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​December 8, 2024​​

Second Sunday in Advent

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SILENT PREPERATION:  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. (Philippians 4:4-5)

PRELUDE                              “Gesu Bambino” (Infant Jesus) Capitol Brass

CHIMES

WELCOME

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE                                                                                             Denise Snyder

Prepare the way of the Holy One! All flesh will see the salvation of God.

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth!

CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                                                                         

Show us your unfailing love, O God, our Savior,

and grant us your salvation.

Listen to what the Lord our God says:

He promises peace to his people, who are his beloved saints.

The Lord will indeed give what is good.

Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.

May the Lord make his holy face to shine upon us in this time of Advent worship.

May we see God’s face and so know peace. Amen.

*HYMN                                           “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”                        #2 BLUE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                                                                                   

We know that nothing is able to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ.  Let us in freedom confess the wrong we have done.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                                                                                                              

God of salvation, in Christ you have done great things—our hearts are filled with joy.  By your power you lifted us out of the wasteland of sin and brought us with joy and laughter into your kingdom.  Salvation is you gift to us.  But we confess that often we try to replace your gift with our own efforts.  We try to complete what is already perfect; we try to add to what is already full; we try to earn what we already have.  Forgive us for our foolishness.  Help us to focus on your grace.  Help us to live grateful lives in return.  For Jesus’ sake alone.  Amen.

SILENT REFLECTION

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

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                                                                                     PROCLAIMING GOD'S WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Creator God, you remind us that the darkness of ignorance and doubt cannot overcome your life-giving Word. May your Holy Spirit, who first inspired these words of Scripture, shine your light and once again awaken us to the hearing and living of this radiant truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

 

LESSON 1                                         Isaiah 40:1-5                      OT p. 740

                            “And the Glory of the Lord” from The Messiah by G.F. Handel                 Capitol Brass  

LESSON 2                                     Isaiah 40:6-11                     OT. p 740

                                                     “Sheep May Safely Graze” by J.S. Bach                 Capitol Brass  

LESSON 3                                      Malachi 3:1-4                    OT p. 995

                                                      “Refiner’s Fire” from The Messiah by G.F. Handel          Capitol Brass  

LESSON 4                                         Luke 2:8-14                     NT p. 59-60

                           “Glory to God” from The Messiah by G.F. Handel               Capitol Brass  

 

SERMON                            “Prelude to Praise, part 2: You Shall Call Him Jesus”                      Luke 1:26-38

HYMN                                                 “Savior of the Nations, Come”                                            #14 BLUE

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                                                                                    RESPONDING TO GOD'S WORD

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH                                        —from Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q&A’s 21-23

Who is the redeemer of God’s elect?
The only redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became human, and so was, and continues to be, God and human in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.

How did Christ, being the Son of God, become human?
Christ, the Son of God, became human by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.

What offices does Christ execute as our redeemer?
Christ, as our redeemer, executes the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and LORD’S PRAYER (Debts & Debtors) 

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING

OFFERTORY                               “I Wonder as I Wander”     Capitol Brass

*DOXOLOGY

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Dear God, receive our offering. Guide those who use it, that it may help to bring fullness of life to those who live in need and long for our care. Amen.

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                                                                                       GOING IN GOD'S NAME

*HYMN                                  “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind” (v. 1, 3, 4)            #345 BLUE

*BENEDICTION

*BENEDICTION RESPONSE          “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Refrain only)                    #41 BLUE

POSTLUDE                                                “For Unto Us A Child is Born”

                                                                                   Capitol Brass