The Second Sunday in Advent

Order of Worship

Collect

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (LBW 30)
Text: Charles Wesley; Tune: “Jefferson”

Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

Apostolic Greeting

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

Kyrie

In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. 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 this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen.

Prayer of the Day

Isaiah 40:1–11

Psalm 85:1–13 (responses are the even-numbered, bold verses)

¹You have been gracious to your land, O Lord,
  you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.
²You have forgiven the iniquity of your people
  and blotted out all their sins.
³You have withdrawn all your fury
  and turned yourself from your wrathful indignation.
⁴Restore us then, O God our Savior;
  let your anger depart from us.
⁵Will you be displeased with us forever?
  will you prolong your anger from age to age?
⁶Will you not give us life again,
  that your people may rejoice in you?
⁷Show us your mercy, O Lord,
  and grant us your salvation.
⁸I will listen to what the Lord God is saying,
  for he is speaking peace to his faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to him.
⁹Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him,
  that his glory may dwell in our land.
¹⁰Mercy and truth have met together;
  righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
¹¹Truth shall spring up from the earth,
  and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
¹²The Lord will indeed grant prosperity,
  and our land will yield its increase.
¹³Righteousness shall go before him,
  and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.

2 Peter 3:8–14

Mark 1:1–8

Sermon: “The Kiss”

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen

Offertory Prayer

Merciful Father, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Create In Me

Create in me a clean heart, oh God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with your free Spirit.

The 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. 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

Blessing