St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church


Third Sunday of Advent
December 13, 2009



Prelude Pastorale George Frederich Handel
(based on Pastoral Symphony from Messiah) arr. Arnold B. Sherman
St. Matthew’s Ringers

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

(We 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.

(We 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.

(We stand)
Entrance Hymn Comfort, Comfort Now My People Hymn 256
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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Baptism (11:00 am) Page 227

Kyrie (8:30 am) 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 the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the preaching of John, that, rejoicing in your salvation, we may bring forth the fruits of repentance; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.

Word

(We sit)
First Reading Zephaniah 3:14–20

The prophet Zephaniah’s message is mostly one of judgment for sin. This reading, however, which comes from the conclusion of the book, prophesies joy for Judah and Jerusalem. Judgment has led to repentance, and God’s salvation is at hand.

Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD,
is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.

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


Psalm Isaiah 12:2–6




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Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might,
and has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation. R
And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the LORD, call on God’s name;
make known the deeds of the LORD among the nations;
proclaim that this name is exalted.
Sing praises to the LORD, who has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. R


Children’s Message

Lighting of the Advent Candle and Blessing of the Wreath

(We stand)
Gospel Acclamation




Gospel Luke 3:7-18

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

John the Baptist heralds the mighty one “who is coming.” John teaches that preparation for God’s reign is not a matter of identity but of bearing fruits of merciful justice, radical generosity, and vocational integrity.

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,

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John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

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

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

(We stand)
Hymn of the Day Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers Hymn 244

Nicene Creed (8:30 am)

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.

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.

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(We 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.

(We 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


(We sit)
Offering


Anthem (8:30 am) All Earth is Hopeful Alberto Taulé
Family Choir


Anthem (11:00 am) Springs in the Dessert Arthur B. Jennings Gallery Choir


(We 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

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.




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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.

(We 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 631, 264



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(We 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 He Comes to Us as One Unknown Hymn 737

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

__________________________________________



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