Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 19, 2021 The Order of Worship at 9:00 am We continue to monitor the latest information regarding the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We continue to exercise the same care that has protected us through the past year: limiting the size of indoor gatherings, the duration of the service, and providing safe seating. At the same time, we will continue to stream our services live for those who cannot be present. At this time, we ask that face coverings be worn at all times while on the Redeemer property, regardless of vaccination status. Please use the links available on the viewing page to let us know that you are worshiping with us, to submit any prayer requests, to let us know if you need help or are available to help a neighbor, and to continue giving financially to support the ongoing ministries of Redeemer. As always, we pray that worship at Redeemer is a blessing for you, even as your participation blesses us, whether we are gathering in the name of Christ in-person or online. As you are comfortable, we encourage you to sing the hymns and to sing or speak the congregational portions of the liturgy in bold type. This bulletin contains content protected by copyright and is provided only for you to participate in worship. Please delete or destroy any physical or digital copy of the material following the service.
WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENTS Standing Fully vaccinated congregants in the sanctuary are encouraged to sing while masked. Those who are not fully vaccinated should “sing in spirit” reading the words to our hymns and liturgy as they are sung by the choir/musicians. 1
HYMN 253
He Came Down
CONFESSION Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who alone does wonders, who lifts up the lowly, who fills the hungry with good things. | Amen. Let us confess our sin, trusting in the tender mercy of our God. Kneeling or seated
God for whom we wait,| in the presence of one another, we confess our sin before you. We fail in believing that your good news is for us. We falter in our call to tend your creation. We find our sense of self in material wealth. We fear those different from ourselves. We forget that we are your children and turn away from your love. Forgive us, Blessed One, and assure us again of your saving grace. Amen. God, in Christ Jesus, has looked with favor upon you! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, ☩ your sins are forgiven. You are children of the Most High, inheritors of the eternal promise, and recipients of divine mercy. God strengthens you anew to follow the way of peace. | Amen. 2
Standing BLESSING AND LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Advent prayer Blessed are you, God of might and majesty, for you promise to make the desert rejoice and blossom, to watch over the strangers, and to set the prisoners free. Four candles are lit. As we light these candles, satisfy our hunger with your good gifts, open our eyes to the great things you have done for us, and fill us with patience until the coming of the Lord Jesus. O ransomed people of the Lord, come, let us travel on God’s holy way and enter into Zion with singing. Amen. Sung O come, O Key of David, come, and open wide our heav'nly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. Refrain 3
Please use the Prayer Request link on the webpage to submit your requests. Seated
CHILDREN’S SERMON Standing
THE HOLY GOSPEL Luke 1:39-45 [46-55] Elizabeth, John’s mother, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, are two women filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. In Elizabeth’s inspired greeting and Mary’s song of praise we hear of a saving God who remembers, scatters, lifts up, and fulfills all things. The Holy Gospel according... | Glory to you, O Lord. In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” [ And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 4
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” The Gospel of the Lord. | Praise to You, O Christ. Seated
SERMON
Pastor Mark H. Larson
Standing
HYMN 723
5
Canticle of the Turning
Kneeling or Seated
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION In this season of watching and waiting, let us pray for all people and places that yearn for God’s presence.
6
Nurturing God, you give us life and care for our every need. Use the church’s gifts and ministries for your service, bringing your word to all who seek your transforming grace. Hear us, O God. | Your mercy is great. Creator God, you proclaim your boundless love for all that you have made. Renew barren lands, polluted waters, and melting ice caps. Make us servants of your creation that brings forth abundant life. Hear us, O God. | Your mercy is great. Righteous God, you bring down the mighty and lift up the lowly. Strengthen those who seek justice. Bless the work of community organizers, activists, journalists, and all who call our attention to imbalances of power. Hear us, O God. | Your mercy is great. Compassionate God, you proclaim your love and mercy. Show your loving kindness to teen parents and those who are pregnant. Comfort any struggling with infertility and those who await test results, are in treatment and hospice care, and others in need especially... Hear us, O God. | Your mercy is great. Gracious God, you fill the hungry with good things. Bless the feeding ministries of this congregation and community. Guide us to share your bounty with those who hunger or live in poverty. Hear us, O God. | Your mercy is great. Faithful God, you stir up the hearts of those who love you. We give you thanks for those who, like Mary, were courageous in their witness especially... Give us such courage until that day when you fulfill all things. Hear us, O God. | Your mercy is great. God of new life, you come among us in the places we least expect. Receive these prayers and those of our hearts, in the name of Jesus. Amen. 7
Standing
PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. | And also with you. Please share a sign of blessing with your fellow worshippers while maintaining proper distancing.
Please let us know you worshiped with us today by using the I’m Worshiping link as you would the attendance pad at church. Seated
MISSION MOMENT GATHERING OF GIFTS Please use the Help and Give links to support the ministry of Redeemer. MUSIC by Redeemer Jazz Trio Standing
OFFERING PRAYER God of our waiting and watching, we offer the gifts of our hearts and our lives to the service of all your people. Prepare the way before us as we meet you in this simple meal, through Christ Jesus, our pathway and our peace. | Amen. GREAT THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. | And also with you. Lift up your hearts! | We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. | It is right to give our thanks and praise. Covenant God, in the beginning you called your creation good and flooded it with beauty and bounty, with goodness and grace. In the days of Noah you drowned your creation to wash away sin and draw your own sons and daughters to yourself. Through your covenant with Israel your promises flowed to all nations and in Jesus Christ you drew us out of our waywardness into the relentless flood of your mercy. 8
Peacemaking God, in Christ you made an ending of the life of spears and sword, and came to us with plowshares and pruning hooks that we might be fed. In him you showed us how to study war no more, how to lay down our swords and shields, and how to feast with the Prince of peace. In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; 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. As you came to us to be our very food and drink, send your Holy Spirit upon this bread and cup and make them be for us the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Stir you church with a wakening hope, that soon and very soon we are going to see our king. Take our foolishness and bend us toward faith. Take our hostility and refashion us for love. Quicken our spirits with trust in that day when we who have been blessed with such hope will gather around your throne with saints of every age, in praise and thanksgiving to you, one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray… LORD’S PRAYER 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; 9
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 Come to Christ’s banquet. Feast on God’s gift of grace. All who seek to meet the Risen Christ in the bread and wine are invited to receive Holy Communion Those who are worshiping online can join the pastors on Zoom for communion following the postlude. Link Standing
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. | Amen Let us pray. | Most High God, you have come among us at this table. By the Spirit’s power, form us to be bearers of your word, sharing gifts of mercy and grace with all, through Christ Jesus, our host and our guest. Amen.
SENDING God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world. BLESSING The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, through Christ Jesus for whom we wait. | Amen.
10
HYMN 266
All Earth is Hopeful
SENDING Go in peace. Christ is near. | Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE by Redeemer Jazz Trio 11
LAST WEEK AT REDEEMER Worship attendance for December 12: In person 104; Livestream 253; Facebook live, 40 NEXT WEEK AT REDEEMER First Sunday of Christmas It’s time to pre-order poinsettias in honor/memory of family or friends to visually enhance our Christmas worship. In addition, professional brass quartet and timpani will be here at 8:00 and 11 pm on Christmas Eve, so you are also encouraged to make donations to the special musician’s fund which will also be listed in the Christmas Eve bulletin in honor/memory of family or friends along with the flowers. To order online click HERE or you can use an envelope that is available in the pew racks. Please drop envelopes at the Welcome desk in the Sims atrium. All donations are due by Sunday, December 19. Congregational Meeting Results On December 12, 2012, at 12:30 PM, the Congregation of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer held the scheduled meeting to approve 2022 Operating Budget. The meeting was Hybrid with some members attending in Rudisill Hall or the Reception Room while others attended online via the Webinar feature. A. Number of ballots cast: 104 B. Number of votes required to pass: 53 (majority of A) C. Number of yes votes: 85 D. Number of no votes: 19 The 2022 Operating Budget was approved. Per the adopted timeline outlined in the Policies, Practices and Procedures Manual, in November, the Finance Committee and the Church Council recommend the 2022 Annual Operating Budget for consideration and approval by the Congregation. The Budget Document was distributed to the Congregation on Saturday, November 13th. Two Listening Posts were conducted on November 28, 2021, and December 5, 2021. 12
Special Thanks to the Finance Team for developing the 2022 Budget document. The input from each Ministry Team was a critical part of the process. Thank you to all who attended the Listening Post Meetings and to those who attended and spoke at the Congregational Meeting. FEATURED EVENTS Goshen Valley Gift Drive Ends TODAY Join us in making Christmas merry and bright for the foster kids living in the care of Goshen Valley Ranch and Goshen Homes! This includes both boys and girls, ages infant to 18. You can purchase items through this Amazon list and they will go directly to the Goshen Valley office. Get your whole family involved! Find a devotion here to help you share the meaning behind your gifts.
