G E L C T , A D 3, 2025
Welcome to Grace!
Our mission at Grace is to teach the inspired and inerrant Word of God, to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the crucified and risen Savior of the world, and to nurture believers for lives of Christian service.
Check out the GRACE WEBSITE at GraceLutheranSAZ.org
We are very pleased that you have joined us for worship today! We pray that this time will be a blessing for you as God comes to you with his Word and promises and as you offer him your thanks and praise.
The order of worship we will follow is printed in this worship folder for you to follow along and participate. You’ll notice that the service is a dialogue between God and us, his people. The pastor speaks to God along with the congregation and also speaks the Word of God to the people. LARGE PRINT worship folders are available at the entrances for those who desire them.
Today we are using elements from the Christian Worship (2021) hymnal. You will find these blue worship books in the hymnal racks in each pew. You will be asked to open the hymnal to participate in parts of the service today.
There is no cost to park in our parking lot during Sunday morning worship services. If you receive a citation by mistake, please let our office staff know so it can be cleared.
OUR SERIES THEME BIBLE SONGS OF CHRISTMAS
People love Christmas music! It seems to be played earlier and earlier every year. There are many popular tunes, and some songs even have words that point us to the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus, our Savior.
Did you know that the Bible has songs of Christmas? They were sung to announce Christ’s birth. We have only the words of those songs, not the music, but Christian composers through the ages have set those words to music. This year we look at the background and words of those songs to help us prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child.
Our midweek worship will follow this path:
The Song of Mary
The Song of Zechariah
The Song of the Angels
OUR THEME FOR TODAY THE SONG OF MARY
When the Bible was translated into Latin, “Magnificat” was the first word of the song that the Virgin Mary sang when she was telling her relative Elizabeth about being chosen to be the mother of Jesus. The “Song of Mary” beautifully reflects key themes of God’s grace, mercy, and the reversal of worldly power. Mary begins by glorifying God for choosing her, a humble servant, to bear the Savior, a sign of God’s gracious action toward the lowly. This is a picture of how God works, not through the proud or powerful, but through the humble and weak.
Mary praises God’s faithfulness to his promises, especially the covenant made with Abraham and his descendants. God has an unchanging commitment to his people and to the fulfillment of his promises through Christ.
Martin Luther emphasized that the “Magnificat” is not about Mary’s greatness, but about God’s action through her. It’s a confession of faith in God’s grace alone. Mary trusts God’s Word and rejoices in his mercy, an admirable response to the Gospel.
A PROCESSION OF CAROLS FOR ADVENT
HYMN—Hark the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes
BIDDING PRAYER AND PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Christian Worship 313
Dear people of God, in this Advent season, it is our delight to hear again the songs of Mary, Zechariah, and the angels and in heart and mind to prepare to meet our Lord and Savior at a manger in Bethlehem as well as in the sky when he returns to take us home to heaven.
Let us read and learn in Holy Scripture the songs that tell of the loving purposes of God which will come to fulfillment in Christ on the glorious day of his birth. We join with those who prepared to meet him at his first coming to save his people from their sins.
But first, let us pray for people all over the world who would delight with us to know the good news of Jesus Christ and who would join with us in singing his praises. Let us pray for the people of our community and for all those in our own congregation.
And because this would please our Lord, let us remember in his name the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed, the sick and those who are sad, the lonely and the unloved, the elderly and the little children. We especially remember all those who do not know the Lord Jesus, those who do not love him, and those who by sin have grieved his heart of love.
Let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us in heaven, who live in greater light than we, that multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, who died in faith, and who live before the throne of God and praise him each day in his temple. We confess that we are united with them as we are united with one another.
Lord, hear our prayer, listen to our cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness, come to our 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.
LESSON
26 To the merciful you reveal yourself as merciful. To the blameless person you reveal yourself as blameless.
27 To the pure you reveal yourself as pure, but to the crooked you reveal yourself as crafty.
28 Yes, you save humble people, but your eyes are on the proud, and you bring them down.
29 Yes, you are my lamp, O L The L turns my darkness to light.
30 For with you I can charge against a battalion, and with my God I can jump over a wall.
31 This God his way is blameless. The speech of the L is pure. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
32 For who is God besides the L ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
33 This God wraps me with strength and makes my way smooth.
2 Samuel 22:26-33
1 Praise the L !
Praise, you servants of the L , praise the name of the L .
2 Let the name of the L be blessed, from now to eternity.
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the L is to be praised.
4 High above all the nations is the L His glory towers above the heavens.
5 Who is like the L our God? He is seated on high.
6 He bends down to look at the heavens and at the earth.
7 He raises the poor from the dust. He lifts the needy from the garbage pile
8 to seat them with nobles, with the nobles of his people.
9 He is the one who settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother of children.
Praise the L !
2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, from you, will go out the one who will be the ruler for me in Israel. His goings forth are from the beginning, from the days of eternity.
3 Therefore the L will give them up, until the time when the woman who is in labor bears a child. Then the remaining survivors from his brothers will return to the people of Israel.
4 He will stand and shepherd with the strength of the L , in the majesty of the name of the L his God. They will dwell securely, for at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth.
5 This one will be their peace.
HYMN An Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came Christian Worship 328
by permission: OneLicense no. 710199.
Text and tune: Keith Getty, b. 1974; Kristyn Getty, b. 1980; Stuart Townend, b. 1963 © 2005 Thankyou Music, admin. CapitolCMGPublishing,com. Used
39In those days Mary got up and hurried to the hill country, to a town of Judah. 40She entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41Just as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44In fact, just now, as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! 45Blessed is she who believed, because the promises spoken to her from the Lord will be fulfilled!”
46Then Mary said,
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
48 because he has looked with favor on the humble state of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones. He has lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.
SONG—Song of Mary Magnificat
Please turn to pages 220-221 in the front of your hymnal to find this song.
SERMON Luke 1:39-56
BLESSING
The almighty and merciful Lord the Father, the (+) Son, and the Holy Spirit bless us and keep us. Amen.
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.
HOLIDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Midweek Advent Services
Wednesdays, December 3, 10, & 17
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)
Wednesday, 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 Candlelight Worship
7:00 PM Grace-Sahuarita Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship
Christmas Day Worship Thursday, December 25
10:00 AM Grace-Sahuarita
10:00 AM Grace-Tucson
Wednesday, December 31
All-Site New Year’s Eve Worship
5:30 PM Grace-Sahuarita Followed by dinner & fellowship
THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP TODAY
Minister........................................................................................................................ Pastor Ryan Heiman
Accompanist Beth Kassulke
Vocalist..................................................................................................................
Weinstein (7:00 PM)
Ushers Dylan Guenther (7:00 PM)
Sound and Recording Techs..................................................Jeremy Snavely, Danny Koehler (7:00 PM)
Copyright Information:
Heritage Version® (EHV®) © 2018 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. www.wartburgproject.org