Zion Lutheran Church - Bethalto Advent Service - Midweek 3 December 16, 2020 - 3:30pm & 6:30pm

As We Gather: This Advent season our sermon series is focusing on the Characters of Christmas. We're looking at these ordinary people whose lives were changed by the most important story in the history of the world: the birth of Jesus. This Wednesday we'll be looking at the shepherds, whose inclusion in the Christmas story reminds us that the Good News is for all people.

Opening Hymn 367: Angels from the Realms of Glory 1 Angels from the realms of glory, 3 Sages, leave your contemplations, Wing your flight o’er all the earth; Brighter visions beam afar; Ye who sang creation’s story, Seek the great Desire of nations, Now proclaim Messiah’s birth. Refrain Ye have seen His natal star. Refrain

Refrain: Come and worship, come and worship; 4 Saints before the altar bending, Worship Christ, the newborn King. Watching long in hope and fear, Suddenly the Lord, descending, 2 Shepherds in the field abiding, In His temple shall appear. Refrain Watching o’er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing, ∆ 5 All creation, join in praising Yonder shines the Infant Light. Refrain God the Father, Spirit, Son, Evermore your voices raising To the_eternal Three in One. Refrain Text: Public domain Invocation P In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen.

Opening Versicles

P This is the day which the Lord has made C Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

P From the rising of the sun to its setting C the name of the Lord is to be praised.

P Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. C Our God shall come; He does not keep silence

P Prepare the way of the Lord. C Make his paths straight.

P Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness. C Let the earth open, that salvation may sprout forth.

The Canticle Hymn 338: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus 1 Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, 2 Born Thy people to deliver; Born to set Thy people free; Born a child and yet a king! From our fears and sins us; Born to reign in us forever, Let us find our rest in Thee. Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. Israel’s strength and consolation, By Thine own eternal Spirit Hope of all the earth Thou art, Rule in all our hearts alone; Dear desire of ev’ry nation, By Thine all-sufficient merit Joy of ev’ry longing heart. Raise us to Thy glorious throne. Text: Public domain Epistle: Isaiah 2:2–5 2It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. 5O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD. P This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

Holy Gospel Reading: Luke 2:1–20 P The holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the second chapter. C Glory to You, O Lord.

1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to You, O Christ.

Advent Responsory P Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch. C This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

P He shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justce and righteousness in the land. C This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

P Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. C This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

Apostles’ Creed C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Sermon Hymn 380: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 1 Hark! The herald angels sing, 3 Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! “Glory to the newborn King; Hail, the Sun of Righteousness! Peace on earth and mercy mild, Light and life to all He brings, God and sinners reconciled!” Ris’n with healing in His wings. Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Mild He lays His glory by, Join the triumph of the skies; Born that man no more may die, With the_angelic host proclaim, Born to raise the sons of earth, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Refrain Born to give them second birth. Refrain Text: Public domain Refrain: Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

2 Christ, by highest heav’n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, Late in time behold Him come, of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the_incarnate Deity! Pleased as Man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel! Refrain

Sermon: “The Shepherds: Good News for All People” - Vicar Brandon Metcalf

Prayer of the Church Petition Response: P let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. … P Finally, for these and all our needs of body and soul let us pray to the Lord. C Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

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.

Luther’s Evening Prayer:

C I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. 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.

Benediction

P 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. C Amen. Closing Hymn 352: Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord 1 Let the earth now praise the Lord, 4 As Your coming was in peace, Who has truly kept His word Quiet, full of gentleness, And at last to us did send Let the same mind dwell in me Christ, the sinner’s help and friend. Which is Yours eternally.

2 What the fathers most desired, 5 Bruise for me the serpent’s head What the prophets’ heart inspired, That, set free from doubt and dread, What they longed for many_a year, I may cling to You in faith, Stands fulfilled in glory here. Safely kept through life and death.

3 Abram’s promised great reward, 6 Then when You will come again Zion’s helper, Jacob’s Lord— As the glorious king to reign, Him of twofold race behold— I with joy will see Your face, Truly came, as long foretold. Freely ransomed by Your grace. Text: Public domain

Acknowledgments: Service of Prayer and Preaching from Lutheran Service Book 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. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2020 Concordia Publishing House.

Preacher: Vicar Brandon Metcalf Seminarian: Luke Onken • Keyboardist: (3:30 & 6:30) Sandra Balsters • Elders: (3:30pm) Jim Kabitzke (6:30pm) Tom Lane