GATHERING _________________________

Congregational responses are in BOLD print.

* Please stand as you are able.

Hymns are found in the red ELW Worship book, however,

due to COVID, worship music is not being sung.

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE: PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

* CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS

The sign of the cross can be made in remembrance of baptism as confession begins.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Almighty God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, against you I have sinned and done wrong, been wicked and rebelled; I have turned away from your commands and laws.  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgres-sions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Amen.

God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith. Amen.

* GATHERING HYMN:

NOVEMBERDECEMBERJANUARYFEBRUARY

29: 246 6: 254 3: 296 7: 843

13: 239 10: 310 14: 314

20: 242 17: 676

27:---- 24: 696

31: 886

* 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: SPOKEN DURING ADVENT

* HYMN OF PRAISE: SPOKEN DURING CHRISTMAS & EPIPHANY

* PRAYER OF THE DAY: In unison, Celebrate insert.

Please be seated.

WORD _________________________________

FIRST LESSON: Celebrate insert.

The reading is concluded: The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH: Each Sunday as the candles on the Advent wreath are lit, we sing two verses of ELW #257 “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” (Nov. 29: vs. 1-2; Dec 6: vs. 3-4; Dec. 13: vs. 5-6; Dec. 20: vs. 7-8).

PSALM: Read responsively, Celebrate insert.

SECOND LESSON: Celebrate insert.

The reading is concluded: The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

* GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: #510 “Word of God, Come Down on Earth”Verse 1

“Word of God, come down on earth, living rain from heav’n descending,

Touch our hearts and bring to birth, faith and hope and love unending.

Word almighty, we revere you; Word made flesh we long to hear you.”

* HOLY GOSPEL: Celebrate insert.

The Holy Gospel according to St. __ , the ___ chapter.

Glory to you, O Lord.

The gospel is proclaimed, concluding: The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON Silence for reflection follows the sermon.

* HYMN OF THE DAY:

NOVEMBERDECEMBERJANUARYFEBRUARY

29: 260 6: 249 3: 295 7: 858

13: 243 10: 304 14: 315

20: 263 17: 574

27: ---- 24: 818

31: 614

* NICENE CREED ADVENT & CHRISTMAS

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; by the power of the Holy Spirit , he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. 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. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He 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.

* APOSTLES’ CREED EPIPHANY

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

* PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH Celebrate insert.

* SHARING OF THE PEACE

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

And also with you.

MEAL __________________________________

AN OFFERING OF MUSIC

* OFFERTORY: Advent, verse 1; Christmas, verse 2; Epiphany, verse 3

* OFFERTORY PRAYER

Let us pray. Merciful Father, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us – our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

* THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise …

…we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

* EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth. In mercy for our fallen world you gave your only Son, that all those who believe in him should not perish but have eternal life. We give thanks to you for the salvation you have prepared for us through Jesus Christ. Send now your Holy Spirit into our hearts that we may receive our Lord with a living faith as he comes to us in his holy supper. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

In the night in which he was handed over, 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 remem-brance of me.

Remembering therefore, his life given for us and his rising from the grave, we await his coming again to share with us the everlasting feast. By your Spirit, nurture and sustain us with this meal: strengthen us to serve all in hunger and want, and by this bread and cup make of us the body of your Son. Through him all glory and honor are yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. Amen.

* THE LORD’S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us:

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.

* INVITATION TO COMMUNION

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

LAMB OF GOD

COMMUNION HYMNS:

NOVEMBERDECEMBERJANUARYFEBRUARY

29: 245-276 6: 255-276 3: 292-276 7: 860-276

13: 253-27610: 303-27614: 318-276

20: 261-27617: 307-276

27: ------24: 800-276

31: 576-276

COMMUNING OF THE FAITHFUL

All baptized Christians are welcome to commune at the Lord’s Table at Christ’s invitation. You will receive Communion in your pew. First receive a piece of bread, Christ’s body, which you may eat immediately. Next, receive the wine, Christ’s blood, in an individual glass. Place your emptied glass in the basket and then spend time in prayerful consideration of Christ’s gift to you. For those who can’t drink wine, grape juice is available in the filled cups in the inner ring of the cupholders. Those who are gluten-intolerant may partake of gluten-free wafers when you let the pastor know before worship. You can also commune “under one kind” where the full blessing of God’s grace is received through either bread or wine alone. Those who do not yet receive communion receive a blessing.

* BLESSING

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen.

* POST-COMMUNION PRAYER

Let us pray. O God, our life and strength, we give you thanks for sustaining us with the body and blood of your Son. By your Holy Spirit, enliven us to be his body in the world that, more and more, we will give you praise and serve you, through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

SENDING ______________________________

* BENEDICTION

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.

* SENDING HYMN:

NOVEMBERDECEMBERJANUARYFEBRUARY

29: 244 6: 264 3: 290 7: 536

13: 81510: 67314: 838

20: 26717: 81027: ---24: 677

31: 538

* DISMISSAL

ADVENT: Go in peace. Prepare for the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

CHRISTMAS: Go in peace. Our Savior has come!

Thanks be to God!

EPIPHANY: Go in peace. Jesus is with you!

Thanks be to God!

* POSTLUDE

May the peace of this season

be with you!

Please leave this bulletin in the pew rack as you leave worship.

Portions from Holy Communion and Related Rites, 2004, admin. by Augsburg Fortress.

Portions of the liturgy are reprinted from Setting Four of the Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 2006 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress license #14005-LIT

Portions of the liturgy reprinted from the Lutheran Book of Worship, copyright © 1978.

Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress license #10848-L.

ADVENT: It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and ever-living God. You comforted your people with the promise of the Redeemer, through whom you will also make all things new in the day when he comes again to judge the world in righteousness. And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

CHRISTMAS: It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord. In the wonder and mystery of the Word made flesh you have opened the eyes of faith to a new and radiant vision of your glory; that, beholding the God made visible, we may be drawn to love the God whom we cannot see. And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

EPIPHANY: It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord. Sharing our life, he lived among us to reveal your glory and love, that our darkness should give way to his own brilliant light. And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: