Welcome & Announcements

Lighting of the Advent Wreath – “Joy”

Sharing of the Peace

Prelude

Call to Worship

Processional Hymn There’s A Star                   WOV No. 645

Dialog

Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!

I will hear what the Lord God has to say –

A voice that speaks for peace.

Peace for all faithful people

And those who turn to him in their hearts.

God’s help is near for those who fear him,

That his glory may dwell in our land.

Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!

Salutation

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

Annunciation                                                                  Pastor Roth

Magnificat                                                   White paper in pew rack

Prayer of the Day

Anthem

Children’s Sermon

First Reading

Psalmody

Second Reading

Verse                      Prepare the Royal Highway        No. 26, verse 1

Holy Gospel

Response                Prepare the Royal Highway        No. 26, verse 4

Sermon                         Can You Believe It?                 Luke 1:39-55

Hymn                             Light One Candle                WOV No. 630

Nicene Creed                                                                  WOV p. 18

Offering

Offertory             Surely It Is God Who Saves Me       WOV No.635

Offertory Prayer

Merciful God,

In your mercy, you sent your Son as your gift to us.  Receive these, our poor gifts, in return: our hearts, our lives, and all that we have.  Bless and use them for your kingdom’s sake, we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Prayer of the Church                                       The ‘O’ Antiphons*

O Wisdom from on high, filling all creation and reigning to the ends of the earth, come and teach us the way of truth.

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

O Lord of Lords, ruler of the House of Israel, you ransomed your people Israel and delivered them to the Promised Land: come with your outstretched arm and deliver us.

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the nations of your reign of justice, righteousness and peace for whim the nations long: come and save us and delay no longer.

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

O Key of David and scepter of the House of Israel; you open and none can shut; you shut and none can open: come and free the captives from prison, and break the gates of death.

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

O Morning Star, splendor of the eternal light and bright Son of Righteousness:  come and bring light to those who dwell in darkness and walk in the shadow of death.

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

O King of the Nations, you alone can fulfill the desires of every heart: come and save those you fashioned from the dust of the earth.

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

Silence will be kept for individual petitions

O Emmanuel, hope of the nations, “God with us:” come and save us, our Lord and our God.

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

The Lord’s Prayer

Benediction

Recessional Hymn       Once in David’s Royal City    WOV No. 643

Silent Meditation

Dismissal

Go in peace.  Serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

Postlude

*The ‘O’ Antiphons have been used during Advent since the early days of the church, and are the basis of the Prayer of the Day throughout Advent, as well as the hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”  They recall the royal titles of Jesus from prophecy, and repeat the constant desire of all Christians that he might “come” quickly to establish his reign and save us. The response, “Amen, Come Lord Jesus,” recalls the prayer of John at the end of The Book of Revelations.