MIDWEEK ADVENT WORSHIP
Grace Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona
December 14, 2022
PRESERVICE MUSIC WELCOME
RESPONSIVE SENTENCES
Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
CONFESSION OF SIN
1 John 1:5-8
Father, I have sinned against you and am no longer worthy to be called your child. Yet in mercy you sacrificed your only Son to purge away my guilt. For his sake, O God, be merciful to me, a sinner, and in the joy of your Holy Spirit let me serve you all my days.
Silence for personal examination and confession
OPENING HYMN—Savior of the Nations, Come Christian Worship 301 Please standABSOLUTION
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Upon this, your confession, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 1:9 Amen.
PRAYER
Let us praise the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Lord God, you are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Fill us with the peace of your forgiveness so that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. Please be seated
FIRST READING Genesis 12:1-7
1 Now the L said to Abram, “Get out of your country and away from your relatives and from your father’s house and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse anyone who dishonors you. All of the families of the earth will be blessed in you.”
4 So Abram went, as the L had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to travel to the land of Canaan. Eventually they arrived in the land of Canaan. 6 Abram passed through the land until he came to the Oak of Moreh at the place called Shechem. The Canaanites were in the land at that time.
7 The L appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” Abram built an altar there to the L , who had appeared to him.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
RESPONSIVE PSALM
You showed favor to your land, O Lord. You restored Jacob.
You removed the guilt of your people. You covered all their sin.
You put away all your wrath. You turned from your burning anger.
Restore us, O God who saves us. Put an end to your indignation with us.
Show us your mercy, O Lord, and give us your salvation.
I will hear what the true God, the Lord, will say. He indeed speaks peace to his people, to his favored ones.
Surely his salvation is near for those who fear him, so that glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
The Lord will indeed give good things, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness walks in front of him. It prepares the way for his footsteps.
PSALM PRAYER
Psalm 85 (selected verses)
God of love and faithfulness, you showed favor to your people by sending your one and only Son to be our Savior. Help us to trust in him as our gracious Redeemer and so enjoy the peace he came to bring, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
26
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women. ”
29 But she was greatly troubled by the statement and was wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. 31 Listen, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”
34 Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Listen, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age even though she was called barren, and this is her sixth month. 37 For nothing will be impossible for God.”
38 Then Mary said, “See, I am the Lord’s servant. May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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.
LORD HAVE MERCY
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy. For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
PRAYER FOR PEACE
Lord God, all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works come from you. Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments. Defend us also from the fear of our enemies, that we may live in peace and quietness, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
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 grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. Please be seated
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:
Christmas Eve Services Saturday, December 24
Children’s Christmas Service
4:00 PM at Grace-Sahuarita
Christmas Eve Worship
4:00 PM at Grace-Vail
4:00 & 7:00 PM at Grace-Tucson
7:00 PM at Grace-Sahuarita
HOLIDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Christmas Day Worship Sunday, December 25
7:30 AM at Grace-Benson 10:00 AM at Grace-Vail 10:00 AM at Grace-Sahuarita 10:00 AM at Grace-Tucson
New Year’s Eve Worship
All-Site Service Saturday, December 31
7:00 PM at Grace-Tucson Followed by food and fun!
Grace Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), a group of nearly 400,000 men, women, and children in nearly 1,300 congregations across the United States and Canada united by a common faith in Christ's saving love. We are committed to a common calling encouraging each other in our faith and sharing God's gift of a Savior with the rest of the world.
For more information about our synod and what we believe visit: www.wels.net
