose birth
restores hope and courage to children of this earth.
Mountains and valleys will have to be prepared;
new highways opened, new protocols declared.
Almost here! God is nearing, in beauty and grace!
All clear ev’ry gateway, in haste, come out in haste!
We first saw Jesus a baby in a crib.
This same Lord Jesus today has come to live
in our world; he is present, in neighbors we see
our Jesus is with us, and ever sets us free.
Text: Alberto Taulé, b. 1932; tr. Madeleine Forell Marshall, b. 1946
Spanish text © 1993 and English text © 1995 Centro de Pastoral Liturgica, admin. OCP Publications, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213.
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”
What feast of love is offered here,
what banquet come from heaven?
What food of everlasting life,
what gracious gift is given?
This, this is Christ the king,
the bread come down from heaven.
Oh, taste and see and sing!
How sweet the manna given!
Text: Delores Dufner, OSB, b. 1939 Text © 1993 Delores Dufner, OSB. Published by OCP Publications, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland OR 97213. All rights reserved.
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 259 – “Fling Wide the Door”
1 Fling wide the door, unbar the gate;
the King of glory comes in state;
the Lord of lords and King of kings,
the Savior of the world who brings
his great salvation to the earth.
So raise a shout of holy mirth
and praise our God and Lord,
Creator, Spirit, Word.
2 He is the rock of our belief,
the heart of mercy’s gentle self.
His kingly crown is holiness;
his scepter is his loveliness;
he brings our sorrows to an end.
Now gladly praise our king and friend,
and worship him with song
for saving us from wrong.
3 Oh, happy towns and blessed lands
that live by their true king’s commands.
And blessed be the hearts he rules,
the humble places where he dwells.
He is the rightful Son of bliss
who fills our lives and makes us his,
creator of the world,
our only strength for good.
4 Come, Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ;
our hearts are open wide in trust.
Oh, show us now your lovely grace,
upon our sorrows shine your face,
and let your Holy Spirit guide
our journey in your grace so wide.
We praise your holy name,
from age to age the same!
Text: Georg Weissel, 1590-1635; tr. Gracia Grindal, b. 1943
Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
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, based on Psalm 80. Music is used by permission under OneLicense.net # A-715196.