MIDWEEK ADVENT WORSHIP
Grace Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona
December 11, 2024
It is the most widely recognized symbol of the season the Christmas tree. Other religions had used evergreen branches as ceremonial decoration to represent eternal life. However, in the 16th century, the Lutherans of Germany took the next step of bringing freshly cut evergreen trees indoors for the holidays. They decorated the trees with red ornaments, symbolizing the blood of Christ, and with candles, symbolizing the light of Christ. They would top the tree with a star or angel, both important in the story of Jesus’ birth. The Christmas tree is a special part of our Christmas celebration.
In our midweek Advent services, we will look at some Christmas trees. They are not evergreens, nor decorated with tinsel or garland or bright lights. Rather, we will look at some of the trees in the Scripture that point us to the Christ. These Christmas trees, more than the decorative ones, remind us of why the birth of Jesus Christ is so important. . . so worthy of celebration.
PRESERVICE MUSIC
WELCOME
Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1)
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! (Psalm 84:1)
Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. (Psalm 84:4)
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)
Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. (Psalm 85:7)
The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. (Isaiah 40:5)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
PRAYER
Let us pray.
Almighty God, grant to your Church the Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes from above. Let nothing hinder your Word from being freely proclaimed to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people, so that we may serve you in steadfast faith and confess your name as long as we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Please be seated
READING 1 Samuel 16:1-13
16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I see a king for myself among his sons.”
2Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’
3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for me the person that I point out to you.”
4So Samuel did what the Lord had told him to do and went to Bethlehem. Trembling with fear, the elders of the city came to meet him. They said, “Do you come in peace?”
5He said, “Yes, in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” He consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6When they had come, he looked at Eliab and said, “Certainly this is the Lord’s anointed.”
7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at how tall he is, because I have rejected him. For the Lord does not look at things the way man does. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.”
9Then Jesse had Shammah pass by. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.”
10Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 11Samuel said to Jesse, “Is that all of the young men?”
Jesse said, “There still is the youngest, but he is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him, for we cannot sit down to eat until he comes.”
12He sent for him and brought him in. David had red hair and striking eyes, and was goodlooking. The Lord said, “Get up! Anoint him, because this is the one.”
13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers. The Spirit of the Lord rushed on David with power from that day forward. After that Samuel set out and returned to Ramah.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
RESPONSIVE PSALM
Surely God is good to Israel, to the pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet almost slipped out from under me.
I almost lost my footing. I even envied the arrogant when I observed the peace of the wicked.
When I tried to understand this, it was very troubling to me, until I went to the sanctuary of God. Then I understood their end.
Psalm 73, selected verses
Yet I am always with you. You hold me by my right hand. With your guidance you lead me, and afterward, you will take me to glory.
Who else is there for me in heaven?
And besides you, I desire no one else on earth.
My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.
PSALM PRAYER
Lord Jesus, we are shortsighted and focus only on this life. We try to make this earth our perfect home and become discontent when life goes better for the wicked than it does for us. Turn our eyes toward you, and help us to live each day with the confidence that heaven is our ultimate and perfect home, for there we will live with you and the Father and the Spirit.
Amen.
SECOND READING
1 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matthew 1:1-17
2Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. 3Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. 4Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. 5Salmon was the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz was the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed was the father of Jesse. 6Jesse was the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. 7Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa. 8Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Joram. Joram was the father of Uzziah. 9Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah. 10Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah. 11Josiah was the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the Babylonian exile.
12After the Babylonian exile, Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel. 13Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor. 14Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Achim. Achim was the father of Eliud. 15Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob. 16Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom Jesus was born (who is called Christ).
17So altogether there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen generations from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen generations from the Babylonian exile to Christ.
The Word of the Lord.
be to God.
11 A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the L will rest on him: the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the L
3 He will be delighted with the fear of the L . He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, nor will he render decisions based on what he hears with his ears,
4 but with righteousness he will judge the poor, and he will render fair decisions in favor of the oppressed on the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath from his lips he will put the wicked to death.
5 Righteousness will be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his hips.
6 The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together, and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow and the bear will graze together, and their young ones will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the cattle.
8 The nursing child will play near a cobra’s hole, and the weaned child will put his hand into a viper’s den.
9 They will not hurt or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the L , as the waters cover the sea.
10This is what will take place on that day. The peoples will seek the Root of Jesse, who will be standing like a banner for the peoples, and his resting place will be glorious.
Please stand
CONFESSION OF FAITH
Luther’s Explanation to the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from all eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord.
He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil,
not with gold or silver but with his holy precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death.
All this he did that I should be his own, and live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he has risen from death and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.
PRAYER
Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness, come to my relief.
Spare us, Lord, from the lies of the devil and the attacks of our conscience. Comfort and save us in your patient compassion.
Have mercy on us, Jesus.
Guide us, Lord, to the wisdom of your Word and the power of your promises. Take away our confusion and doubt.
Have mercy on us, Jesus.
Hear us, Lord, when we come to you in prayer. Make us confident to take you at your word and to follow you in faith.
Have mercy on us, Jesus.
Empower us, Lord, to walk in your ways and live in your truth. Fill us with your love, that we may love you and one another.
Have mercy on us, Jesus.
Almighty God, you gave your only Son to take on our humanity and to dwell among us. Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children in Baptism, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING
The almighty and merciful Lord the Father, the (+) Son, and the Holy Spirit bless us and keep us. Amen.
Please be seated
CLOSING HYMN—Hark the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes Christian Worship 313 POSTLUDE MUSIC
Please fill out the Friendship Register located in the red folder at the end of the row. Thank you!
If you would like to leave an offering, you may place it in the offering plates located at either exit. Members of Grace respond to their Savior’s love with offerings that are given joyfully, generously, regularly, and in a way that is proportionate to how the Lord has blessed them. Their cheerful gifts support the mission and ministry of our congregation. If you are a guest today, please know that we do not expect you to contribute to our congregation’s work. However, if you would like to give an offering to the Lord in response to his love to you, we are happy to receive it and put it to work in God’s kingdom. If you prefer, use your smart phone to give online by scanning this QR code:
There is no cost to park in our parking lot during worship services. If you receive a citation by mistake, please let our office staff know so it can be cleared.
HOLIDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Midweek Advent Services
Wednesdays: Dec 11 & 18
10:00 AM Grace-Benson (lunch following worship)
4:00 PM & 6:00 PM
Grace-Sahuarita (supper at 5:00 PM)
10:00 AM & 7:00 PM
Grace-Tucson (supper at 6:00 PM)
Tuesday, December 24
2:00 PM Benson Christmas Worship
4:00 PM Grace-Sahuarita
Children’s Christmas Service
5:30 PM Grace-Tucson
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship
6:00 PM Grace-Vail
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship
7:00 PM Grace-Sahuarita
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship
Christmas Day Worship
Wednesday, December 25
10:00 AM Grace-Sahuarita
10:00 AM Grace-Tucson
Tuesday, December 31
All-Site New Year’s Eve Worship
5:30 PM Grace-Tucson Followed by dinner & fellowship
THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP TODAY
Minister.......................................................................................................................... Vicar Noah Nordlie
Accompanists ..............................................................Teri Guenther (10:00 AM), Deb Bakken (7:00 PM)
Vocalist............................................................................................................... Dylan Guenther (7:00 PM)
Ushers............................................Stanley Mead (10:00 AM), Dylan Guenther, Ferdie Kramm (7:00 PM)
Sound and Recording Techs..................................................Jeremy Snavely, Danny Koehler (7:00 PM)
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