The Promise

The Fourth Sunday in Advent December 20th + 2020 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 3415 ERBES RD, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91362 | WWW.PRINCEOFPEACETO.COM (805) 492-8943 PASTOR NOAH BATER | [email protected] | WISCONSIN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD

YOUR PLACE TO FIND PEACE!

WELCOME Thank you for joining us for this tme of worship. We extend a special welcome to those who are our guests this morning—both in-person or online. We pray you will be blessed by the message of the living God as He comes to us through His Word of peace.

NEW YEAR; NEW SEASON Today is the last Sunday in the season of Advent as we begin a new church year. Advent means “coming near” or “arrival,” and in the season before Christmas we think about how Jesus comes near to us at diferent tmes and in many ways. One way we do this is by preparing to celebrate Christ’s frst arrival when He came as a humble baby in Bethlehem. We also remember and rejoice that Jesus stll comes to us in lowly ways: in His Word, in Holy Baptsm, and in Holy Communion. Through these humble means, He comes to give us His mercy, forgiveness, peace, and strength. Finally, we eagerly look ahead to when Jesus will come again, not in a humble way, but in glory and with all power at the end of tme. We confess this about Him each week in the Creed: “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.”

ADVENT SERIES: THE PROMISE Advent is a tme of promises. In our families, we may end up making promises about family vacatons over the Christmas holiday or promises about items on the Christmas gif list. Sadly, promises ofen get broken. The toy is sold out or too expensive. The family trip can’t happen because of illness. The promise of a “good Christmas” doesn’t seem to hold true. Thankfully, when God makes a promise, he keeps his promises, and his promises do not disappoint. In our worship series for Advent, we will be encouraged by 3 promises from the book of Isaiah. God the Father promised to redeem and protect his children, he promises them comfort and forgiveness, and he promises freedom and joy. Today, we will move forward to the Gospel of Luke to see the greatest promise. The promise of Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus Christ is the answer to every promise God has given us! This promise will not disappoint.

THE ADVENT CANDLES & WREATH A traditon of the Advent season is the lightng of candles on a wreath. Each light reminds us of Jesus who is the Light of the world (John 8:12). Each Sunday in Advent we light an additonal candle, providing a visual countdown to the celebraton of Christ’s frst coming in fesh in Bethlehem. On Christmas Eve we will light the center candle, remembering Jesus’ incarnaton and the light of life He brings to the world (John 1:4,9).

2 The Divine Service

OPENING HYMN “Dawning Light of Our Salvaton”

The season of Advent is a tme in which we prepare to meet our coming Savior. This new hymn, which we have been singing through the season, beautfully weaves the various images painted in Isaiah we’ve heard that depict the coming Messiah.

3 INVOCATION Mathew 28:19

The name of the Triune God and the sign of the cross recall our baptsm. It is a ftng and historic Christan practce to retrace the sign of the cross when hearing these words. m In the name of the Father and of the Son ✙ and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.

CONFESSION OF SINS Isaiah 40:3-5; 1 John 1:8-9

This responsive confession and absoluton for Advent makes use of language from Isaiah 40:3-5, stressing the importance of preparing our hearts to meet the Lord. m Prepare the way for the LORD,

C make straight in the desert a highway for our God. m Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. C And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. m Dear friends, one day Christ will come in glory to deliver His people. Therefore, let us prepare our hearts to meet Him by humbly seeking God’s forgiveness. C Almighty and merciful Father, we have strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed what we have devised and desired in our hearts. We have ofended you and sinned against your holy law. We have done those things that we should not have done, and we have not done those things that we should have done. Have mercy on us, Lord! Spare us, forgive us, and restore us, according to your promises in Christ Jesus.

OUR LORD’S ABSOLUTION John 20:22-23

Because Jesus took away the sins of the world, He authorized His followers to announce His forgiveness to all who repent of their sins. m What God promised long ago through His prophets He has fulflled in His Son, Jesus Christ, who came in human fesh: Immanuel, God with us. By His perfect life, He fulflled God’s law. By His innocent death, He paid sin’s penalty. By rising from the grave, He opened heaven’s door. Christ now comes to you through the word of His called servant: I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son ✙ and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen! 4 LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE

The Advent Wreath is a combinaton of two very symbols: light and the fr tree. From the early centuries of Christanity it has been the practce to represent Christ, the Light of the world, by burning a candle. The also fr tree has a long history of religious use, especially its connecton with the Christmas tree. The traditon began hundreds of years ago among the Lutherans in eastern Germany. A wreath of evergreen branches, made in various sizes, was either suspended from the ceiling or placed on a table. Four candles representng the four Sundays in Advent were fastened to the wreath. Eventually, the use of the Advent Wreath became widespread and moved also from the home into the church. The general symbolism lies in the growing light of the wreath, increasing each week as we approach the celebraton of our Savior’s birth which brings light and life to the world. m We light four Advent candles remembering Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Mary. C He came to share our humanity. m We remember Jesus, who came to save His people from their sins. C We light four candles as a sign of our joy and hope. m Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. C Through your Word and Spirit may our souls be blessed. Amen.