If you’re feeling blue this season… You are not alone. Redeemer’s Congregational Care Ministry recognizes the pain many of us experience at this time of year and so we invite you to our Blue Christmas: A Service of Lament, Healing, and Hope. Instead of numbing, pushing through, or avoiding your pain this year, come—just as you are and receive the healing balm of Jesus, our Emmanuel, God with us. Blue Christmas: A Service of Lament, Healing, and Hope Sunday, Dec. 19, 5:30 pm Jazz Trio, prayer and anointing, candle lighting, and Holy Communion In-person in Redeemer’s Sanctuary Livestream Link Thanks for all the support of our Youth Fundraiser! We sold 149 Kringles! This will be great to help with our Summer 2022 Mission Trips. Kringles will be available for pickup on Sunday, December 12 and Sunday, December 19 from before 9 am worship to after 11 am worship. Thanks again for supporting our youth! 13
Calendar for December 20 – December 25, 2021
Visit https://www.redeemer.org/blog/this-week/ for Zoom Links Sunday, December 19, 2021 Event
Time
Location
Redeemer Worship High School Sunday School Confirmation Large Group Confirmation Small Group Advent Small Group w/ Pr. Ron Advent Small Group w/ Joe Lukas Be Still and Journey Advent Virtual Pilgrimage Through Palestine Redeemer Choir Rehearsal / Service Communion Communion College Youth Lunch Rejoicing Spirits Blue Christmas Service
9 am & 11 AM 9:30 - 10:45 AM 9:30 – 10:00 AM 10:00 – 10:45 AM 10:00 - 10:45 AM 10:00 – 10:45 AM 10:00 – 10:45 AM 10:00 – 10:45 AM
Sanctuary/ Livestream Youth Lounge/Zoom Fireside / Zoom Various Rooms/ Zoom Room 121/ Zoom Room 211/Zoom Zoom Zoom
10:00 - 12:30 PM
Hinely Hall
10:00 - 10:30 AM 12:00 - 12:30 PM 12:30 – 1:30 PM 3:30 – 4:30 PM 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Zoom Zoom Off site Zoom Sanctuary
Tuesday, December 21, 2021 Tuesday Morning Bible Study LCFM Christmas Meal Pastor Jonathan’s Book Study
7:30 - 9:30 AM 10:30 – 11:30 AM 5:00 – 6:00 PM
Zoom 4th Street Lot Zoom
7:30 – 9:00 PM
Hinely Hall
Wednesday, December 22, 2021 Choir Rehearsal
Sunday, December 26 , 2021 Worship at 11 am Only
14
Christmas Eve Worship Schedule 11:00 am German Church Livestream Link & In person *1:00 pm Organ and Bell led Christmas Eve Worship The service of traditional carols and Holy Communion will feature a prelude beginning at 12:30 PM by the Carillon Ringers.
Livestream Link & In-person | Make Your Reservation Here
2:00 pm Family Christmas Eve Worship This Zoom service of songs and message is especially for families of all ages. Zoom Link
*3:00 pm Organ led Christmas Eve Worship The service of traditional carols and Holy Communion.
Livestream Link & In-person | M a k e y o u r R e s e r v a t i o n H e r e *6:00 pm Christmas Eve Worship with the Jazz Trio This Jazz Trio led service with Holy Communion will begin with prelude music at 5:30 PM.
Livestream link & In-person | Make Your Reservation Here
*8:00 & *11:00 pm Candlelight Christmas Eve Worship Our candlelight service of traditional carols and Holy Communion will begin 30 minutes prior to the above times with prelude music by our senior choir, brass and organ. 15
Livestream Link & In-person | 8:00 Make Your Reservation Here 11:00 Make Your Reservation Here If you have any difficulty in reserving space for you and your family, please contact rdurdin@redeemer.org *RSVP required. Visit www.Redeemer.org
Sunday, December 26th Worship at 11 am ONLY
THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER 731 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308 www.redeemer.org | 404.874.8664 | Emergency Line: 404.874.9759 The Rev. Mark H. Larson ...................................................................... Senior Pastor, ext. 201 The Rev. Ronald Bonner ................................... Pastor for Community Engagement, ext. 203 The Rev. Jonathan Trapp ................................................. Pastor for Faith Formation, ext. 233 The Rev. Jenny McLellan......................................... Pastor for Congregational Care, ext. 224 STAFF Bob Boyd ........................................................... Director of Operations and Finance, ext. 232 Seth Brown................................................................... Facilities and Media Director, ext. 218 Michael Clarke ............................................................... LCFM Chef, mclarke@redeemer.org Robin Durdin ............................................................ Office Administration Director, ext. 204 Kate Elkins .................................................................................... Preschool Director, ext. 252 David Hansen ........................................................................... Adult Choral Director, ext. 236 Sarah Hawbecker .......................................... Organist & Children’s Music Director, ext. 206 Deacon Mary Houck .....................................Children & Family Ministries Director, ext. 227 Jennifer Isaacson ........................................................Financial Information Director, ext. 237 Sam Long ........................................................................ Organ Scholar, slong@redeemer.org Hillary Nelson ............................................................ Youth Director, hnelson@redeemer.org Tawanda Searcy ................................................ Receptionist and Wedding Director, ext. 200 Stacey Williams .............................................................................................. Head of Security 16