Description
Luke 1:39–45
With Christmas just around the corner we hear in our Gospel reading today the story of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth. Both are pregnant at this point and Elizabeth’s baby, John the Baptist, leaps in her womb at the presence of Jesus, even though neither have been born yet! This story is a great reminder that every person should be filled with joy because Jesus has come and saved them – even if they can’t see Him face to face yet. May we be bringers of the good news of Jesus every day and help answer the prayer: “Come Lord Jesus!”
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]
Time of Praise and Worship
Here Is Our King
David Crowder, ©2005 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sixsteps Music (EMI Christian Music Publishing)
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
Edmund Hamilton Sears | Richard Storrs Willis, ©Public Domain
O Come All Ye Faithful
David Moffitt, Sue Smith, Travis Cottrell, ©2006 New Spring, a division of Zomba Enterprises, Inc. / CCTB Music (ASCAP) (both administered by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing).
[traditional Options]
O Lord, How Shall I Meet You
ELW 241; LBW 23; LSB 334; LW 19; NCH 102; PH 11
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
BH 75 94; BH 91 1-6; CH 279; CHH 163; ELW 276; HS 98 812; HWC143; HFG 194; LBW 44; LSB 393; PH 37; RH 131; RS 509; STTL 186; WC 169; UMH 229; WAR 221; WHM 148
God Loved the World So That He Gave
BH75 445; ELW 323; LBW 292; LSB 571; LW 352; NCH 208
Invocation
Pastor Let us call upon the name of the Lord.
ALL In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Litany
Pastor The Lord is faithful to His people!
ALL Amen! Come Lord Jesus.
Pastor He has blessed us with His presence.
ALL Amen! Come Lord Jesus.
Pastor We no longer walk in darkness.
ALL Amen! Come Lord Jesus.
Pastor Lord may we be blessed by You here and now,
ALL Amen! Come Lord Jesus and bless us. Amen!
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor The Lord draws near and we, even now, are in His presence. Yet we are not worthy to embrace Him. Let us call upon the mercies of the Lord and prepare our hearts by confessing our sins to Him.
Silence for reflection
Pastor Holy Lord God, Jesus Christ
ALL You have blessed us by Your most merciful coming. We praise You for the love You have shown us by Your life, death, and resurrection. Yet we often do not honor You with our words or actions. We turn from You and live sinful lives. We repent Lord and pray that You would have mercy on us. Forgive us our sins, bless us with Your Holy Spirit, and guide us in our lives, that we may forever enjoy Your heavenly blessings. Amen.
Pastor Our Lord does come to us and loves us. By His grace you have been called out of darkness and sin and have been granted eternal life. Because He has done this, upon your confession, in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus, I announce the grace of God to you all and forgive you your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL Amen!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Micah 5:2–5a
Micah speaks prophecy to the city of Bethlehem. They will still suffer occupation however out of them a mighty ruler will come, Jesus. We have peace with Jesus even though we suffer the world.
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for mem one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.3Therefore 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. 4And 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. 5And 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;
A This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
