| + ADVENT PROMISES + Prelude Greeting and Welcome Lighting of the Candles Call to Worship and Invocation P: Lift up your heads and open your eyes, C: For He is coming! P: Who is coming? C: The King of Glory! P: Praise and honor to the One who comes as King, C: Who comes in the name of the Lord. P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. P: He came as a baby in a manger. C: Come, Lord Jesus. P: Let us open our hearts to Him, C: And walk in His ways. P: He will come again to take us to Himself in heaven. C: Come, Lord Jesus. Promise - Micah 5:2–5 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler 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 given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men… Advent Song – O Little Town of Bethlehem (AGPS 183, verses 1-2) O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see Thee lie! Above Thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by; Yet in Thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in Thee tonight. For Christ is born of Mary And, gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the king And peace to all the earth! Fulfillment - Luke 2:1–4 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David…
Advent Song – O Little Town of Bethlehem (AGPS 183, verses 3-4) How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is giv’n! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heav’n. No ear may hear His coming; But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him, still The dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; Oh, come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel! Message – “Advent Promises: A City Set Apart” Prayer Luther’s Evening Prayer I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let your holy angels be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Lord’s 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. Blessing Hymn of the Evening – Abide with Me (AGPS 54, verses 1, 4) Abide with me, fast falls the eventide. The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes, Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. + + + + WORSHIP LEADERS + Preacher/Liturgist – Pastor Steve Albers Pianist – Janet Leet Sound/Video – John Steele
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