December 8th and 9th, 2012 Second Sunday of Advent Holy Communion ELW 5

INTRODUCTION Forerunners and messengers advance the advent of our God. While John the Baptizer's voice in the wilderness may be the principal focus of the day, Malachi's prophesy could as easily herald the coming Lord Jesus as forerunner of the Lord of hosts. Finally all the baptized are called to participate in the sharing of the gospel. In so doing we prepare the way for the coming of the Lord and assist all flesh in capturing a vision of the "salvation of God." CHILDREN are always welcome to our Worship Service. Rainbow bags and a cry room are available. A staffed nursery is also available if needed. An usher will gladly provide you with assistance. As a worship courtesy, we ask that you please turn off or set to vibrate all cellular telephones and pagers during the worship service. We ask that all present today please fill out the Attendance and Communion registration card found in your bulletin and place it in the offering plate so that we may record your presence with us.

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP PRELUDE Noel Dandrieu

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS All may stand and make the sign of the cross, the sign with which we are marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. In the name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Please kneel, silence is kept for reflection. Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE PEW O come, O Wisdom from on high, embracing all things far and nigh: in strength and beauty come and stay; teach us your will and guide our way. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel. O come, O Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

Please stand and sing: GATHERING SONG: Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding! (ELW 246) GREETING The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. KYRIE

BLESSING OF THE ADVENT WREATH O faithful and loving God, we praise you for your tender compassion and give you thanks for your steadfast love for us and all creation. Bless us who see the light of this wreath, that we may be strengthened by the hope of your advent among us, and live toward the completion of all things in you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. CONGREGATIONAL SONG: Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah (ELW 240), vv. 1-2 PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming give to all the people of the world knowledge of your salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Please be seated

CHILDRENS MESSAGE FIRST READING: Malachi 3:14 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the LORD whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; 3he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. 4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Silence for reflection on the reading
68

PSALMODY: Luke 1:6879 Refrain

Tone:

Blessed are you, Lord, the | God of Israel, you have come to your people and | set them free. 69 You have raised up for us a | mighty Savior, born of the house of your | servant David. R
70

Through your holy prophets, you promised of old to save us | from our enemies, 71 from the hands of | all who hate us, 72 to show mercy | to our forebears, and to remember your | holy covenant. 73 This was the oath you swore to our | father Abraham: 74 to set us free from the hands of our | enemies, free to worship you | without fear, 75 holy and righteous before you, all the days | of our life.
76

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of | the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to pre- | pare the way, 77 to give God's people knowledge | of salvation by the forgiveness | of their sins. 78 In the tender compassion | of our God the dawn from on high shall | break upon us, 79 to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shad- | ow of death, and to guide our feet into the | way of peace. R

SECOND READING: Philippians 1:311

3

I thank my God every time I remember you, 4constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Please stand for the reading of the gospel

during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. Please be seated SERMON Pastor Charles Peterson Please stand and sing:

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION AND VERSE HYMN OF THE DAY: On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry (ELW 249) CREED 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.

Alleluia. Prepare the way | of the Lord.* All flesh shall see the salva- | tion of God. Alleluia.

GOSPEL: Luke 3:1-6 The holy gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,

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. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Filled with expectation and longing, let us pray for the church, those in need, and all of God's creation. Please sit or kneel as you are able Each petition ends with: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Hear the prayers of your people, O God, and in your mercy grant us all we need, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. Please be seated ANNOUNCEMENTS TEMPLE TALK Introduction of Emily Seitz COMMISSIONING AND BLESSING OF MINISTER IN CONTEXT EMILY SEITZ The presiding minister calls teachers, assistants, and helpers forward Dear sisters and brothers in Christ: Baptized into the priesthood of Christ, we are all called to offer ourselves to the Lord of the Church in thanksgiving for what God has done and continues to do for us. It is our privilege and honor now to recognize and pledge our support to support Emily Seitz, who has

