St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church

Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 20, 2009




Prelude The Angel Gabriel Paul Manz
Welcome

We’re delighted to greet everyone in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who takes away our sin and offers
grace to all people. If you are a guest, please fill out the Guest Form. If you’re looking for a meaningful ministry with which to become involved, you are encouraged to speak with the Pastor.

Gathering

(Please stand)
Brief Order for Confession & Forgiveness

 P We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
 P God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C Amen.

(Please kneel)
Confession
 P Most merciful God,
C 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.

Absolution
 P 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 ς Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.

(Please stand)
Entrance Hymn Soon and Very Soon Hymn 439

Greeting
 P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!
C And, also with you.

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Kyrie Music on page 156
 P In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
 P For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
 P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all,
let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
 P For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
 P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C Amen.

Prayer of the Day
 P Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Take away the hindrance of our sins and make us ready for the celebration 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, now and forever.
C Amen.

Word

(Please sit)
First Reading Micah 5:2–5a

The prophet Micah, having pronounced judgment upon Judah, speaks of a future shepherd-king who, like David, will come from the small town of Bethlehem. (Ephrathah refers to the area around Bethlehem.) This king will restore Israel and bring peace. New Testament writers understood this passage to be referring to Jesus.

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.

P The Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.


Children’s Message

Lighting of the Advent Candle and Blessing of the Wreath

(Please stand)
Gospel Acclamation









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Gospel Luke 1:39-5 5)

P The Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke, the first chapter.
C Glory to you, O Lord.

We are presented with Elizabeth, John’s mother, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, two women filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. In Elizabeth’s inspired greeting and Mary’s song of praise we hear of a saving God who remembers, scatters, lifts up, and fulfills all things.

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” And Mary sang, . . . (My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness - Jess Murden - soprano)

P The Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to you, O Christ.

(Please sit)
Sermon Pastor Robert Wallace
“Yesterday’s Promise, Today’s Hope, Tomorrow’s Fulfillment:Fortification”

(Please stand)
Hymn of the Day O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Hymn 257
Stanzas 1-5

Nicene 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;

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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 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.

(Please kneel)
The Prayer of the People

After each prayer petition:
 P Lord in your mercy
C Hear our prayer.

 The prayers conclude:
 P Receive our prayers, holy God, and give us all we need for this day and the days to come, through the power
of the Holy Spirit, and in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen.

(Please stand)
Peace
P The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C And also with you.
(Please feel free to move about and share God’s Peace with one another!)

Meal

(Please sit)
Offering


Anthem (8:30 am) Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Roland Prichard
Family Choir


Anthem (11:00 am) There is No Rose of Such Virtue Graham Ellis Gallery Choir


(Please stand)
Offering Response Tune: Old Hundreth

 C Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen

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Offering Prayer

P God of majesty, in your might you have created all things, and you entrust to our care what you have made. Receive our offerings, and make them a sign of our dedication to provide for the needs of all people and creatures, in the name of the one who sustains all things by his word, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
 P Lift up your hearts.
C We lift them to the Lord.
 P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Proper Preface

Sanctus Music on Page 162

Holy, holy, holy Lord. God of pow’r and might
heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna, Hosanna.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Words of Institution

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: “Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

Lord’s Prayer (Sung) Music on Page 163

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.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.


Communion
All baptized Christians are invited to share in the Eucharist. Those who are not baptized, or wish to receive
only a blessing, are asked to fold their arms over their chest. Communion will be by intinction (dipping). Please follow the usher’s direction.


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(Please sit)
Music at the Communion

Agnus Dei Music on page 164

Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world: grant us peace.

Hymns 490, 279

(Please stand)
Post Communion Blessing and Prayer

 P Loving God, in this meal you sustain the weary and heal the broken. May the gift of your word made flesh,
the body and blood of Christ, inspire our tongues to praise you and proclaim to the entire world the Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen.
 P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon
you with favor and ς give you peace.
C Amen.

Sending Hymn Joy to the World Hymn 267

Dismissal
P Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.

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Music reproduced with permission by Augsburg Fortress.
Liturgies License # 23349






You may use this Bulletin to cover your parking in the
Francis Marion or Hutson Street Garage.




St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church * 405 King Street * Charleston, SC 843.723.1611






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