ADVENT MIDWEEK 2 DECEMBER 9, 2020 - SAINT PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH 4660 West 94th Street, Oak Lawn, Illinois 60453 - St. Paul Lutheran Church
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ADVENT MIDWEEK 2
DECEMBER 9, 2020
SAINT PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH
4660 West 94th Street, Oak Lawn, Illinois 60453
(708) 423-1040 www.stpauloaklawn.org
Pastor John Moeller Director of Music Ruth SieversT To Set You Free from All Your Sorrow T
They say ignorance is bliss. But our excuses for remaining uninformed fall apart in the light of the
truth. Willful ignorance is not a virtue; it goes hand in hand with unbelief.
That is one of the lessons flowing from the Magi and Herod. The Magi follow the star, knowing what
is true. The One who has been born is King, worthy of being worshiped. Herod, on the other hand, gets
the right information from others about where the birth of the King took place, but he chooses to
remain ignorant of the truth. Instead of paying homage, he plots to kill.
Ignorance is not bliss. It destroys faith because faith feeds on the truth. Ignorance also robs us of
joy, especially when it comes to the truth of who Christ is. The Magi know who He is, so they rejoice
greatly. We join them in rejoicing because the truth has been given us.
PRESERVICE HYMNS AND CAROLS
T PREPARATION T
OPENING HYMN SOLO “Once He Came in Blessing” sts. 1,3,4
1 Once He came in blessing, And will judgment render,
All our sins redressing; With the faithful sharing
Came in likeness lowly, Joy beyond comparing.
Son of God most holy;
Bore the cross to save us; 4 Come, then, O Lord Jesus,
Hope and freedom gave us. From our sins release us.
Keep our hearts believing,
3 Soon will come that hour That we, grace receiving,
When with mighty power Ever may confess You
Christ will come in splendor Till in heav’n we bless You.
Text (st. 3): © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by
permission: onelicense.net no. 9465
Text (sts. 1, 4): Public domain
INVOCATION
P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
P God’s only Son lies helpless in a manger, poor and bare and lowly to set you free from all your
sorrow. Confident that Christ frees us from sin’s sorrow, let us confess our sins to God and receive
His forgiveness.
In silence we reflect on our sinful condition and our need for Savior...
P Gracious heavenly Father,
C we have embraced sorrow through our sin. Though You created us to live in creation’s goodness,
we have brought sorrow upon ourselves and others. As You have sent Your Son in humankind,
free us from sorrow by His merit.P God’s majesty has come to earth to be born of a virgin in order to set you free from sin and its
sorrow. Therefore, in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your
sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
T WORD T
PSALM Psalm 72:1–14, 18-19
P Give the king Your justice, O God, P May desert tribes bow down before Him,
and Your righteousness to the royal son! and His enemies lick the dust!
C May He judge your people with May the kings of Tarshish and of the
righteousness, and Your poor with coastlands render Him tribute; may the
justice! kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
P Let the mountains bear prosperity for the C May all kings fall down before Him,
people, and the hills, in righteousness! all nations serve Him!
C May He defend the cause of the poor of P For He delivers the needy when he calls,
the people, give deliverance to the the poor and him who has no helper.
children of the needy, and crush the C He has pity on the weak and the needy,
oppressor! and saves the lives of the needy.
P May they fear You while the sun endures, P From oppression and violence He
and as long as the moon, throughout all redeems their life, and precious is their
generations! blood in His sight.
C May He be like rain that falls on the C Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
mown grass, like showers that water the who alone does wondrous things.
earth! Blessed be His glorious name forever;
P In His days may the righteous flourish, and may the whole earth be filled with His
peace abound, till the moon be no more! glory! Amen and Amen!
C May He have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the
earth!
ADVENT HYMN SOLO “Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising” #375, sts. 3-4
3 Jacob’s star in all its splendor 4 From the bondage that oppressed us,
Beams with comfort sweet and tender, From sin’s fetters that possessed us,
Forcing Satan to surrender, From the grief that sore distressed us,
Breaking all the pow’rs of hell. We, the captives, now are free.
Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House.
Used by permission: onelicense.net no. 9465
FIRST READING T The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem T Micah 5:2–5a
L A reading from the fifth chapter of Micah.
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you
shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.C Therefore He shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then
the rest of His brothers shall return to the people of Israel.
L And He shall stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name
of the LORD His God. And they shall dwell secure, for now He shall be great to the ends of the
earth.
C And He shall be their peace.
L This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
SECOND READING T Born Again to a Living Hope T 1 Peter 1:3–9
L A reading from the first chapter of First Peter.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has
caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who
by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time.
C In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various
trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes
though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the
revelation of Jesus Christ.
L Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in
Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your
faith, the salvation of your souls.
