Please use the time before service to prepare your hearts and minds for worship.

May we suggest the Prayers for Worship located on the inside cover of the hymnal.

+Welcome To St. Matthew + We are celebrating the nd Sunday in Advent 2 Order of Service Blended Worship (screens only)

+The Opening Hymns+ This Is The Day Do You Hear What I Hear

This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Oh, this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Rejoice, in the Lord; Rejoice, in the Lord.

This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Oh, this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Rejoice, in the Lord; Rejoice, in the Lord.

Celebrate the presence of the Lord, For He is worthy to be praised;

Celebrate the presence of the Lord, For He is worthy to be praised; Rejoice, in the Lord; Rejoice, in the Lord.

Celebrate the presence of the Lord, For He is worthy to be praised;

Celebrate the presence of the Lord, For He is worthy to be praised; Rejoice, in the Lord; Rejoice, in the Lord. Rejoice!

Do You Hear What I Hear

Said the night wind to the little lamb, Do you see what I see? Way up in the sky, little lamb, Do you see what I see?

A star, a star, dancing in the night, With a tail as big as a kite, With a tail as big as a kite.

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, Do you hear what I hear? Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy, Do you hear what I hear?

A song, a song, high above the tree, With a voice as big as the sea, With a voice as big as the sea.

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king, Do you know what I know? In your palace warm, mighty king, Do you know what I know?

A child, a child shivers in the cold; Let us bring Him silver and gold, Let us bring Him silver and gold.

Said the king to the people everywhere, Listen to what I say! Pray for peace, people everywhere, Listen to what I say!

The child, the child, sleeping in the night, He will bring us goodness and light, He will bring us goodness and light.

+Invocation+ Pastor: Who is this? People: This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.

Pastor: Who is this King of glory? People: The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!

Pastor: Hosanna! to the Son of David! People: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

+Lighting+ of the +Advent Wreath+ Pastor: Beloved in the Lord, as we celebrate the season of Advent,

let this wreath remind us that Jesus Christ came to conquer the darkness of sin and to lead us into the light of His glorious kingdom,

as the prophet Isaiah says, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined."

Pastor: Our help is in the name of the Lord, People: Who made heaven and earth.

Pastor: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you.

Pastor: Let us pray. Pastor: O Lord Jesus Christ, the true light who comes into the world to enlighten everyone,

bless us as we light the candles of this wreath in remembrance of Your coming as Savior and in preparation for Your coming again as Judge.

Purify our hearts with the fire of Your love that we may receive You with joy and gladness and evermore remain steadfast in our faith and hope in You;

For You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. People: Amen.

We Now Light The Advent Wreath

The Rite of Holy Baptism Julian Layne Davison Is being adopted into the family of Our Lord

+INVOCATION+ Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen.

+Our Lords Command+ +And Promise+ Pastor: Dearly beloved, Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew,

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. In the last chapter of Mark our Lord promises,

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. And the apostle Peter has written, "Baptism now saves you."

The Word of God also teaches that we are all conceived and born sinful and are under the power of the devil until Christ claims us as His own.

Because of our own sin and the sin we inherit from Adam and Eve, we would be lost forever unless delivered from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation.

But the Father of all mercy and grace has sent His Son Jesus Christ, who atoned for the sin of the whole world,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

+The Christian Naming+ Pastor: How is this child to be named. Parents: Julian Layne Davison

+The Mark of Christ+

Pastor: Julian Layne Davison

Receive the sign of the holy cross both upon your forehead and upon your heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.

+The Flood Prayer+ Pastor: Let us pray Almighty and eternal God, according to Your strict judgment,

You condemned the unbelieving world through the flood, yet according to Your great mercy You preserved believing Noah and his family, eight souls in all.

You drowned hard-hearted Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea, yet led Your people Israel through the water on dry ground,

foreshadowing this washing of Your Holy Baptism. Through the Baptism in the Jordan of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

You sanctified and instituted all waters to be a blessed flood and a lavish washing away of sin.

We pray that You would behold Julian according to Your boundless mercy and bless him with true faith by the Holy Spirit.

That through this saving flood all sin in him which has been inherited from Adam and which he himself has committed, would be drowned and die.

Grant that he be kept safe and secure in the holy ark of the Christian Church, being separated from the multitude of unbelievers,

and serving Your name at all times with a fervent spirit and a joyful hope,

so that, with all believers in Your promise, he would be declared worthy of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. People: Amen

+Dedication of Sponsors+ Pastor: From ancient times the Church has observed the custom of appointing sponsors for baptismal candidates and catechumens.

In the Evangelical Lutheran Church sponsors are to confess the faith expressed in the Apostles' Creed and taught in the Small Catechism.

