December 20th and 21st, 2014

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Holy Communion (ELW 5)
INTRODUCTION
God keeps the promise made to David, to give him an everlasting
throne. The angel tells Mary that God will give David's throne to her
son Jesus. She is perplexed by Gabriel's greeting and by the news of
her coming pregnancy, but she is able still to say, "Count me in." We
who know that Jesus is called king only as he is executed still find it a
mystery hard to fathom, but with Mary today we hear the news of what
God is up to and say, "Count us in."

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

PRELUDE

Puer Nobis Nacitur Jean-Franois Dandrieu

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

All may stand and make the sign of the cross, the sign with which we are
marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
In the name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from
whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the
inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily
magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

CHILDREN are always welcome to our Worship Service. Rainbow bags

and a cry room are available. A staffed nursery is also available if needed.
An usher will gladly provide you with assistance.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But
if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

As a worship courtesy, we ask that you please turn off or set to vibrate
all cellular telephones and pagers during the worship service.

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

We ask that all present today please fill out the Attendance and Communion
registration card found in your bulletin and place it in the offering plate so
that we may record your presence with us.
PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE PEW
Pour your grace into our hearts, O God, that we who have known the
incarnation of your Son, Jesus Christ, announced by an angel, may by his
cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; for he lives and
reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Please kneel, silence is kept for reflection.

Most merciful God,
we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have
sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done
and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole
heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of
your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and
lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the
glory of your holy name. Amen.
In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for
his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the
church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire
forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and
of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Almighty God grant unto us the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit,
reconciliation with God, true repentance, and time for the amendment of life.
Amen.
Please stand and sing:
GATHERING SONG: People, Look East (ELW 248)
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

BLESSING OF THE ADVENT WREATH

O faithful and loving God, we praise you for your tender compassion and
give you thanks for your steadfast love for us and all creation. Bless us who
see the light of this wreath, that we may be strengthened by the hope of your
advent among us, and live toward the completion of all things in you. We ask
this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

CONGREGATIONAL SONG:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, vv. 6, 7, and 8 (ELW 257)

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Refrain:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and
might, free us from the sin that would obstruct your mercy, that willingly we
may bear your redeeming love to all the world, for you live and reign with
the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Please be seated.
FIRST READING:

2 Samuel 7:111, 16

Now when the king was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him
rest from all his enemies around him, 2the king said to the prophet Nathan,
"See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent."
3
Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the LORD is
with you."
4
But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: 5Go
and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me
a house to live in? 6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the
people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a
tent and a tabernacle. 7Wherever I have moved about among all the people
of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel,
whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you
not built me a house of cedar?" 8Now therefore thus you shall say to my
servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture,
from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; 9and I have
been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from
before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great
ones of the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will
plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no
more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11from the time
that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from
all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will
make you a house. 16Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure
forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

Tone:

46b

My soul proclaims the greatness | of the Lord,

47
my spirit rejoices in | God my Savior,
48
for you, Lord, have looked with favor on your | lowly servant.
From this day all generations will | call me blessed;
49
you, the Almighty, have done great | things for me,
and holy | is your name.
50
You have mercy on | those who fear you,
from generation to | generation. R
51

You have shown strength | with your arm;

and scattered the proud in | their conceit,
52
casting down the mighty | from their thrones
and lifting | up the lowly.
53
You have filled the hungry | with good things,
and sent the rich | away empty.
54
You have come to the aid of your | servant Israel,
to remember the prom- | ise of mercy,
55
the promise made | to our forebears,
to Abraham and his chil- | dren forever. R

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

PSALM: Luke 1:46b55

SECOND READING:

Romans 16:2527

25

Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the
proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that
was kept secret for long ages 26but is now disclosed, and through the
prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the
command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith 27to
the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever!
Amen.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Please stand for the reading of the gospel

the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor
David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom
there will be no end." 34Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am
a virgin?" 35The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to
be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative
Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month
for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with
God." 38Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with
me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Please be seated

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION AND VERSE

SERMON Pastor Charles Peterson
Please stand and sing:
HYMN OF THE DAY: The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came (ELW 265)

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

Here I am, the servant | of the Lord;*

let it be with me according | to your word.

