Description
Luke 21:25-36
Just as a fig tree transforms before the coming season, so the sun, moon, stars, and earth display signs of the coming Christ. Pay heed to the warning signs found in Scripture that point to His return, and don’t let your heart grow cold or calloused. During this season of Advent, be watchful and prayerful for great joy is in store as redemption draws near.
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
Advent Hymn
Christy Nockels, 2016 Sweater Weather Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
John Mason Neale & Henry Sloane Coffin, ©several publishers
Even So Come
Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Jess Cates, © S. D. G. Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)Sixsteps Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)Worship Together Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)Open Hands Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)So Essential Tunes (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)Lily Makes Music (Admin. by Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.)
[Traditional Options]
The Advent of Our King
LBW 22; LSB 331; LW 12
Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending
BH 91 199; CH 754; EH 57; ELW 435; HS98 802; HWC 241; HFG 306; HLC 185; HGP 146; LBW 27; LSB 336; LW 15; PH 6; RH 659; STTL 278; UMH 718; WAR 318; WHM 278; WIS 192
The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came
EH 265; ELW 265; HS 98 805; LSB 356; PH 16; WOV 632; WAR 169
Invocation
Pastor/Worship Leader speaks
Pastor Welcome young people and those who are more seasoned in life. We welcome you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who through His redemptive sacrifice saved us from sin.
ALL We are blessed to be in this place and join our voices together to praise the Lord.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor/Worship Leader speaks
Pastor Holy Lord, we don’t take lightly Your presence.
ALL You are God, and we are not.
Pastor In submission, we bow before you, Lord. You are great and mighty, yet as a humble babe you entered this fallen world.
ALL Our hearts are filled with praise and gratitude for our King who came and is coming again!
Pastor We love you, Lord, and are so awestruck of Your love for us. It is in the name of Jesus we pray,
ALL Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor Scripture reads in 2 Corinthians 7:10: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to
salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” Lord, we desire godly
sorrow that leads to repentance. Remove the obstacle of pride that stubbornly stands in the way of our surrendering.
ALL We turn away from sin and toward Your righteousness.
Pastor Where we have hearts of stone, break and soften them so that we may be molded into
Your likeness.
ALL Forgive us our sins.
Pastor Thank You for Your kindness toward even sinners like us. We accept Your forgiveness.
ALL In Jesus’ name, Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Jeremiah 33:14-16
The Lord declared the coming fulfillment of a promise He made to the people of Israel and Judah to send the promised One, the righteous Branch from David’s line, who would save them from sin. That promised One was Jesus.
14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. 15 “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’
