Worship Service
Sunday, December 6, 2020
Our Service is live at 10 a.m. You can watch the live stream and follow along with the order of worship below.
Invocation
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Confession and Forgiveness:
Pastor: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
Pastor: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(Silence for reflection and self-examination)
Pastor: Most merciful God,
People: We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. 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 with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Pastor: Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Worship Music
Lord I Lift Your Name on High
Verse
Lord I lift your name on high,
Lord I love to sing your praises,
I’m so glad you’re in my life,
I’m so glad you came to save us.
Chorus
You came from heaven to earth, to show the way,
From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay,
From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky,
Lord I lift your name on high.
CCLI Song # 117947 – Rick Founds; ©1989 Maranatha Praise, Inc. (Admin by The Copyright Company); For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com. CCLI License # 384330
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Verse 1
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!”
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Verse 2
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
Verse 3
O ye beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.
CCLI Song # 31078, © Words: Public Domain, Music: Public Domain, For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com. CCLI License # 384330
Greeting and Prayer of the Day
Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Let us pray. Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son. By his coming give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
Lighting of the Advent Candle: Candle of Peace
First Lesson Isaiah 40:1-11
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every 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. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’
A voice says, ‘Cry out!’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever. 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!’ See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
Reader: The word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel Lesson Mark 1:1-8
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark, the first chapter.
People: Glory to you, O Lord.
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” ’,
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And 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. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’
The Message by Pastor Tsena Dinssa
Hymn of the Day “Prepare the Royal Highway”
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the
power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
Each prayer petition will end with –
Reader: Lord in your mercy
People: Hear our prayer.
The Peace We share a sign of God’s Peace with one another
Pastor: The Peace of the Lord be with you always!
People: And also with you.
Great Thanksgiving
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Pastor: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy … we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Words Of Institution
Pastor: In the night in which he was betrayed…
The Lord’s Prayer
Pastor: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
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.
Lamb of God
Communion Songs
When Peace Like a River (It Is Well)
Chorus
It is well (it is well)
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
Verse 1
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul
Verse 2
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate
And has shed His own blood for my soul (chorus)
Verse 3
He lives, O the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord O my soul.
Verse 4
Lord, hasten the day when our faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend;
Even so it is well with my soul (chorus)
CCLI Song # 25376, © Words: Public Domain, Music: Public Domain; For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com. CCLI License # 384330
Do It Again
Verse 1
Walking around these walls, I thought by now they’d fall
But you have never failed me yet.
Waiting for change to come, knowing the battle’s won
For you have never failed me yet.
Chorus
Your promise still stands, great is your faithfulness,
Faithfulness
I’m still in your hands, this is my confidence,
You’ve never failed me yet
Verse 2
I know the night won’t last, Your word will come to pass
My heart will sing your praise again.
Jesus you’re still enough, keep me within your love
My heart will sing your praise again. (chorus)
Bridge
I’ve seen you move, You move the mountains
And I believe, I’ll see you do it again
You made a way, where there was no way
And I believe, I’ll see you do it again (X 2) (chorus)
Ending
You’ve never failed me yet
I never will forget
You’ve never failed me yet
I never will forget
CCLI Song # 7067555; Chris Brown | Mack Brock | Matt Redman | Steven Furtick; © Said And Done Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Music by Elevation Worship Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC); For use solely with the SongSelect®. Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com. CCLI License # 384330
Post-Communion Blessing & Prayer
Pastor: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
People: Amen.
Blessing
Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace.
People: Amen.
Sending Hymn “Hark, the Glad Sound!”
Sending
Pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
Receiving the Offering
Checks may be mailed to All Saints Lutheran Church, 4325 SW Green Oaks, Arlington TX 76017. You may also be able to use online bill payment through your bank and set up recurring payments.
View our weekly Connection Newsletter for upcoming events and announcements.