They are, whenever possible, to witness the Baptism of those they sponsor. They are to pray for them, support them in their ongoing instruction and nurture in the Christian faith,

and encourage them toward the faithful reception of the Lord's Supper. They are at all times to be examples to them of the holy life of faith in Christ and love for the neighbor.

Pastor: Is it your intention to serve Julian as sponsors in the Christian faith? Sponsors: Yes, with the help of God.

Pastor: May God enable you both to will and to do this faithful and loving work and with His grace fulfill what we are unable to do. People: Amen.

+Scripture Reading+

Pastor: Hear the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, chapter ten.

They brought young children to [Jesus] that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.

And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them. Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God.

+THE LORDS PRAYER+ 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.

+The Blessing+ Pastor: The Lord preserve your coming in and your going out from this time forth and even forevermore. People: Amen.

+Profession of Faith+ Pastor: Because this child cannot answer for himself, we shall all, as a body of believers, speak on his behalf.

Pastor: Julian, Do you renounce the devil? People: Yes, I renounce him.

Pastor: Do you renounce all his works?

People: Yes, I renounce them.

Pastor: Do you renounce all his ways?

People: Yes, I renounce them.

Pastor: Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth? People: Yes, I believe.

Pastor: Do you believe 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; that He descended into hell; and 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? People: Yes, I believe.

Pastor: Do you 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? People: Yes, I believe.

Pastor: Julian, do you desire to be baptized? People: Yes, I do.

+The Baptism+ Pastor: Julian Layne Davison I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen.

+The Blessing of the+ +Newly Baptized+ Pastor: The almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has given you the new birth of water and of the Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with His grace to life everlasting. People: Amen.

+The Symbols of Baptism+ Pastor: Receive this white garment to show that you have been clothed with the robe of Christ's righteousness that covers all your sin.

So shall you stand without fear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the inheritance prepared for you before the foundation of the world.

Pastor: Receive this burning light to show that you have received Christ who is the Light of the world. Live always in the light of Christ,

And be ever watchful for His coming, that you may meet Him with joy and enter with Him into His kingdom, which shall have no end.

+Welcoming+ +The Newly Baptized+ Pastor: In Holy Baptism God the Father has made you a member of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

and an heir with us of all the treasures of heaven in the one holy Christian and apostolic Church.

We receive you in Jesus' name as our brother in Christ, that together we might hear His Word, receive His gifts,

and proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. People: Amen. We welcome you in the name of the Lord.

+Prayer for the Baptized+ Pastor: Let us pray Almighty and most merciful God and Father,

We thank and praise You that You graciously preserve and enlarge Your family and have granted Julian the new birth in Holy Baptism

and made him a member of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and an heir of Your heavenly kingdom. We humbly implore You that, as he has now become Your child,

You would keep him in his baptismal grace, that according to Your good pleasure he may faithfully grow to lead a godly life to the praise and honor of Your holy name,

and finally, with all Your saints, obtain the promised inheritance in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. People: Amen.

+Prayer for Parents+ Pastor: Lord and giver of life, look with kindness upon the father and mother of this child and upon all our parents.

Let them ever rejoice in the gift You have given them. Enable them to be teachers and examples of righteousness for their children.

Strengthen them in their own Baptism that they may share eternally with their children the salvation You have given them;

This we pray, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. People: Amen.

+Dismissal+ Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you always. People: Amen.

~Please Kneel~
for

Confession
and

Absolution

Pastor: Who is this? People: "Even wind and sea obey Him!"

Pastor: Who is this? People: "Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Pastor: It is God alone who can forgive sins. Let us humble ourselves before Him, and confess our sins to the Lord.

All: Lord God, heavenly Father, we confess that we often praise and bless You with our lips, but dishonor You and disobey You in our hearts.

We gather at Church to worship and adore You, but then return to our homes and curse our neighbor.

We sing to You hymns of thanksgiving for Your amazing generosity, but then we withhold from You by our meager offerings so we can store up more treasures on earth.

We willingly accept Your sacrifice and servitude for our benefit, but then only grudgingly give back to You the leftovers of our time and talents.

Redeeming us from eternal condemnation required the death of Your Son, but we resent the fact that our new life in You requires obedience to Your commands.

Lord God, we cannot hide or deny our guilt and shame. We have no righteousness or holiness of our own. We can only come before You as beggars.

But You are a God unlike any other. You do not treat us as our sins deserve, nor do You repay us according to our iniquity.

As high as the heavens are above the earth, so is Your love higher than our love and Your ways higher than our ways.

For reasons that we will never understand, You have chosen to love us. Not because You had to, but because You wanted to. You love us in word and deed with a patience without end.

Have mercy on us, O God; for the sake of Jesus Christ forgive us our sins. Bring forth new life in us today and every day, that we may honor and serve You in all things.

