December 18, 2022
St. Barnabas Lutheran Church, Cary, IL
Prelude
Announcements
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Deeply planted in the mystery of life is God’s love, gracing the world with presence and purpose.
People of God: We wait, longing for the dawning of God’s new day.
We prepare, trying to make room.
People of God: We are expectant and despairing, hopeful and wondering.
God too longs for the world’s transformation.
People of God: God too prepares—making us ready to receive light and love, making us ready to receive anew God’s great gift.
Deeply planted in the mystery of life is God’s presence living among us, living promise, living Word.
Lighting of the fourth candle.
Let us pray: God of love
People of God: you pour out your grace upon us in the life of Christ. Help us to know his truth, to sing his praises, and to bear witness to his incarnation among us, giving glory to your name. Amen.
Hymn ELW #240 Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah Played by Gloria Peetz Sung by Jordan Devine
Confession and Forgiveness
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
People of God: Blessed be God’s name forever. Amen.
Beloved, now is the time to wake from sleep. Let us confront our sins and confess them to the one who is merciful and just.
Silence is kept for reflection.
God of new beginnings,
People of God: we confess that we have not welcomed your holy reign. We have strayed from your paths. We prepare for war instead of peace. We dishonor one another and your creation. Purify us with your refining fire and set us again on your way of love, that we may bear fruit worthy of repentance and welcome your coming among us. Amen.
People of God, a new thing is growing in our midst, a tender branch, a living sign. By water and the Spirit you are joined to this wonder. You have put on ☩ Christ, and your sins have been washed away. Rejoice in the way of the Lord.
People of God: Amen.
Hymn ELW #296 What Child is This Played by Gloria Peetz Sung by Jordan Devine
Prayer of the Day
Assisting Minister: Let us pray. God of promise, you made a commitment to Joseph that you would make Jesus a savior to all. Renew your commitment with us, so that all may know the saving grace of your son, Jesus. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. People of God: Amen.
Hark! A Christmas Pageant
By Gloria Peetz
Scene 1
Reading Luke 1:26-35
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Song The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came Played by Gloria Peetz and Sung By Hannah Brescia
Scene 2
Reading Matthew 1:18-21
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Mary will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Song Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine Played by Gloria Peets and Sung by Hannah Brescia
Scene 3
Reading Luke 2:1-7
1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Song ELW #269 Once in Royal David’s City Played by Gloria Peetz and sung by the congregation
Scene 4
Reading Luke 2: 8-16
8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 when the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
Song ELW #270 Hark the Herald Angels Sing Played by Gloria Peetz with Marissa Mauger on the drum
Scene 5
Reading Matthew 2:1-12
1In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'” 7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Song ELW #300 The First Noel Played by Gloria Peetz and sung by the congregation
Scene 6
Song ELW #267 Joy to the Word Played by Gloria Peetz and sung by the congregation
Prayers of the People
Assisting Minister: We seek the mighty God in the most unlikely places: as a child in a stable and in an empty tomb. May God hear these prayers, which come from the unlikely corners of our lives.
A brief silence.
Assisting Minister: God with the church, guide us in your right paths and work through us that your will be done in this world. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: God with creation, guide us in your right paths and bless all that lives with your sustaining power. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: God with the nations, guide us in your right paths and send forth your just and peaceful spirit upon the earth. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: God with us, guide us in your right paths and stir in us all a desire for relationship and reconciliation. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: God with the suffering, guide us in your right paths and work your healing power in the lives of those in need, especially the McDonough family, Jeanne, Barb, Cecil (See-sil), Marlene, Ryleigh, Dylan, Sandy, Hopie (Hope-y), the Lang family, the Mauger (maw-ger) family, Susan, the Bredemus (bread-a-mus) family, Allen, Bunny, the Vogt (vote) family, Richard, Pat, Pete, Dick, Karen, Patricia, Michael, Nicholas and his family, Beth, Jim, Kara (car-a), Betty, Tom, Lorie and her family, Pastor Kara (car-a) and those we name silently or aloud <pause>. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: God with this congregation, guide us in your right paths and bless our ministries that they might reflect your desires for this time and this place. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Please offer your own prayers of joy or concern, ending with “Lord, in your mercy,”
We respond with “hear our prayer.”
Assisting Minister: God with the saints, guide us in your right paths and bring us all to our heavenly home. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Give us ears to hear, O God, and eyes to watch, that we may know your presence in our midst during this holy season of joy as we anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ. People of God: Amen.
The Peace (Please share peace by waving or showing the peace sign.)
The peace of Christ be with you always. People of God: And also with you.
Offering
Let us pray. Eternal God, you make the desert bloom and send springs of water to thirsty ground. Receive these simple gifts of bread, wine, time, talent and money, and make us messengers of your mercy and love for all in need of your healing and justice. We ask this through Christ our Savior. People of God: Amen.
Communion
The Lord be with you.
People of God: And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
People of God: We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People of God: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
And now let us pray with confidence in the words that Jesus taught us:
People of God: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Invitation to Communion
Assisting Minister: Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, who has come to save you.
For our at-home worshippers, you may take communion using these words:
The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Table Blessing
And now may the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace. People of God: Amen.
Prayer after Communion
Assisting Minister: Let us pray. Faithful God, in this meal you have remembered your mercy, bringing heaven to earth in the body and blood of Christ. As we wait for the day when all your promises will be fulfilled, sustain us and strengthen us by this holy mystery. Guide us toward your promised future, coming to birth in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. People of God: Amen.
Blessing
God the eternal Word, who dwells with us in Jesus, and who holds us in the grace of the Holy Spirit, ☩ bless you now and forever. People of God: Amen.
Sending Hymn ELW #275 Angels, from the Realms of Glory Played by Gloria Peetz Sung by Jordan Devine
Dismissal
Assisting Minister: Go in love. Christ is near. People of God: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
Thank you to those serving us today
Pastor: Rev. Sarah Wilson
Worship Assistant: Janet Dorn
Acolyte: Daniel Whyte
Music: Gloria Peetz ~ Song Leader: Jordan Devine
Altar Guild: Sally Skalany
Usher/Greeter: Adeline Zimmer
Sound Board: Nancy Rochford
AV Tech: Mark Gates and ?
Counter: Sally Skalany and Dawna Gates
Altar Flowers: Challyn Hyde
In Memory of Bob’s Birthday
From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved
Lighting of the Advent Wreath liturgy based on the work of Rev. Teri Peterson and Rev. Nathan Williams
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