Advent Worship 2021

December 8, 2021

Order of Service: Prayer at the Close of Day Compline Service

P: The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and peace at the last.

C: (sing) Amen.

P: It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

C: (sing) To sing praise to your name, O Most High;

P: To herald your love in the morning,

C: (sing) Your truth at the close of day.

P: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

C: (sing) Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

Song of Zechariah

Now bless the God of Israel,

Who comes in love and pow’r,

Who raises from the royal house

Deliv’rance in this hour.

Through holy prophets God has sworn

To free us from alarm,

To save us from the heavy hand

Of all who wish us harm

Remembering the covenant,

God rescues us from fear,

That we might serve in holiness

And peace from year to year;

And you, my child, shall go before

To preach, to prophesy,

That all may know the tender love,

The grace of God most high.

In tender mercy God will send

The Dayspring from on high,

Our rising sun, the light of life

For those who sit and sigh.

God comes to guide our way to peace

That death shall reign no more,

Sing praises to the Holy One!

O worship and adore!

Confession of Sins

L: Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

C: we have sinned against you in our thoughts, in our words, in our deeds, and in all that we have not done. Forgive us in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Deliver and restore us, that we may rest in peace.

L: By the mercy of God we are redeemed by Jesus Christ, and in him we are forgiven. Let us rest in his peace until the rising of the sun when we shall serve him in newness of life.

C: Amen.

Psalm 98

Refrain

The Word became flesh and lived among us.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Sing to the Lord a `new song,
for he has done mar`velous things.

The Lord has made his sal`vation known

and revealed his righteousness to the `nations.

He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of `Israel;

all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation `of our God.

Refrain

The Word became flesh and lived among us.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Shout for joy to the Lord, `all the earth,

burst into jubilant song with `music;

make music to the Lord 'with the harp,

with the harp and the sound of `singing.

Shout for joy before the `Lord, the King.

He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with `equity.

Glory be to the Father and `to the Son

and to the Holy `Spirit,

as it was in the be`ginning,

is now, and will be forever. `Amen.

Refrain

The Word became flesh and lived among us.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Lesson – Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to preach good news to the afflicted.

He sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release for those who are bound,

²to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

and the day of vengeance for our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

³to provide for those who mourn in Zion,

to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of joy instead of mourning,

a cloak of praise instead of a faint spirit,

so that they will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord to display his beauty.

¹⁰I will rejoice greatly in the Lord.

My soul will celebrate because of my God,

for he has clothed me in garments of salvation.

With a robe of righteousness he covered me,

like a bridegroom who wears a beautiful headdress like a priest,

and like a bride who adorns herself with her jewelry.

¹¹For as the earth produces its growth,

and as a garden causes what has been sown to sprout up,

so God the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up

in the presence of all the nations.

P: Into your hands I commend my spirit.

C: (sing) Into your hands I commend my spirit.

P: You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth

C: (sing) Into your hands I commend my spirit.

P: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

C: (sing) Into your hands I commend my spirit.

Choir – CW 21 – 323 Creator of the Stars of Night

Sermon

Offering

You can give your offerings from your smartphone with the new Vanco Mobile app, which can be downloaded for free at Google Play or the App Store. You can also give at holytrinitylutheranwyoming.com by clicking the Offerings link at the top of the page. If you have any questions about any of these options, please contact Dave Vogel at financialsecretary@holytrinity-wels.net or 616-808-6320.

Prayer

P: Hear my prayer, O Lord.

C: (sing) Listen to my cry.

P: Keep me as the apple of your eye.

C: (sing) Hide me in the shadow of your wings.

P: In righteousness I shall see you.

C: (sing) When I awake, your presence will give me joy.

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer

C: (sing) 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; Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.

Amen.

Hymn 24 The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came

1 The angel Gabriel from heaven came,

His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;

“All hail,” said he to meek and lowly Mary,

“Most highly favored maiden.” Gloria!

2 “I come from heav’n to tell the Lord’s decree:

A blessed virgin mother you shall be.

Your Son shall be Immanuel, by seers foretold,

Most highly favored maiden.” Gloria!

3 Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head;

“To me be as it pleases God,” she said.

“My soul shall praise and magnify his holy name.”

Most highly favored maiden, Gloria!

4 Of her Immanuel, the Christ, was born

In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,

And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say,

“Most highly favored maiden.” Gloria!

Text: Basque carol, paraphrase Sabine Baring-Gould, 1834-1924, alt.

Gospel Canticle

P: Guide us waking, O Lord,

C: (sing) And guard us sleeping:

P: That awake we may watch with Christ,

C: (sing) And asleep we may rest in peace.

C: (sing) In peace, Lord, in peace you let your servant now depart according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for every people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. In peace, in peace.

Blessing

P: The almighty and merciful Lord - the Father, the Son,† and the Holy Spirit - bless us and keep us.

C: Amen.

Closing Hymn 358 vv. 1-4 How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds

1 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer’s ear!

It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, And drives away all fear.

2 It makes the wounded spirit whole And calms the heart’s unrest;

’Tis manna to the hungry soul And to the weary, rest.

3 Dear name! The rock on which I build, My shield and hiding place,

My never-failing treasury filled With boundless stores of grace.

4 By you my prayers acceptance gain Although with sin defiled;

Satan accuses me in vain For God calls me his child.

Text: John Newton, 1725-1807, alt.