Description
Luke 1:39-56
Luke, who has carefully investigated everything from the beginning, starts his Gospel with the foretelling of the birth of John the Baptist and then of Jesus. And Mary (whom now all generations call blessed) pregnant with Jesus visits Elizabeth, pregnant with John. John leaps in his mother’s womb when he hears Mary enter. Mary’s song, the Magnificat, is a beautiful hymn of the incarnation, God the Savior, Holy is His Name. He is mighty and merciful and will fulfill all His promises.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Time of Praise and Worship
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
John Mason Neale & Henry Sloane Coffin, ©several publishers
Available on www.PraiseCharts.com, www.LifewayWorship.com, www.MusicNotes.com
He Made A Way In A Manger w/ Away In A Manger
Lee Black & Steve Merkel, ©2004 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Gratitude
Benjamin Hastings, Brandon Lake, Dante Bowe; © 2019 Bethel Worship Publishing; Brandon Lake Music; Maverick City Publishing; Maverick City Publishing Worldwide; SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia; Bethel Music Publishing
[Traditional Options]
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
BH 75 78; BH 91 76; CH 245; CHH 119; EH 56; ELW 257; HWC 123; HFG 169; HLC 100; HGP 73; LBW 34; LSB 357; LW 31; NCH 116; PH 9; RH 117; RS 493; STTL 163; WC 133; UMH 211; WAR 154; WHM 120; WIS 171
Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love
BH75 74; EH 252; LSB 900; LW 182
Come, O Precious Ransom
LBW 24; LSB 350; LW 34
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Our souls magnify the Lord! Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior!
Worshipers
The mighty One has done great things for us! Holy is God’s name!
Pastor / Worship Leader
Let us worship God.
Worshipers
For God is our Maker and our Redeemer; from generation-to-generation God gives mercy.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Let us serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song.
Worshipers
Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; let us exult his name together.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Amen!
Worshipers
Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Loving God, our spirits do rejoice in all your gracious acts towards us, most of all, the event we so look forward to—the wonderful and precious gift of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks for the willingness of Mary to believe that the impossible could and would happen. Help us to have a like faith. Open our hearts and minds to believe that your promises can come to surprising fulfillment. Show us how we can best serve you with mercy and in humility, empowering people to live lives of dignity and worth. Be with all those who feel that life holds no hope and help them and each of us truly to believe O God, that with you, nothing is impossible. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Worshipers
Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Heavenly Father, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart, soul, strength, and mind.
Worshipers
We have failed to fulfill your desire for us to love one another. We have not followed the paths you have given us, choosing instead to follow our own.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We have broken relationships, we chase consumer desires, we treat those who wait on us as less than human.
Worshipers
We have rebelled against your love; we spend our time and money on gifts for those who give us gifts.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We have not loved our neighbors; we spend time with family and friends out of obligation rather than sincere love.
Worshipers
We have not heard the cry of the needy, the mouth of the poor is still hungry for mercy, the cause of the oppressed is still thirsty for justice.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Free us for joyful obedience, through the Advent of Christ, our Lord, our Messiah, our Hope. Amen.
Worshipers
Amen!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Micah 5:2-5a
The Prophet Micah, minor in volume, not in importance, alternates prophecies of doom and hope. In these verses, Micah prophecies now of the Messiah. His origins are from ancient times. He is from her who will bear a son. He will shepherd his flocks. Micah also prophecies where the Messiah will come from- Bethlehem-and when-after a time of silence. The prophesied Messiah seems to be both God (from of old, ancient times) and man (shepherding his flock).
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. 4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 5 And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses.