L This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
THIRD READING T The Visit of the Wise Men T Matthew 2:1–12
P A reading from the second chapter of Matthew.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men
from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
C “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have
come to worship Him.”
P When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all
the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They told him,
C “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd My people Israel.’”
P Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had
appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying,
C “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found Him, bring me word, that I
too may come and worship Him.”P After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when
it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw
the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child
with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures,
they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to
return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
P This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
RESPONSORY
L Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
C Christ lay in a manger to set us free from all our sorrow.
L Though you do not see God, you love Him.
C Christ lay in a manger to set us free from all our sorrow.
L You are obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
C Christ lay in a manger to set us free from all our sorrow.
SERMON HYMN SOLO “The Star Proclaims the King Is Here” #399, sts. 1,2,5
1 The star proclaims the King is here; And, led by light, to light they trod
But, Herod, why this senseless fear? And by their gifts confessed their God.
For He who offers heav’nly birth
Seeks not the kingdoms of this earth. D 5 For this Thy glad epiphany
All glory, Jesus, be to Thee,
2 The eastern sages saw from far Whom with the Father we adore,
And followed on His guiding star; And Holy Spirit evermore.
Text: Public domain
SERMON “Christ Sets Us Free from All Our Sorrow”
MAGNIFICAT “My Soul Rejoices” # 933
1 My soul rejoices, God, who is solely
My spirit voices— Mighty and holy—
Sing the greatness of the Lord! O sing the greatness of God the Lord!
For God my Savior His mercy surely
Has shown me favor— Shall rest securely
Sing the greatness of the Lord! On all who fear Him,
With praise and blessing, Love and revere Him—
Join in confessing O sing the greatness of God the Lord!2 His arm now baring, Full are the hungry;
His strength declaring— Empty, the wealthy—
Sing the greatness of the Lord! O sing the greatness of God the Lord!
The proud He scatters, Here is the token
Their rule He shatters— All that was spoken
Sing the greatness of the Lord! To Abr’ham’s offspring
Oppression halted; God is fulfilling—
The meek exalted. O sing the greatness of God the Lord!
Text: © 1991 Stephen P. Starke, admin. Concordia Publishing
House. Used by permission: onelicense.net no. 9465
OFFERING Collection plates are near the doors as you leave, and online giving is available on our website
if that is your preference. Be sure to pick up a copy of this year’s Advent devotional booklet and a 2021
calendar donated by Kosary Funeral home, along with your offering envelopes for next year AND the
December Newsletter if you don’t use the online version.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Lord Jesus, to whom sages came bearing gifts,
C receive the gifts we present in gratitude for all You have given for our salvation.
P Lord Jesus, whom humbled sages worshiped,
C accept the praise of our lips even as we have received Your blessings beyond number.
P Lord Jesus, Judah’s Lion,
C cause all those in authority to serve faithfully according to Your will and to the benefit of all.
P Lord Jesus, God’s majesty come to earth,
C give us faith to trust that Your majesty dwells among us today in Your Word, in Holy Baptism,
and in Your Supper.
P Lord Jesus, born of a virgin,
C as You humbled Yourself to be born of a virgin, so teach us to humbly serve one another.
P Lord Jesus, lying helpless in a manger, poor and bare and lowly,
C set us free from all our sorrow wholly.
P Hear us as we pray in Your name and as You have taught us:
LORD’S PRAYER
C Our Father who art in heaven…
PRAYERS OF THE DAY
P Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son,
C that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds;
P through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord,
C Amen.
P Heavenly Father, You revealed Your Son to the Magi that they might know Him as King, worthy
of all worship.C Grant us Your Spirit through the Word that we might know Jesus rightly, worshiping Him as
King of all creation,
P for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
PRAYER FOR PEACE
P O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works,
C give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set
to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies,
may live in peace and quietness;
P through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and forever.
C Amen.
BENEDICTION
P God the Father, who sent His only Son to us,
the Son, born a holy child, and
the Holy Spirit, who through the Word sets you free from sorrow,
grant you peace.
C Amen.
HYMN “All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night” #883
1 All praise to Thee, my God, this night 5 When in the night I sleepless lie,
For all the blessings of the light. My soul with heav’nly thoughts supply;
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
Beneath Thine own almighty wings. No pow’rs of darkness me molest.
2 Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son, D 6 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
The ill that I this day have done, Praise Him, all creatures here below;
That with the world, myself, and Thee, Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host:
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Text: Public domain
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Acknowledgments
Vocalist: Bill Leise
Flutist: Susan E. Volk
Copyright © 2019 Concordia Publishing House All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, no part of this publication
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Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Quotations marked LSB are from Lutheran Service Book, copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights
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Small Catechism quotations are from Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, copyright © 1986, 2017 Concordia
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