The Word

THE PRAYER OF THE DAY

The Prayers of the Day for the season of Advent date back to the 800s A.D. Each prayer refects one aspect of this season of preparaton. m The Lord be with you. C And also with you. m Let us pray. Str up your power, O Lord, and come. Take away the burden of our sins and make us ready for the celebraton of your birth, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

5 SCRIPTURE READING 2 Samuel 7:8-16

Through the prophet Nathan, the Lord makes an amazing promise to David: his son will build a house for the Lord and establish a never-ending throne. This prophecy is partly fulflled in David’s son, Solomon, who would build the temple. Ultmately, it is fulflled in Jesus Christ, who is David’s Greater Son.

8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the fock to be ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut of all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the tme I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your ofspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with foggings inficted by men. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ” m The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God!

PSALM OF THE DAY Psalm 139

The Lord is always with us. The Incarnaton of Jesus shows just how closely and intmately the Lord blesses us with His presence. m O LORD, you have searched me and you know me; C you perceive my thoughts from afar. m You discern my going out and my lying down; C you are familiar with all my ways. m Where can I go from your Spirit? C Where can I fee from your presence?

6 m If I go up to the heavens, you are there; C if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. m If I rise on the wings of the dawn, C if I setle on the far side of the sea, m even there your hand will guide me, C your right hand will hold me fast. C 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.

SCRIPTURE READING Romans 16:25-27

Paul concludes his powerful, Spirit-flled leter to the Romans with a word of praise to the God who promised, fulflled, and revealed His plan of salvaton through Jesus Christ.

25 Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamaton of Jesus Christ, according to the revelaton of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetc writngs by the command of the eternal God, so that all natons might believe and obey him— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. m The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God!

THE HOLY GOSPEL Luke 1:26-38

In fulfllment of prophecy, John the Baptzer comes. In similar manner to the prophet Elijah, he calls people prepare for the Lord’s coming. Afer making it clear that he himself is not the Christ, he proclaims Jesus as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetngs, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greetng this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him

7 the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relatve is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “ to me as you have said.” Then the angel lef her. m The Gospel of our Lord. C Praise be to you, O Christ!

THE NICENE CREED

Public confession is faith’s response to God’s saving Word. Christans composed the Nicene Creed in the 4th century to defend the Bible’s teachings that both Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are true God, equal to the Father in one, eternal, undivided Trinity.

C 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 begoten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begoten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvaton, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake he was crucifed under Pontus Pilate. He sufered 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 in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorifed, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christan and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptsm for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrecton of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

8 HYMN OF THE DAY “The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came”

The classic Christmas carol details the events we just heard in our Gospel reading: the Angel Gabriel visits Mary with the news that she will give birth to a Son, Christ, who is Immanuel.

SERMON Luke 1:26-38

“May it be to me as you have said.”

9 OFFERING 2 Corinthians 9:7

Our oferings are one way we thank and worship the Lord. We give to Him a porton of what He has entrusted to us. We do not need to feel any obligaton to give; we give freely as God has freely given us His grace. Our oferings support the gospel ministry both at Prince of Peace and throughout the world through our natonal church body.

If you would like to give a gif this morning:

• An ofering plate is located on the table where you entered (in-person).

• Text PEACE1 to 1-888-364-4483. You’ll receive a link in response. Follow the link to the Prince of Peace secure giving page.

• Go to www.princeofpeaceto.com and click “GIVE” in the right corner.

• Oferings can also be mailed to the church: 3415 Erbes Rd. T.O. 91362

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH & LORD’S PRAYER

Each petton will conclude this way:

m Lord, in your mercy, C hear our prayer.

We will conclude with the 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 temptaton, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BLESSING Numbers 6:24-26

This blessing is one that has been spoken over God’s people for more than 3400 years, since the tme of Moses.The blessing is not merely a wish; it is the powerful promise of God’s love, peace and protecton! m The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.

C Amen.

10 CLOSING HYMN “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds”

Earlier we heard the angel Gabriel tell Mary her Son’s name will be ‘Jesus’ which means “the One who saves.” How beautful and ftng is His Name?! Just to say it brings comfort to our ears!

FOLLOWING THE SERVICE—Communion & Blessings We gather in the chapel for a brief service of Holy Communion. Prince of Peace partcipates in the historic practce of Member Communion. Membership in our congregaton comes by atending our Bible Informaton Class called “Gracebook,” which meets every Thursday at 7PM (in-person OR on Zoom). If you would like to learn more about this class in order to receive receive Holy Communion in the future—we hope that you do!—please speak with Pastor Bater afer the service. Thank you for respectng our Communion practce. All are welcome—both children and adults—who are not yet members of Prince of Peace to receive a blessing from the pastor. To indicate that you would like to receive a blessing, please cross your arms in front of you. (If people who are new to our church come forward to partcipate, the pastor will give them a blessing.)

11 WE THANK OUR LORD We thank our Lord for … all who are able to worship with us this morning—both in-person or online … everyone who contnues to support this ministry with their atendance, talents, prayers and oferings … promising to come to be near us, now through Word & Sacrament, and forever in glory everlastng to bring us daily and eternal freedom from our guilt and sin … thank you loving, living and gracious Lord!

CHRISTMAS SERVICE SCHEDULE • Christmas Eve Candlelight | December 24 @ 5pm • Christmas Day Festval Lessons & Carols | December 25 @ 9am • First Sunday afer Christmas | December 27 @ 9am

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