Worship Service
Sunday, December 17, 2023, at 10 a.m.
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
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.
OPENING SONG Angus Dei
Verse
Alleluia, Alleluia, For the Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia, Alleluia, For the Load God Almighty reigns
Alleluia….
Chorus
Holy, Holy, Are You Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb, Worthy is the Lamb
You are Holy, Holy, Are You Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb, Worthy is the Lamb. Amen
CCLI Song # 626713 – Michael W. Smith, © 1990 Milene Music, Inc. For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com. CCLI License # 384330
GREETING
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.
KYRIE
HYMN OF PRAISE
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Lay Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Lay Leader: Let us pray. . .
People: Amen.
FIRST LESSON 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise the words of prophets, 21but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22abstain from every form of evil.
23May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
Lay Leader: The word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
VERSE
GOSPEL LESSON John 1:6-8, 19-28
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the first chapter.
People: 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 his paths straight,’ ” 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, “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. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Pastor: The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you, O Christ.
THE MESSAGE Pastor Abera Hellemo
THE HYMN OF THE DAY I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
Verse
Over the mountains and the sea, your river runs with love for me
And I will open up my heart, and let the healer set me free
I’m happy to be in the truth, and I will daily lift my hands
For I will always sing of when our love came down
Chorus
I could sing of your love forever, I could sing of your love forever
I could sing of your love forever, I could sing of your love forever
Bridge
Oh, I feel like dancing, It’s foolishness I know
But when the world has seen the light, they will dance with joy
Like we’re dancing now (Chorus)
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.
WELCOME NEW MEMBER
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Each prayer petition will end with –
Lay Leader: Lord in your mercy
People: Hear our prayer.
Pastor: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray.
People: Amen
PEACE
Lay Leader: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
People: And also with you.
OFFEATORY SONG Mary Did You Know
Let the Vinyards be Fruitful
Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
and fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown,
that we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and the dreams of all;
unite them with the prayers we offer.
Grace our table with your presence,
and give us a foretaste of the feast to come.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Lay Leader: Let us pray. Merciful Father,
People: We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—ourselves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
DIALOGUE
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 him thanks and praise.
PREFACE
THANKSGIVING
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Pastor: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
People: 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.
COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION:
POST-COMMUNION BLESSING
Pastor: May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
People: Amen.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Lay Leader: We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life; and we pray that in your mercy you would strengthen us, through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
BLESSING
Pastor: Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
People: Amen.
CLOSING SONG Indescribable
Verse 1
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation’s revealing Your majesty
From the colors of Fall to the fragrance of Spring
Ev’ry creature unique in the song that it sings;
All exclaiming (Chorus)
Chorus 1
Indescribable uncontainable; You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name; You are amazing God
All powerful untamable; Awestruck we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim; You are amazing God
Verse 2
Who has told ev’ry lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom (Chorus 1, Chorus 2)
Chorus 2
Indescribable uncontainable; You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name; You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable, You see the depths of my heart
And You love me the same, You are amazing God
Tag
You are amazing God.
CCLI Song # 4403076 – Jesse Reeves | Laura Story; © 2004 Laura Stories (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); For use solely with the SongSelect. Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com. CCLI License # 384330
SENDING
Pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God.