MIDWEEK ADVENT WORSHIP Grace Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona December 6, 2023 Our midweek Advent services this year are considering three times when God’s people in the Old Testament were in exile. Their experience helps us understand the serious nature of sin and the challenge of being far from home. As sinful human beings, we are at risk of being exiled by sin and death, by fear and unbelief, and by our enemies who wish to torment us. We rejoice this Advent season to hear God’s gracious promises to exiles, and we prepare to celebrate anew the birth of the Messiah who has brought us back from exile.
PRESERVICE MUSIC
WELCOME
OPENING HYMN—O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide
Christian Worship 314
Please stand
RESPONSIVE SENTENCES Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen. Praise the Lord from the heavens. Praise him in the heights. (Psalm 148:1) Listen to me! The Lord’s arm is not too short to save, and his ear is not too deaf to hear. No, it is your guilt that has separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden God’s face from you, so that he does not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2) Be gracious to me, God, according to your mercy. Erase my acts of rebellion according to the greatness of your compassion. (Psalm 51:1) 1
Then the nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile because of their guilt, because they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them and delivered them into the hand of their adversaries…I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their rebellion, and I hid my face from them. (Ezekiel 39:23-24) Scrub me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. (Psalm 51:2) Therefore, this is what the Lord God says. Now I will bring about the restoration of Jacob. I will have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name. They will bear their shame and all the unfaithfulness that they displayed toward me, even when they lived securely in their own land with no one to make them afraid. (Ezekiel 39:25-26) For I admit my rebellious acts. My sin is always in front of me. Against you, you only, have I sinned, and I have done this evil in your eyes. (Psalm 51:3-4) When I bring them back from the nations and gather them from the lands of their enemies, I will show myself to be holy among them in the sight of many nations. They will know that I am the Lord their God, because, even though I sent them into captivity among the nations, I also gathered them again to their own land, and I will never again leave any of them there in captivity. Nor will I ever hide my face from them again, because I will have poured out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Lord God. (Ezekiel 39:27-29) Certainly, I was guilty when I was born. I was sinful when my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5) Judah has gone into exile. She endures affliction and harsh labor. She lives among the nations. She finds no rest. All her pursuers caught up with her when she was in great distress. (Lamentations 1:3) Remove my sin with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7) Do not cast me from your presence. Do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Sustain me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:11-12) I will let you find me, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back from your exile. I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have sent you as exiles, declares the Lord. I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. (Jeremiah 29:14) Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. (Psalm 51:15) The punishment for your guilt is finished, daughter of Zion. He will not send you into exile again. (Lamentations 4:22) I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1) How I love your dwelling place, O Lord of Armies. (Psalm 84:1)
How blessed are those who live in your house. They are always praising you. (Psalm 84:4) 2
PRAYER Let us pray. Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires are known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that we may love you and praise your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please be seated
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Peter 1:13-21
13
Therefore, after preparing your minds for action by exercising self-control, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 Rather, just as the one who called you is holy, so also be holy in everything you do. 16For it is written, “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17
If you call on the Father who judges impartially, according to the work of each person, conduct yourselves during the time of your pilgrimage in reverence, 18because you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, not with things that pass away, such as silver or gold, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, like a lamb without blemish or spot. 20He was chosen before the foundation of the world but revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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RESPONSIVE PSALM
Psalm 86:1-10
Turn your ear, O Lord. Answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am favored by you. You are my God. Save your servant, who trusts in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. Indeed, you, Lord, are good and forgiving and abounding in mercy to all who call to you. Give ear to my prayer, O Lord. Pay attention to the sound of my cries for mercy. In the day of my distress I will call to you, because you will answer me. There is no one like you among the gods, O Lord. There are no deeds like your deeds. All the nations you have made will come. They will bow before you, O Lord, and they will give glory to your name, because you are great and do marvelous deeds. You alone are God.
PSALM PRAYER O Lord my God, even when I am in danger, I trust your holy name, because you have been good to me all the way from birth. I praise and thank you for your mercy to me, especially for the gift of deliverance through Jesus, your Son and my Savior. Keep me faithful to him as long as I live. Amen. 4
GOSPEL
Luke 1:13-17
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But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear a son for you, and you are to name him John. 14You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15because he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16He will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, to turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare a people who are ready for the Lord.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ!
HYMN OF THE DAY—Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord
SERMON
Christian Worship 315
Exiled by Sin and Death Genesis 3:21-24
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The Lord God made clothing of animal skins for Adam and for his wife and clothed them. 22
The Lord God said, “Look, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, so that he does not reach out his hand and also take from the Tree of Life and eat and live forever—”23 the Lord God sent him out from the Garden of Eden to work the soil from which he had been taken. 24So he drove the man out, and in front of the Garden of Eden he stationed cherubim and a flaming sword, which turned in every direction to guard the way to the Tree of Life.
Please stand
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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. 6
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
CLOSING HYMN—What Hope! An Eden Promised
Christian Worship 304
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: 7
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HOLIDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE Midweek Advent Services Wednesdays: December 6 & 13 10:00 AM Grace-Benson (lunch following worship) 10:00 AM & 6:00 PM Grace-Sahuarita 10:00 AM & 7:00 PM Grace-Tucson (supper at 6:00 PM)
Sunday, December 24 7:30 AM Benson Christmas Worship 10:00 AM Grace-Sahuarita Children’s Christmas Service
Christmas Day Worship Monday, December 25 10:00 AM Grace-Sahuarita 10:00 AM Grace-Tucson
10:00 AM Tucson Worship 10:00 AM Vail Christmas Worship Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship 7:00 PM Grace-Sahuarita & Tucson Sunday, December 31
Sunday Morning 7:30 AM Benson Worship 10:00 AM Sahuarita, Tucson, and Vail Worship
All-Site New Year’s Eve Worship 5:30 PM Grace-Sahuarita Followed by dinner & fellowship
THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP TODAY Minister ................................................................................................................... Pastor Seth Scheuerlein Accompanists .............................................................. Teri Guenther (10:00 AM), Deb Bakken (7:00 PM) Vocalist .................................................................................................................. Jeff Weinstein (7:00 PM) Acolyte .................................................................................................................. Anna Kassulke (7:00 PM) Greeter........................................................................................................ Stephanie Weinstein (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) Copyright Information: Scripture readings are taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) © 2018 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. www.wartburgproject.org