Pastor: Out of His great love for us, God sent His only Son Jesus into our sinful world, to live in our midst, to die for our sins, and to rise from the dead to give us forgiveness and life.

As your called and ordained pastor, at the command and promise of our Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

+Hymn of Praise+

How Can I Keep from Singing

There is an endless song Echoes in my soul I hear the music ring And though the storms may come I am holding on To the rock I cling

Chorus: How can I keep from singing Your praise How can I ever say enough How amazing is Your love

How can I keep from shouting Your name I know I am loved by the King And it makes my heart want to sing.

I will lift my eyes In the darkest night For I know my Savior lives And I will walk with You Knowing You'll see me through And sing the songs You give

Chorus: How can I keep from singing Your praise How can I ever say enough How amazing is Your love

How can I keep from shouting Your name I know I am loved by the King And it makes my heart want to sing.

Chorus: How can I keep from singing Your praise How can I ever say enough How amazing is Your love

How can I keep from shouting Your name I know I am loved by the King And it makes my heart want to sing.

+THE EPISTLE+ 2 Peter 3:8-14 (page 1019 in the pew Bible) Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

+HOLY GOSPEL+ Mark 1:1-8 (page 836 in the pew Bible) Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

+CHILDRENS SERMON+

Will the children please come forward

+Hymn of the Day+

To the only God

To the only God Who is able to keep us Able to keep us from falling To the only God Be all glory and honor Majesty and power For all ages now and forevermore

To the only God Who is able to keep us Able to keep us from falling To the only God Be all glory and honor Majesty and power For all ages now and forevermore

+THE MESSAGE+

Prepared for What?

When your making preparations its helpful to know one thing. What am I preparing for?

Luke 12:16-21 page 871 in the pew Bible

2 Timothy 2:20-21 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.

If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

Luke 2:29-30 Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people.

1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.

+THE MESSAGE+

Prepared for What?

+THE OFFERING+ ~Please place your attendance slip in the offering plate~

+The Offering Hymn+ What Can I give to the King

What can I give to the King. Give to the one who has everything? What can I give, what gift can I bring? What can I give to the King? What can I give to the King?

Give Him a heart thats open up wide, Give Him a life thats got nothing to hide, Give Him a love thats tender and true,

And Hell give it all back to you. Yes, Hell give it all back to you.

What can I give to the King. Give to the one who has everything? What can I give, what gift can I bring? What can I give to the King? What can I give to the King?

Give Him a heart thats open up wide, Give Him a life thats got nothing to hide, Give Him a love thats tender and true,

And Hell give it all back to you. Yes, Hell give it all back to you.

Please Rise as the offering is brought forward

+Prayer of the Church+ Pastor: In our Advent preparations, stir up our hearts, Lord, to make ready the way of Your Son.

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus' coming in human flesh and blood, prepare us to celebrate with joy His coming again, Strengthen us that we may be ready and eager

to proclaim in our words and actions the coming of our Lord Jesus, that all people may be drawn to Him. Lord in Your mercy, People: Hear our prayer.

Pastor: We pray, Lord, for the nations of the world. In Your mercy, grant peace. Fill the leaders of nations with peaceful hearts that they may rule with justice and mercy.

For all who risk their lives to defend us, we ask Your protection. Bless our president, our governor, our legislators and those who serve and protect us,

that we may live in peace and quietness and that the proclamation of Your Gospel may not be hindered. Lord in Your mercy, People: Hear our prayer.

Pastor: Concerning our congregation, move all of us, Lord, to support generously the mission You have given to us.

Give wisdom to our leaders, and faithfulness to all who teach and all who learn.

Grant us hearts that are moved by Your Spirit to proclaim Your love in word and action, that Your people may be known as children of God,

and may give a clear and uncompromised witness to Your love working through us. Lord in Your mercy, People: Hear our prayer.

Pastor: We pray for those who are ill or suffering. Grant them strength and patience during this time of affliction.

If it be Your will, restore them to health so that they may return to serving You. Lord in Your mercy, People: Hear our prayer.

Pastor: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. People: Amen.

+THE BENEDICTION+ Pastor: 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. People: Amen.

+THE CLOSING HYMN+

How Great is Your Love

No eye has seen, and no ear has heard, and no mind has ever conceived the glorious things that You have prepared for evryone who has believed;

You brought us near and You called us Your own, And made us joint heirs with Your Son.

How high and how wide, How deep and how long, How sweet and how strong is Your love; How lavish Your grace, How faithful Your ways, How great is Your love, O Lord?

Objects of mercy, who should have known wrath, Were filled with unspeakable joy, Riches of wisdom unsearchable wealth, and the wonder of knowing Your voice;

You are our treasure and our great reward, our hope and our glorious King.

How high and how wide, How deep and how long, How sweet and how strong is Your love; How lavish Your grace, How faithful Your ways, How great is Your love, O Lord?