Sunday, December 6, 2020 2 Sunday of Advent

Sunday, December 6, 2020 2nd Sunday of Advent

The video for this service is available at godslovenewtown.org.

ORDER OF WORSHIP

PRELUDE Prepare the Way of the Lord – Riddle Rejoice!

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS Pastor: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and one another. (Silence) Loving and merciful God, All: we confess that we are held captive by sin and cannot free ourselves. We have not welcomed the stranger; we have not loved our neighbor; we have not been Christ to one another. Restore us, O God. Wake us up and renew us each day in the light of Christ. Amen. Pastor: People of God, hear this glad news: by God’s endless grace your sins are forgiven. You are free to live in the peaceable realm of God. Be strengthened in God’s love, ☩ comforted by Christ’s peace. All: Amen.

APOSTOLIC GREETING Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. All: And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY Pastor: Let us pray. 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. All: Amen.

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH Reader: At every beginning there is a yearning for the one who is coming. O Emmanuel, All: Prepare us for your coming.

Reader: We gather together to get ready for what? Only heaven knows. O Emmanuel, All: Prepare us for your coming.

Reader: We wait for the day when God will create a prevailing peace on the earth, and natural-born enemies turn into newborn friends. O Emmanuel, All: Prepare us for your coming.

Reader: We get ready for God to come close by laying our lives open to Jesus, asking him to sort through all our mixed motives. O Emmanuel, All: Prepare us for your coming.

Reader: Jesus, we welcome your presence now with the lighting of these candles, whose flames bring warmth to winter and fill this place with the glow of hope. All: Amen.

Two candles on the Advent wreath are lit.

WREATH LIGHTING SONG Light One Candle (verse 2) ELW 240 Light two candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness. He shall feed the flock like a shepherd, gently lead them homeward.. Text: Wayne L. Wold, b. 1954 © 1984 Fortress Press, admin. Augsburg Fortress. FIRST LESSON Isaiah 40:1-11

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Living Hope – Johnson/Wickham Hallelujah praise the One who set me free, Hallelujah death has lost its grip on me You have broken every chain; there’s salvation in Your name, Jesus Christ my living hope

GOSPEL READING Mark 1:1-8

SERMON Saint Nicholas and Pastor Dan Whitener

HYMN OF THE DAY Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus ELW 254 Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art, dear desire of ev'ry nation, joy of ev'ry longing heart. Born thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a king; born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.

Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

NICENE CREED All: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Each prayer petition ends: “Hear us, O God” All: Your mercy is great.

LORD’S PRAYER All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

PEACE Please take this time to share the peace by sending a text or email to those on your mind.

OFFERING OUR GIFTS If you are financially able, please consider mailing your regular gift to the church. Your giving envelope can be stamped and placed directly in the US Mail. You can also use your bank’s automatic bill pay, or click on the link below to make your gift electronically. “In kind” donations of frozen meals or non-perishables can be dropped off any time in the church lobby. Click here to make a secure online donation to Lutheran Church of God’s Love.

OFFERTORY PRAYER Pastor: Loving God, we present now what we have brought to you, things that are both visible and invisible. The coins and paper represent our work, and express in a clear and visible way our love and thanks. But we also bring as an offering the fragile dreams and hopes that we have. These invisible gifts are what sustain our lives. Receive all that we have brought in love, O God. Amen.

OFFERTORY MUSIC Way Maker – Egbu Rejoice!

BENEDICTION Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace. All: Amen.

POSTLUDE The King Shall Come – arr. Behnke Handbell Choir

Serving Today: Pastor Dan Whitener, Presiding Minister Vicar Brandi Hebert, Assisting Minister Cheri Tigh, Organist and Director of Choirs Bill Lafty, Director of Rejoice! Susan McDonnell, Video Recording Linda Sartor and Deb Hockman, Wreath Lighting

Lutheran Church of God’s Love 791 Newtown Yardley Road, Newtown, PA 18940 www.godslovenewtown.org | 215-968-4335