Advent 4

Today's Servive Leader and Speaker - Rev. Jesse Kueker, Admissions Officer, STL Seminary

Today's liturgy is the Divine Service, Setting Three, LSB pages 184ff.

383 A Great and Mighty Wonder

Text: Germanus, c. 634–c. 734; tr. John Mason Neale, 1818–66, alt.
Tune: Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengeseng, 1599, Köln
Text and tune: Public domain

Stand

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation LSB 184

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Confession of Sins LSB 184

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

Absolution LSB 185

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Introit Psalm 19:1, 4–6; antiphon: Isaiah 45:8a

Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;
let the earth cause them both to sprout.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;
let the earth cause them both to sprout.

Gloria Patri LSB 186

Kyrie LSB 186

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

P Let us pray.

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Sit

Catechesis - Morning Prayer

P Today's catechetical reading is from the daily prayers - Morning Prayer. How does Dr. Luther suggest we pray in the morning?

C I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You.  For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things.  Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me.  Amen.  (3)

P What passages of Holy Scripture inform us in this regard?

C Pray without ceasing. –1 Thessalonians 5:17 (K)

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  –Psalm 124:8 (1)

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. –Psalm 19:14 (2)

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.  –Romans 8:26 (4 & 5)

Choir~"Raised from Death to Love and Living"

Old Testament Reading Deuteronomy 18:15–19

¹⁵“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— ¹⁶just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ ¹⁷And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. ¹⁸I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. ¹⁹And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.’”

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Gradual Psalm 145:18, 21

The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Epistle Philippians 4:4–7

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Psalm 40:17b

You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!

Holy Gospel Luke 1:39–56

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the first chapter.

³⁹In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, ⁴⁰and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴²and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

⁴⁶And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
⁵⁰And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
⁵¹He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
⁵²he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

          and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

          and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

Sit

357 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

5 O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery. Refrain

6 O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Refrain

7 O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace. Refrain

Text: Latin, c. 12th cent.; Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, 1710, Köln; tr. John Mason Neale, 1818–66, alt.
Tune: French, 15th cent.
Text and tune: Public domain

Sermon - Rev. Jesse Kueker, Admissions Officer, STL Seminary

Stand

Offertory LSB 192

Prayer of the Church

P Heavenly Father, throughout this Advent season we have heard that Christ has come in the flesh, that He comes to us today in Word and Sacrament, and that He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. Guide us by Your Holy Spirit, that we may be kept firm in Your Word and faith until we are received into Your eternal kingdom. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P God of faithfulness, You have fulfilled Your promises by sending the Messiah. Grant that we may celebrate the birth of Christ by hearing the Word, singing Your praises, and receiving His body and blood. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Almighty Father, You uphold all creation by Your hand. Preserve for Your Church and for future generations the institution of marriage between one man and one woman, which You established even before Adam and Eve’s fall into sin, that Your Church may be blessed with many children and that our families may reflect the order of Your creation. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Lord of all, govern the nations of the world. Establish peace in every place, and scatter the people who delight in war. Feed the hungry with good things, and be their helper. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Grant all women with child and all mothers with infant children increasing happiness in their blessings [especially _____________]. Look with compassion on the lonely, the depressed and the despairing. Grant healing to the sick, and give peace to the anxious and dying [especially _____________]. Comfort all who mourn [the death of _____________] with the certain hope of the resurrection. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O Lord, fill us with joy as we approach Your altar this morning to receive the body and blood of Christ. Give us the peace that surpasses understanding, the gladness that no man can take from us and the hope that does not fade away. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Lord God, heavenly Father, Your love invites us to rejoice in Your goodness. In every circumstance of life, teach us the joy that comes from knowing Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and eagerly expecting His gracious visitation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Sit

The offering is gathered.

Stand

Preface LSB 194

P The Lord be with you.

P Lift up your hearts.

P Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.

Proper Preface

P It is truly meet, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, whose way John the Baptist prepared, proclaiming Him the promised Messiah, the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and calling sinners to repentance that they might escape from the wrath to be revealed when He comes again in glory. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus LSB 195

Lord's Prayer

C 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.

The Words of Our Lord LSB 197

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Pax Domini LSB 197

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

Agnus Dei LSB 198

Sit

Distribution

346 When All the World Was Cursed

Text: Johann Gottfried Olearius, 1635–1711; tr. Paul E. Kretzmann, 1883–1965, alt.
Tune: Ahasverus Fritsch, 1629–1701
Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

814 O Bless the Lord, My Soul

5 He fills the poor with good;
    He gives the suff’rers rest.
The Lord hath judgments for the proud
    And justice for th’oppressed.

6 His wondrous works and ways
    He made by Moses known,
But sent the world His truth and grace
    By His belovèd Son.

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674–1748
Tune: Aaron Williams, 1731–76
Text and tune: Public domain

803 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Text: Henry Van Dyke, 1852–1933, alt.
Tune: Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770–1827; adapt. Edward Hodges, 1796–1867
Text and tune: Public domain

772 In Holy Conversation

Text: Gregory J. Wismar, 1946
Tune: Swedish
Text: © 2004 Gregory J. Wismar. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

Stand

Nunc Dimittis LSB 199

Thanksgiving LSB 200

A  O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good,

Post-Communion Collect

A Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Salutation 201

P The Lord be with you.

Benedicamus LSB 202

A Bless we the Lord.

Benediction LSB 202

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and T give you peace.

923 Almighty Father, Bless the Word

Text (sts. 1–2): Church Poetry, 1823, Philadelphia, alt.; (st. 3): Thomas Ken, 1637–1711
Tune: Trente quatre Pseaumes de David, 1551, Geneva, ed. Louis Bourgeois
Text and tune: Public domain

Acknowledgments

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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