GOSPEL:

(Luke 1:38)

Luke 1:26-38

The holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Glory to you, O Lord.
26

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee
called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of
the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28And he came to her and
said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29But she was much
perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
30
The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor
with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and
you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of

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

With longing and hopeful expectation, let us pray for the church, the world,
and all those in need.
Please sit or kneel as you are able.
Each petition ends with:
Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Receive our prayers, faithful God, as we watch and wait for your coming
among us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Please be seated.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANTHEM AT THE OFFERING
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Gustav Holst

Please stand and sing:

OFFERTORY HYMN: Create in Me a Clean Heart (ELW 188)

OFFERING PRAYER
God of abundance, we bring before you the precious fruits of your creation,
and with them our very lives. Teach us patience and hope as we care for all
those in need until the coming of your Son, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

DIALOGUE

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Holy God, the Beginning and the End, our Salvation and our Hope, we praise
you for creating a world of order and beautyThrough him all glory and
honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church,
both now and forever.
Amen.
LORD'S PRAYER

PREFACE
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

INVITATION TO COMMUNION
The coming of the Lord is a consuming fire. All who desire the old to pass
away and to live a new life, come with joy to the feast.
Please be seated

All baptized people are welcome to the table to receive Christs body and
blood. If you have not been baptized, you are also welcome to the table as
Gods guest; we are honored by your presence. We recognize the Body of
Christ as the community of the baptized, so if you would like to become part
of the Body of Christ, we encourage you to seek baptism. If you cant or dont
wish to receive today, we encourage you to hold your hands over your chest
for a blessing as you come forward.

HYMN DURING DISTRIBUTION: Bread of Life from Heaven (ELW

474)
SONG AFTER COMMUNION: Now, Lord (ELW 201)

COMMUNION
The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Amen.
LAMB OF GOD

Please stand
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Lord God, we give you thanks that you have fed us even now with the
banquet that is yet to come. Keep us alert for signs of your presence in the
world around us. Send us as healing oil and sheltering comfort to those in
need, and make us bold in testifying to the light of Jesus Christ, our Savior
and Lord.
Amen.

BLESSING
God most high, God with us, God poured out on us, Father, + Son, and Holy
Spirit, bless you now and forever.
Amen.
SENDING SONG: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (ELW 272)

Friday, December 26
2014 Stephen, Deacon and Martyr
Stephen was a deacon and the first martyr of the church. He was one of those
seven upon whom the apostles laid hands after they had been chosen to serve
widows and others in need. Later, Stephen's preaching angered the temple
authorities, and they ordered him to be put to death by stoning.

DISMISSAL
Saturday, December 27
John, Apostle and Evangelist

Go in peace. Bring good news to the poor.

Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE

Puer Natus in Bethlehem

J. S. Bach

The son of Zebedee and brother of James, John was one of the twelve
disciples and witness to the transfiguration. Tradition has named him also the
writer of the Gospel of John, the three New Testament letters bearing his
name, as well as Revelation.
Sunday, December 28
The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

The flowers on the altar are given to the Glory of God

and in honor of Shirley Griffin.

This day commemorates the young children killed by Herod in Bethlehem in

his jealous attempt to murder the baby Jesus, a sobering reminder of the evil
that led Christ to be born for our salvation.
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26794.

The Altar flowers are administered by the worship committee. The 2015
Altar Flower chart is posted on the bulletin board in the lower lobby and
there is attached to it a tear-off sheet for donors to complete and hand into the
office or place in the offering plate for proper publication in the bulletin.
If you would like to purchase flowers for worship in memory of or in honor
of someone, please sign up. The cost is $35 per arrangement, and checks
should be made out to Trinity Lutheran Church. The contact person is Mary
in the church office (614) 224.6818 or email: oldtrinityoffice@gmail.com

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH?
We receive members throughout the year by Baptism, Affirmation of Faith,
Confirmation, Letter of Transfer, and New Member Instruction. Please
contact the church office with any questions. 224-6818.
Please feel free to take your bulletin and happenings with you.
If you wish to discard your bulletin, a recycling box is located at the exit.
Thank you.