FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH
Tel: (519) 753-3833
Email: faithlutheran1@bellnet.ca
Website: https://faithlutheranbrantford.com
4 ADVENT – December 18, 2022
Welcome and Land Acknowledgement:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Call to worship:
Jesus Christ, you are the light of the World
A light no darkness can overcome
Stay with us all bright days and all dark nights
A new day is just beginning
Let your light scatter the darkness,
And shine within your people here.
Gathering Hymn: Holden Page 3
Confession and Forgiveness:
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 for 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.
Lighting of the Advent Candles:
We praise you O God, for this Victory Wreath that marks our days of preparation for Christ’s Advent.
As we light the candles on this wreath, open our eyes to see your presence in the lowly ones of this Earth. Enlighten us with your grace, that we my sing of your advent among us in the Word made flesh.
Candle Lighting Song: Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah ELW #240
V1. Light one candle to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness.
He shall bring salvation to Israel, God fulfills the promise.
V2. Light two candles to watch for messiah: let the light banish darkness.
He shall feed the flock like a shepherd, gently lead them homeward.
V3. Light three candles to watch for Messiah: Let the light banish darkness.
Lift your heads and lift high the gateway for the King of Glory.
V4. Light four candles to watch for messiah: let the light banish darkness. He is coming, tell the glad tidings. Let your lights be shining.
First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-15
Response to Reading: Word of God, Word of life, Thanks be to God.
Psalmody: Holden Page 4-7
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25 Response: Glory to you, O Lord.
Response to Reading: The Gospel of the Lord, Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon:
Hymn of the Day: ELW #265 The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came
1 The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
with wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
“All hail, to thee O lowly maiden Mary,
“most highly favored lady.” Gloria!
2 “For know a blessed mother thou shalt be:
all generations laud and honour thee.
Your Son shall be Immanuel, by seers foretold,
most highly favored lady.” Gloria!
3 Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head;
“To me be as it pleases God,” she said.
“My soul shall laud and magnify God’s holy name.”
Most highly favored lady, Gloria!
4 Of her, Immanuel, the Christ, was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say,
“Most highly favored lady.” Gloria!
Annunciation and Magnificat: Holden Page 8-9
Leader: The light shines in the darkness
All: and the darkness has not overcome it.
Litany and prayers: Holden Page 10-11
Lord’s Prayer: Holden Page 11
Offertory & Giving Tree: ELW #583, Verses 1&2
Refrain: Take my life that I may be, consecrated Lord to thee; take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Verse 1: Take my hands and let them move, at the impulse of they love; take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for three. (Refrain)
Verse 2: Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold; take my intellect and use ev’ry power as thou shalt choose. (Refrain)
Peace:
The Peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you.
Thanksgiving for the Word:
O God of Justice and Love, We give thanks to you that you illumine our way through life with the words of your son. Give us the light we need, awaken us to the needs of others and bring all the world to your feast; through Jesus Christ your son, Our saviour. Amen.
Final Blessing: Holden Page 12
Sending Hymn: ELW 242 Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn.
V1 Awake! Awake and greet the new morn, for angels herald its dawning.
sing out your joy, for soon he is born, behold! the Child of our longing.
Come as a baby weak and poor, to bring all hearts together,
to open wide the heavenly door,and lives now inside us forever.
V2 To us, to all in sorrow and fear, Emmanuel comes a-singing,
whose humble song is quiet and near, yet fills the earth with its ringing.
Music to heal the broken soul and hymns of loving kindness,
the thunder of the anthems roll to shatter all hatred and blindness.
V3 In deepest night his coming shall be, when all the world is despairing,
as morning light so quiet and free, so warm and gentle and caring.
One without voice breaks forth in song, a lame one leaps in wonder,
the weak are raised above the strong, and weapons are broken asunder.
V4 Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night, though cold the winter and cheerless,
the rising sun shall crown you with light, be strong and loving and fearless;
Love be our song and love our prayer, and love, our endless story,
may God fill every day we share, and bring us at last into glory.
Dismissal: Christ is the Light. Go in Peace, share the good news.
Thanks be to God, Alleluia!
TODAY WE ARE PRAYING FOR:
Art Oswald, Eberhard Poelzl,
Grace Mueller, Marlene Sams and Ruby,
Gladys Souliere, David Neumann,
Stephen Kovacs, Jennifer Cherewka,
Patty Davis, Maya James,
Dave Souliere, Luke Splettstoesser,
Miranda, Joan and Jackie.
APOLOGIES: There were technical difficulties
last Sunday sending the link for the service.
You can always obtain the link from a past Email.
It is the same every week.
IMPORTANT MUSIC REQUEST: Quite a few copies
of choir music and the Holden Booklet are missing.
If you have taken these home by mistake, please return them as soon as possible. They can be quite costly. Thanks for your help retrieving these.
ANNUAL MEETING:
Sunday February 12, after the Service.
CHRISTMAS 2022:
Saturday December 24: 7 pm Christmas Eve Communion Service with Vicar Bethan and Pastor Thomas Mertz.
This service will be live-streamed and then available on YouTube the next day.
There is no in-person worship on Christmas morning, Sunday December 25. A pre-recorded service will be available that you may watch anytime.
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