been assigned to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church as her Ministry in Context site, that she may continue to discern and grow into the Churchs pastoral ministry of Word and Sacrament. A reading from first Corinthians: 4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. And a reading from Proverbs: 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. 6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Let us pray: For all who offer themselves in your name, we give thanks, O God. Give Emily the joy of service and constant care and guidance. Help us all to be both thankful and willing recipients of her ministry, to learn from her and to help her learn, that your name may be glorified among us, your people live in peace, and your will be done. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Emily, will you carry out your part in our congregations ministry as a call from God, striving to serve and trust God as your guide and inspiration? Response: I will. Will you strive during your time with us to grow into pastoral ministry, that Gods people may be equipped for the service God is calling them to? Response: I will. Presider: Almighty God, who has begun this good work in you, give you the peace, courage, wisdom and skill to carry it through. In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. ANTHEM AT THE OFFERING In the Bleak Midwinter Gustav Holst

Please stand and sing:

OFFERTORY HYMN: Create in Me a Clean Heart (ELW 186)

OFFERING PRAYER God of abundance, we bring before you the precious fruits of your creation, and with them our very lives. Teach us patience and hope as we care for all those in need until the coming of your Son, our Savior and Lord. Amen. DIALOGUE

PREFACE by the pastor

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

INVITATION TO COMMUNION God fills the hungry with good things. Come with joy to the feast.
Lutherans believe the true body and blood of Christ are really present in the Supper of our Lord under the form of bread and wine and are there distributed and received. All baptized persons are welcomed to Communion when they are visiting this congregation. If you wish to commune, please come forward to receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ with your hands cupped. If you cannot or do not wish to commune you may come forward with your hands crossed over your chest for a blessing.

Please be seated COMMUNION The body of Christ, given for you. The blood of Christ, shed for you. Amen. LAMB OF GOD EUCHARISTIC PRAYER Holy God, the Beginning and the End, our Salvation and our Hope, we praise you for creating a world of order and beauty Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. Amen. LORD'S PRAYER Make us bold, O merciful God, to address you as Abba as we pray: 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.

HYMN DURING DISTRIBUTION: It Came upon the Midnight Clear (ELW 282) SONG AFTER COMMUNION: Now, Lord (ELW 201) Please stand PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Holy One, we give you thanks that in this holy communion we have received the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, that in this bread and cup we have feasted again on your endless love by. Let that love overflow more and more in our lives, that we may be messengers to prepare your way, harvesters of justice and righteousness, and bearers of your eternal Word, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. BLESSING May God direct your ways in peace, make you abound in love for one another and for all, and strengthen your hearts until the coming of our Lord Jesus. Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen. SENDING SONG: DISMISSAL Go in peace. Remember the poor. Thanks be to God! POSTLUDE Noel Suisse Dandrieu Blessed Be the God of Israel (ELW 250)

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK Thursday, December 13, 2012 Lucy, martyr, died 304 Lucy was a young Christian of Sicily who was martyred during the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian. Her celebration became particularly important in Sweden and Norway, perhaps because the feast of Lucia (whose name means "light") originally fell on the shortest day of the year. Friday, December 14 John of the Cross, renewer of the church, died 1591 John was a member of the Carmelite monastic order, and worked to reform it. His writings reflect a deep interest in mystical thought and meditation. Sunday, December 16 Las Posadas (LLC) This celebration, long popular in Mexico, takes its name from the "posadas," or lodgings, sought by Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. Their search is reenacted in a neighborhood, unsuccessfully, until finally they are welcomed in, and a party commences.
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2012 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26794.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH? We receive members throughout the year by Baptism, Affirmation of Faith, Confirmation, Letter of Transfer, and New Member Instruction. Please contact the church office with any questions. 224-6818. Please feel free to take your bulletin and happenings with you. If you wish to discard your bulletin, a recycling box is located at the exit. Thank you.