Worship and Devotions
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Second Sunday of Advent - December 4, 2022
At the heart of our Advent preparation stands John the Baptist, who calls us to repent and make a new beginning. As the darkness increases, we turn toward the approaching light of Christ. For Christians he is the root of Jesse, the righteous judge who welcomes all, especially the poor and meek of the earth. We wait with hope for that day when the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and there will be no more hurt or destruction. From the Lord’s table we are sent in the spirit of John the Baptist to proclaim that in Christ the kingdom of God has come near.
Lighting The Advent Wreath
Praise to you, O God, who gives us courage to start again. You fasten righteousness around your waist and baptize with the Holy Spirit’s fire. Bless us as we mirror your mighty fire in these simple flames and teach us to mirror your justice in the paths we prepare. We ask that peace abound, until none hurt or destroy over all the earth. Amen.
Music:
Light One Candle to Wait for Messiah (Verse 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZZbCZn4S9A
Prayer of the Day
Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming nurture our growth as people of repentance and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Music:
Hark, The Glad Sound
ELW Hymn #239, “Hark, the Glad Sound!" - YouTube
Readings
FIRST READING - ISAIAH 11:1-10
Isaiah describes the coming of a future, ideal ruler who will renew David’s royal line (the stump of Jesse). Gifted by the spirit of God, this ruler will reign with perfect justice. Enmity and danger will be restored to harmony and peaceful coexistence.
1A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; 4but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
6The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. 9They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.10On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
PSALM 72:1-7, 18-19
1Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the king’s son;
2that he may rule your people righteously and the poor with justice;
3that the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, and the hills, in righteousness.
4Let him defend the needy among the people, rescue the poor, and crush the oppressor.
5May he live as long as the sun and moon endure, from one generation to another.
6Let him come down like rain upon the mown field, like showers that water the earth.
7In his time may the righteous flourish; and let there be an abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.
18Blessed are you, Lord God, the God of Israel; you alone do wondrous deeds!
19And blessed be your glorious name forever, and may all the earth be filled with your glory. Amen. Amen
SECOND READING - ROMANS 15:4-13
God’s promise to include Gentiles within the circle of God’s blessed people has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Christians live out their unity by welcoming and encouraging each other just as Christ has welcomed them into God’s family.
4Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name”;10and again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;11and again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”;12and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.”
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Music:
On Jordan’s Bank The Baptist’s Cry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFZMz51ijd4
GOSPEL - Matthew 3:1-12
Glory to you, O Lord.
Just before Jesus begins his public ministry, John the Baptist appears, calling people to mend their ways and speaking of a powerful one who is to come.
1In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ”4Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon:
Music:
Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V0J9Rgsr7A
Prayers of Intercession
As we prepare for the fullness of Christ’s presence, let us pray for a world that yearns for new hope.
A brief silence.
God of love, in this Advent of division may we draw together in unity and mission, remembering that we are all together in service.* God of love, hear our prayer. *(CLWR “An Advent Prayer for a World in Need”)
God of all, your children everywhere cry out for mercy. Awaken the global church to the urgent needs of our time. Break down barriers of culture and custom and unite people of all faiths in your redemptive and healing work. God of love, hear our prayer.
God of wonder, the earth’s beauty and abundance is your gift. Teach us your ways of sharing resources and caring for life. Guard fragile habitats, preserve the wild places, and protect endangered plants and animals. God of love, hear our prayer.
God of peace, you judge the nations. Beat our weapons into tools for serving the neighbor. Strengthen the resolve of all who work for an end to war. We pray for lasting peace in the land of Jesus’ birth and other places of conflict. God of love, hear our prayer.
God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment, and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.* God of love,hear our prayer. *(Archbishop Justin Welby. Archbishop Stephen Cottrell Prayer for Ukraine | The Archbishop of York
God of love, bring healing, comfort, strength and courage to all in need, especially the more than 230 homeless here in the Comox Valley; the families of all murdered and missing Indigenous persons, and others whom we name in our hearts (brief silence). God of love, hear our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
God of promise, your goodness is everlasting. We give thanks for the lives of the faithful who now rest in you. We trust that you will bring us into the company of all the saints with rejoicing. God of love, hear our prayer.
God of our longing, you know our deepest needs. By your Spirit, gather our prayers and join them with the prayers of all your children. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.
(From Sundays and Seasons © 2020 Augsburg Fortress)
Music:
Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V0J9Rgsr7A
Blessing
God the eternal Word, who dwells with us in Jesus, and who holds us in the grace of the Holy Spirit, + bless you now and forever. Amen.
(From Sundays and Seasons © 2020 Augsburg Fortress)
Music:
Go Now In Peace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQg2XqZcZjI
Sunday, December 4 Readings:
Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10;
James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11
Advent Devotions
Wait for the LORD- Advent 2022
“but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31NRSV
“I continually thank my God for you because of the gift bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, in whom you have been richly endowed with every gift of speech and knowledge. In the same way, the testimony about Christ has been so confirmed among you that you lack no spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Savior Jesus Christ. God will strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Savior Jesus Christ. God, through whom you have been called into intimacy with Jesus our Savior, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 The Inclusive Bible
In this season of Advent, we wait for the Lord – to celebrate Jesus coming as a babe in Bethlehem and to await his coming again in glory. This is not a passive waiting but rather and active waiting that receives God’s gifts of hope, peace, love and joy and passes them on to others as we tell them of God’s love for us in Jesus our Savior.
Here is the theme song for our Advent devotions:
Wait for the Lord ELW 262 - YouTube
